Choosing A Unity Ceremony That Suits You – Different Types of Unity Ceremonies and What They Symbolize
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Considering a unity ceremony as a part of your wedding ceremony but not sure which type to choose? In this post, you’ll find a list of traditional unity ceremonies that describe what each type of unity ceremony entails.
You will also find a list of nontraditional unity ceremonies that will be sure to make a statement and keep your guests engaged!
Your wedding day symbolizes the union of two individuals and families coming together. You are celebrating your love and commitment to one another. It is a sacred tradition to symbolize this union with a unity ceremony.
Unity ceremonies provide an opportunity to be very traditional at your wedding, or put a modern twist on tradition.
You will get amazing photo opportunities at your unity ceremony and most times you will get a keepsake that you can keep forever to remind you and your spouse of the vows you made.
Let’s explore a list of creative and heartwarming traditional and nontraditional unity ceremony ideas.
Classic Unity Ceremony Ideas:
- Unity Candle
Probably the most classic and traditional unity ceremony. The bride and groom each hold a lit candle and bring it to a larger candle and light it to represent the union of their marriage. This type of unity ceremony is timeless and very meaningful to the older generations.
- Sand Unity Ceremony
The sand ceremony is becoming one of the most popular types of unity ceremonies behind the candle ceremony. During the sand ceremony, the bride and groom each have a container filled with different colored sand. They each then pour their sand into a different glass container.
The mixing of the sand represents the blending of two lives.
This type of ceremony is perfect for a beach wedding or a destination wedding. This is also perfect for couples who own a beach house or spent their lives going to the beach in the summer. It also creates a beautiful keepsake that is perfect beach house decor!
- Plant a Tree
During the Plant a Tree ceremony, the bride and groom add seeds to a pot of dirt and then add water. They could also plant the tree in a special location, perhaps at the venue if the venue allows.
This symbolizes growth and nurturing love. As the tree grows, so does your love and commitment to one another.
- Water a Tree
This is the same type of unity ceremony as the Plant a Tree, but much less messy! It is also much cheaper to have the items on hand; all you need is water and perhaps some watering cans or pitchers.
Watering a Tree symbolizes growth and nurturing love, as does Plant a Tree.
- Butterfly Release
Releasing butterflies (or doves!) is a beautiful symbol of freedom and your future together. This type of unity ceremony is definitely unique and instagram-worthy, but it could end up costing you a lot of money.
You’ll need to be strategic using this type of ceremony. It would work best if you are having your ceremony outdoors, but if you are indoors, you’ll have to figure out how to incorporate going outside during your ceremony to have the unity ceremony.
You’ll also want to triple check with your venue to make sure they allow this!
- Handfasting or Knot Tying Unity Ceremony
Handfasting is a traditional Celtic unity ceremony. With the handfasting ceremony, the couple’s hands are tied together with ribbon or cord.
Handfasting symbolizes your commitment together as a couple.
- Ring Warming
Ring Warming Ceremonies occur when the rings are passed through to each one of your guests before you put them on. Guests offer their best wishes and send love and positivity through the rings. By the time they get to you, they should be nice and warm.
Just make sure to pass hand sanitizer to your guests before they sit down!
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Unique Unity Ceremony Ideas:
- Make Guacamole
This one sounds like so much fun! Making guacamole unity ceremony is for the foodies and restaurant lovers!
Whether you both love to cook, met at a Mexican restaurant, or both love Mexican food, this one will sure be a crowd pleaser.
You’ll need avocados, chopped tomatoes and onions, cilantro, lime, and salt and pepper.
You will also need a bowl and a masher or spoon.
It would be best to have the avocados already cut and sliced and all the ingredients in the bowl.
You could choose to mash the avocado or perhaps add some of the less messy ingredients (lime, salt, or pepper) as part of your unity ceremony.
Tie it all together and take a bite on a tortilla chip!
- Make a PB&J
I am very partial to this one because this is what my husband and I did for our unity ceremony!
I went to the dollar store and bought their fanciest plastic knives and spoons. Seriously, they had this set of silver plastic silverware with black handles and silver detailing on the handle.
I also got a silver plastic tray for the sandwich and clear plastic jars with lids for the peanut butter and jelly from the dollar store.
I made “peanut butter” and “jelly” labels on my Cricut machine and adhered them to the plastic jars.
