What is a unity ceremony?
A unity ceremony is a beautiful ritual representing the merging of two individuals, joining their families, or creating a blended family. It occurs during the wedding ceremony, often immediately after exchanging the vows. The officiant will briefly explain the ceremony's meaning before the couple performs the ceremony.
What are the most popular alternatives for unity ceremonies?
Unity Candle Ceremony: The bride and groom use taper candles to light the unity candle, then blow out each other's tapers, marking the end of their single lives. You'll need a set of unity candles: two tapers used to light a larger pillar candle. Some couples choose to add a pair of votive candles symbolizing their families. The mothers of the bride and groom often light votive candles representing each family, either at the beginning of the wedding or as part of the candle ceremony itself.
Sand Ceremony: Couples take turns pouring different colors of sand into a central vase to create a beautiful pattern. Children participate by taking turns pouring sand to create a keepsake reminding them of their new, blended family. A sand ceremony set includes cylinders and a decorative vase. The sand is sold separately, making it easy to match your wedding colors. A sand ceremony is perfect for outdoor weddings, where wind may make keeping a unity candle lit challenging.
Water Ceremony: Similar to a sand ceremony or unity candle ceremony, in a water ceremony, the couple pours water from individual decanters into a third, more decorative vase or pitcher. You can personalize the ceremony by switching to wine (or beer), filling a pair of personalized flutes from the decanter, and offering a toast to your partner.
