Unity Ceremonies are a special element that creates memorable moments during the ceremony.
When planning the wedding day many couples consider adding a Unity Ceremony. The most popular ones are the candle lighting ceremony and the sand ceremony. Both of these ceremonies are beautiful and can include the family, or just the bride and groom. Now couples are looking for a new trend, a new way of signifying unity. I am going to list several that are unique and beautiful.
"Strokes of Love" - A blank canvas with a chosen design drawn in pencil. Two colors of paint chosen by couple to signify their love. Two paintbrushes to simultaneously paint the canvas. *May have parents and/or children add their strokes with their chosen paint color.
"Braided Cross" - This is based on Ecc. 4:12 "And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Three cords mounted to the cross at the top and each side added by the officiant and/or parents before ceremony. The couple then braids them for strength and signify that their lives are now intertwined. *May be done without a cross but mounted to something significant to the couple. *May have parents, children or officiant tie string, ribbon or twine at end of braid to signify the unity of family and commitment.
"Love Lock" - A love lock is a lock that has no key. You place on whatever item you choose to signify your love and commitment. Place the lock on the eyelet of your chosen piece and together you lock it forever.
"Love Knot" - Two pieces of rope or cord that are tied in a fisherman's knot. These two cords represent your individual selves and special gifts you bring to your marriage and the knot is the simplest but strongest of knots. When stressed it becomes even stronger. *May be mounted later on a frame or board with chosen design.
"Tree Planting" - The couple each bring dirt from where they grew up and use it to plant a sapling in a big pot. Once the couple moves into their first purchased home they plant the sapling as the foundation of their future.
"Wine Ceremony" - Begin with two glasses of wine that are poured together in one glass. The couple each drinks from the shared glass. This sharing of a cup is symbolic of togetherness. *Parents (or officiant) may pour each glass into shared glass to signify unity of family.
"Love Letters" - The couple writes a love letter to each other. These are locked in a box with a bottle of wine and some wine glasses, ready for later in the marriage. Open it up on an agreed upon specific anniversary and share a drink of wine and read the letters you wrote for each other. Here you have a reminder of why you love each other, there and ready for the future. *Combine this with the Wine Ceremony? Keep some of the wine from the ceremony bottled so that you might drink it again?)
"Flower or Rose Ceremony" - May use any flower of your choice. The couple swaps flowers as their first gift to each other and place in a vase. Then preserve them at a later date to keep forever. *Family may join with their flowers to build a family unity bouquet.
"Petal Ceremony" - Combine preserved, dried or silk petals of your choice in a shadow box to signify love and commitment. *May have family add petals to signify family unity.
"Stone Warming" - Have each guest, family member, wedding party, officiant, bride and groom hold a stone during the ceremony. After the rings are exchanged have each row of guests file up to drop their rock in a vase, then wedding party, then family members with parents being last, then the couple and then the officiant. It signifies building a strong foundation for great marriage.
"Key Ceremony" - Tie a key (old or new) on a string and hang from a frame or hook. Ask that as each guest arrives they bless the key. When ceremony starts a designated person carries the key to the front (much like the flower girl and ring bearer) and places it on a table. After the exchange of rings the couple holds the key with officiants hand on theirs and offers a blessing for the couple. *Parents and/or children may join in with hands touching the couple.
"Strokes of Love" - A blank canvas with a chosen design drawn in pencil. Two colors of paint chosen by couple to signify their love. Two paintbrushes to simultaneously paint the canvas. *May have parents and/or children add their strokes with their chosen paint color.
"Braided Cross" - This is based on Ecc. 4:12 "And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Three cords mounted to the cross at the top and each side added by the officiant and/or parents before ceremony. The couple then braids them for strength and signify that their lives are now intertwined. *May be done without a cross but mounted to something significant to the couple. *May have parents, children or officiant tie string, ribbon or twine at end of braid to signify the unity of family and commitment.
"Love Lock" - A love lock is a lock that has no key. You place on whatever item you choose to signify your love and commitment. Place the lock on the eyelet of your chosen piece and together you lock it forever.
"Love Knot" - Two pieces of rope or cord that are tied in a fisherman's knot. These two cords represent your individual selves and special gifts you bring to your marriage and the knot is the simplest but strongest of knots. When stressed it becomes even stronger. *May be mounted later on a frame or board with chosen design.
"Tree Planting" - The couple each bring dirt from where they grew up and use it to plant a sapling in a big pot. Once the couple moves into their first purchased home they plant the sapling as the foundation of their future.
"Wine Ceremony" - Begin with two glasses of wine that are poured together in one glass. The couple each drinks from the shared glass. This sharing of a cup is symbolic of togetherness. *Parents (or officiant) may pour each glass into shared glass to signify unity of family.
"Love Letters" - The couple writes a love letter to each other. These are locked in a box with a bottle of wine and some wine glasses, ready for later in the marriage. Open it up on an agreed upon specific anniversary and share a drink of wine and read the letters you wrote for each other. Here you have a reminder of why you love each other, there and ready for the future. *Combine this with the Wine Ceremony? Keep some of the wine from the ceremony bottled so that you might drink it again?)
"Flower or Rose Ceremony" - May use any flower of your choice. The couple swaps flowers as their first gift to each other and place in a vase. Then preserve them at a later date to keep forever. *Family may join with their flowers to build a family unity bouquet.
"Petal Ceremony" - Combine preserved, dried or silk petals of your choice in a shadow box to signify love and commitment. *May have family add petals to signify family unity.
"Stone Warming" - Have each guest, family member, wedding party, officiant, bride and groom hold a stone during the ceremony. After the rings are exchanged have each row of guests file up to drop their rock in a vase, then wedding party, then family members with parents being last, then the couple and then the officiant. It signifies building a strong foundation for great marriage.
"Key Ceremony" - Tie a key (old or new) on a string and hang from a frame or hook. Ask that as each guest arrives they bless the key. When ceremony starts a designated person carries the key to the front (much like the flower girl and ring bearer) and places it on a table. After the exchange of rings the couple holds the key with officiants hand on theirs and offers a blessing for the couple. *Parents and/or children may join in with hands touching the couple.