I also like the ring warming ceremony it is not very common yet
Warming of the Rings
Around the world the wedding rings are the strongest and most visible sign of the bond these two people are about to make. A commitment to life, to each other and to the future.
With a ring warming in your ceremony the rings will not only be a gift from one to another but will be given with the love, support and wisdom of all present.
The rings are passed amongst all the guests and they hold the rings thus giving their personal blessing upon the rings before the bride & groom exchange the rings.
At the time the rings are exchanged it might be with words like:
"These rings, now warmed by those you love the most will forever show the world your are one and they will carry with them the eternal love and blessing of your families."
Sand is a common choice (one person has one color the other another and they pour them both into a single vessel to signify the unity) Generally the vessel with the combined sand is kept in the home after the wedding to remind you that your lives are as entwined as the sands within.
Rose Ceremony: A simple unity ceremony where the bride and groom exchange roses. Other variations: the families exchange roses, the bride and groom exchange roses with their families, the bride and groom exchange roses, then present their mothers with the roses.
Wine Ceremony: The bride and groom each take a carafe of wine and pour it into a single glass, which they both drink from.
Water Ceremony: The couple each pour a different colored water into a single glass, creating a third color.
Sand Ceremony: similar to the water ceremony, the bride and groom both pour different colored sand into a glass.
Salt Ceremony: Indian weddings often include a salt ceremony, where the bride passes a handful of salt to her groom without spilling any. He then passes it back to her and the exchange is repeated three times. She then performs the salt exchange with all the members of the groom’s family, symbolizing her blending in with her new family.
Breaking Bread Ceremony: The bride and groom tear off pieces of bread, and then each eat a piece. Sometimes the bread is also shared with family and friends. It symbolizes their future as a family together.
Garland Ceremony or Lei Ceremony: The bride and groom exchange garlands of flowers. This is a common part of Indian weddings, where the ceremony is called varmala or jaimala, and represents a proposal by the bride and acceptance by the groom. It also represents their new unity, blessed by nature. In Hawaian weddings, the bride and groom typically exchange leis. The families may also exchange leis with the couple. Leis represent the love and respect you have for the person you are giving it to, and the unity of the new family.
Circling: In Eastern European ceremonies, the bride and groom circle the altar three times, which are their first steps together as husband and wife. In Hindu ceremonies, couples circle the fire seven times, sealing their bond. The unbroken circle represents the unbroken committment to each other.
Broom Jumping: An African-American tradition that has its roots in slavery times when slaves couldn’t marry. Typically the family places the broom on the ground, and the bride and groom jump over it together. The broom can then decorate a place of honor in their home.
Lasso Ceremony: Lasso or rope is placed around the bride and groom’s shoulders, usually by the officiant. Sometimes rosary beads, or orange flowers are used instead of rope. It can also be placed around the couple’s necks, or wrists.
Update: Reader Molly Scannell wrote in to tell us about two Unity ceremonies that she is using in her upcoming wedding. While these aren’t "Unity Ceremonies" in the sense of combining two families, they do emphasize the unity of the couple.
The first is a Celtic Oathing Stone. Molly writes "The couple holds or puts their hands on a stone during their vows to "set them in stone" (I also believe this is where this phrase comes from, or so the rumor goes)."
Molly is also planning to use is a Truce Bell. A bell is rung on the wedding day, the happiest day of the couple’s lives and then is placed in a central location in the home. If the couple starts to argue, one of them can ring the truce bell, reminding them both of that happiness and hopefully ending the disagreement quickly.
I think the wine ceremony as it originated in wedding ceremony’s much longer than unity candles..As you can see by the previous answer, there are many different options you have. I would go with the wine ceremony as it is the most oldest one that on no one really uses anymore because of the new unity candle ceremony that took over. Go with what you feel best represents you two as a couple and would go best with your ceremony and religion…Congrats!
Sand is another popular choice – taking two smaller jars of sand and pouring them into one larger container. The idea is that you’re now ‘mixed as one’ when you enter marriage.
I also like the ring warming ceremony it is not very common yet
Warming of the Rings
Around the world the wedding rings are the strongest and most visible sign of the bond these two people are about to make. A commitment to life, to each other and to the future.
