Wedding Ceremony Unity Ideas

More than the exchanging of vows and rings, many couples look to include an additional symbol of unity into their wedding ceremony. Traditionally, this is represented by lighting candles and can involve the bride and groom’s parents.

If you’re looking for a new take on the traditional, here are some ways you and your partner can further symbolize your commitment to each other.

1. Light a Candle – not just the bride and groom, but everyone! Ideal for small, intimate weddings, Guests can get involved by lighting a candle and saying a blessing on the way into the ceremony.
2. Do a Knot-Tying Ceremony – representing strength, the couple ties a fisherman’s knot, which gets tighter with pressure and cannot come undone.
3. Have a Sand Ceremony – The bride and groom, each with their own colour of sand, combine their sands together in one container, which can be kept as a memento of the day. A nice fit for a beach wedding or if the sand is from somewhere special, such as a hometown or favourite vacation spot.
4. Paint a Picture – Each with their own brush and complementary colour of paint, the bride and groom can make strokes or shapes on a small canvas. This works well if the couple is artistic or if the officiant can help guide the process. Makes another great keepsake.
5. Pot a plant – representing the joining of families and future growth together, pot and water a plant at the ceremony. Thematically ideal if plants are part of the wedding décor, such as the centrepieces.
6. Create a wedding time capsule – write letters to each other and even ask guests to drop in a letter or note including well wishes or advice for marriage. Seal it up with a bottle of wine to be opened and enjoyed on your first anniversary—or maybe your 10^th!
7. Have a wine ceremony – another way to show the merging of two people, two different wines, typically one red and one white, are blended, and the bride and groom drink from the shared container.
8. Write vows for the family – especially poignant with blended families, the bride and groom can include each others’ children in their vows, extending the commitment.