Nowadays, a unification ceremony takes place at nearly every wedding. Whether joining just the bride and groom or joining two large families, unification ceremonies are a beautiful touch to your wedding day. Another great thing about them; they can be as unique as you are! Here are just a few suggestions to look over if you’re considering having one on your big day:
Two Become One
1.) Sand-mixing ceremony. In this unification ceremony, the bride and groom have individual sand vases. Typically, the sands are of different colors, usually along the lines of the wedding colors. For example, the groom may have blue, while the bride has white. They then pour their sand into a collective vase, symbolizing their union.
This is interesting because children and other family members are often involved. Like the bride’s son and the husband’s two little girls, each family member is given a vase with different colored sand. When everyone pours their sand into the main vase, it symbolizes the combination of the entire family, not just the bride and groom.
2.) Beverage ceremony. This can be done with water, wine, or really any beverage you see fit. Basically, both beverages are combined (wine from her cup and the same wine from his) into a cup, from which both parties drink. Feel free to have a little fun with this one at your wedding.
3.) Candle-lighting ceremony, also known as the Unity Candle. In this ceremony, the bride and the groom each have their own lit candle, and together they use their flames to light a single candle, representing the coming together of two people into one. As one of the most popular ceremonies, the third candle often represents “love’s eternal flame.”
Additional Unification Ceremonies
4.) Flower ceremony. In this option, the bride and groom give each other a flower. This flower represents the first gift they give each other during their married life. More traditionally, a flower ceremony is called a “rose ceremony”, simply because a rose is often used. However, couples have recently begun using whatever flower is most personal.
5.) Knot Ceremony. Believed to have originated in Irish culture, the ceremony consists of a rope (or ribbon, or anything else you would like to use) wrapped around the bride and groom’s clasped hands. The rope is then tied into a “lover’s knot”, forever binding the bride and groom for eternity.
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