With a ring warming in your ceremony the rings will not only be a gift from one to another but will be given with the love, support and wisdom of all present.
The rings are passed amongst all the guests and they hold the rings thus giving their personal blessing upon the rings before the bride & groom exchange the rings.
At the time the rings are exchanged it might be with words like:
"These rings, now warmed by those you love the most will forever show the world your are one and they will carry with them the eternal love and blessing of your families."
Sand is a common choice (one person has one color the other another and they pour them both into a single vessel to signify the unity) Generally the vessel with the combined sand is kept in the home after the wedding to remind you that your lives are as entwined as the sands within.
im relaesing butterflys… it means to a new begining is so sweet
Rose Ceremony: A simple unity ceremony where the bride and groom exchange roses. Other variations: the families exchange roses, the bride and groom exchange roses with their families, the bride and groom exchange roses, then present their mothers with the roses.
Wine Ceremony: The bride and groom each take a carafe of wine and pour it into a single glass, which they both drink from.
Water Ceremony: The couple each pour a different colored water into a single glass, creating a third color.
Sand Ceremony: similar to the water ceremony, the bride and groom both pour different colored sand into a glass.
Salt Ceremony: Indian weddings often include a salt ceremony, where the bride passes a handful of salt to her groom without spilling any. He then passes it back to her and the exchange is repeated three times. She then performs the salt exchange with all the members of the groom’s family, symbolizing her blending in with her new family.
Breaking Bread Ceremony: The bride and groom tear off pieces of bread, and then each eat a piece. Sometimes the bread is also shared with family and friends. It symbolizes their future as a family together.
Garland Ceremony or Lei Ceremony: The bride and groom exchange garlands of flowers. This is a common part of Indian weddings, where the ceremony is called varmala or jaimala, and represents a proposal by the bride and acceptance by the groom. It also represents their new unity, blessed by nature. In Hawaian weddings, the bride and groom typically exchange leis. The families may also exchange leis with the couple. Leis represent the love and respect you have for the person you are giving it to, and the unity of the new family.
Circling: In Eastern European ceremonies, the bride and groom circle the altar three times, which are their first steps together as husband and wife. In Hindu ceremonies, couples circle the fire seven times, sealing their bond. The unbroken circle represents the unbroken committment to each other.
Broom Jumping: An African-American tradition that has its roots in slavery times when slaves couldn’t marry. Typically the family places the broom on the ground, and the bride and groom jump over it together. The broom can then decorate a place of honor in their home.
Lasso Ceremony: Lasso or rope is placed around the bride and groom’s shoulders, usually by the officiant. Sometimes rosary beads, or orange flowers are used instead of rope. It can also be placed around the couple’s necks, or wrists.
Update: Reader Molly Scannell wrote in to tell us about two Unity ceremonies that she is using in her upcoming wedding. While these aren’t "Unity Ceremonies" in the sense of combining two families, they do emphasize the unity of the couple.
The first is a Celtic Oathing Stone. Molly writes "The couple holds or puts their hands on a stone during their vows to "set them in stone" (I also believe this is where this phrase comes from, or so the rumor goes)."
Molly is also planning to use is a Truce Bell. A bell is rung on the wedding day, the happiest day of the couple’s lives and then is placed in a central location in the home. If the couple starts to argue, one of them can ring the truce bell, reminding them both of that happiness and hopefully ending the disagreement quickly.
I really liked the sand idea, maybe you can find a great glass and have it engraved with your names and date on it. Good Luck!
I think the wine ceremony as it originated in wedding ceremony’s much longer than unity candles..As you can see by the previous answer, there are many different options you have. I would go with the wine ceremony as it is the most oldest one that on no one really uses anymore because of the new unity candle ceremony that took over. Go with what you feel best represents you two as a couple and would go best with your ceremony and religion…Congrats!
There’s always the symbolic "binding" of the couples’ two hands together with a silken cord or ribbon…
Sand is another popular choice – taking two smaller jars of sand and pouring them into one larger container. The idea is that you’re now ‘mixed as one’ when you enter marriage.