Near and Far Wedding Tokens

In addition to something old, something new, and something borrowed, it is common for the bride and/or groom to have a token that is from somewhere near and a token that is from far away.   This wedding tradition is widely followed by peasants and princes alike.  Naturally wealthier families will work to obtain very elaborate token and poorer families are content with simple tokens.   Sometimes the bride carries the "near token" while the groom carries the "far token."  Sometimes this is flipped.  Sometimes the bride and groom each have their own set of both tokens.  Sometimes only the bride or groom carries both tokens during the wedding ceremony.   The "near token" can be as simple as a rock dug up from the field where the wedding ceremony takes place or dug up from the bride's or groom's family residence.  If the couple is to be married in or near a temple, the priests or priestesses presiding over the ceremony are likely to manufacture a small token or good luck charm to give to the bride, groom, or both.  This is commonly a wood carving with the symbol of the Nine or whichever deity the couple venerates most.  Wealthier couples may commission to have their token crafted from precious metal rather than wood.   The "far token" is commonly a coin.  Because most coins across Scarterra use the same standardized weights, coins often circulate widely.  Because most coins have the ruler and national sigil of the place they were minted, it is usually very simple to tell where a coin is minted.  Poor families usually use a copper piece while richer families use a gold or platinum coin.   A coin is not required, almost any token can do.  Some families will buy or even commission a piece of jewelry or artwork from a distant land.  Sometimes Scarterrans will try to seek an artifact crafted by Scaraquans.   More often than not, the tokens are simply carried by the wedding couple and are not directly part of the ceremony but a few have incorporated into their wedding vows with the line "Wherever we go, near or far, I am yours and you are mine." or something similar.   Both near tokens and far tokens may be kept as treasured heirlooms forever.  Either they are passed down to the next generation or they are buried with the couple as part of their funeral rites.  Alternatively, some families prefer to throw away or destroy their tokens in a simple ritual on their first or fifth anniversary or  on the name day of their first healthy child.