My only complaint is that I had to remember to bring the peanut butter, jelly, and bread with me on wedding day. Since they were food items, I could not leave them in the boxes with all of my wedding day decorations that were dropped off the week prior to my wedding.
We did not take a bite of our sandwich just because we were too afraid to make a mess during the ceremony, but it was a super cute idea and the guests loved it!
- Log Cutting
A log cutting unity ceremony would be awesome for a backyard wedding! It would also be a really cool thing to have if you are getting married on a ranch or a farm.
It could get dangerous though, so make sure you utilize all safety precautions!
Looking to break a sweat and show off your muscles during your wedding ceremony? Log cutting is for you!
The log cutting ceremony is a German tradition which represents the first obstacle a couple faces. It symbolizes working together to solve a problem as a couple.
- Plant a Succulent
Planting a Succulent is such a fun way to incorporate a classic unity ceremony with a modern twist.
Succulents have gained so much popularity lately! What a fun twist on the traditional planting of a tree unity ceremony. This type of ceremony symbolizes growth and nurturing of love.
The good thing about succulents is that they are very low maintenance!
Succulents last for a very long time and do not require much attention other than sunlight and some water every now and then. This makes a perfect keepsake and would be great for those who have the opposite of green thumbs (like me!).
- Lasso Ceremony
The lasso ceremony is a Catholic tradition. It is also one of the most popular types of unity ceremonies in Spain. A lasso is placed around the couple during this type of unity ceremony.
The lasso represents infinite love and faith as a couple. It can also symbolize a new beginning in life for the couple.
There is often a unity prayer that goes along with this type of unity ceremony.
- Tea or Coffee Unity Ceremony
Tea or coffee enthusiasts, this one is for you! During a tea unity or coffee unity ceremony, the bride and groom each have their own favorite blend of tea or coffee in a mug and they pour them together, symbolizing the perfect blend.
This one wouldn’t be a keepsake – I don’t think the tea or coffee would taste fresh. It may not even taste good!
You could add to this by each of you taking a sip of the blended brew, but please be careful to not spill!
- Special Grape Juice Unity
Where are all of my special grape juice lovers?!
The next two types of unity ceremonies are for you. A blending unity ceremony has the same process as the tea or coffee unity of blending together two types of drink into one glass or bottle.
Unlike the tea or coffee unity, you could perhaps cork this blend up in a bottle and keep it as a keepsake. You could also drink it during the reception. Once again, who knows if it would taste good!
- Creating a Drink Anniversary Box
Creating a Drink Anniversary Box is the less messy unity ceremony for drink lovers. In this type of unity ceremony, the bride and groom each bring a special bottle of drink to place in a wooden box. The box is then sealed and is to be enjoyed on the couple’s first anniversary.
To add to the excitement of waiting to open the box until the first anniversary, the couple could also write love letters to place in the box to be opened in a year.
This type of ceremony could get expensive, depending on the price of the drink and the price of the keepsake box.
- Painting
Painting is such a fun way to express yourselves as a couple for your unity ceremony.
You’ll need a canvas, an easel, two paint brushes, and some paint!
You could paint the colors on the canvas yourselves, or you could pour the paints from the top of the canvas and let them drip down.
The running down of the paint symbolizes the colors of your different journeys and experiences that lie ahead: milestones, celebrations, sorrows, etc.
- Love Letter
Love letter unity ceremonies are for my romance lovers. Write letters to your significant others for challenges you may face or for different milestones of your future.
Letters should include: first married fight, first anniversary, the birth of your first child, etc.
I would recommend writing two or three letters each to put in the box. You could add to this by making a promise to write one additional letter every year on your anniversary to make it more meaningful.
18. Set The Time on A Large Clock
A friend of mine did this for her wedding unity ceremony. It was truly unique and special!
Have a large clock that was handmade or passed down from someone meaningful?
Display that large clock on an easel at the top of the altar and physically move the hands on the clock to the time you are officially married.
This represents the time you two become one and that your love is timeless.
Hang this clock in your home and it will be a constant reminder of your love.
19. Lantern Release
A lantern release unity ceremony is an easier and possibly less controversial take on the dove or butterfly release.
You’ll each need a paper lantern that you light and release into the sky.
The release of the lanterns symbolize your hopes and dreams taking flight together on this journey of marriage.
20. Balloon Release
A balloon release unity ceremony would be structured exactly the same way as the lantern release, except you would each release a balloon instead of a lantern.
Make sure the balloons are filled with helium so that they float into the sky!
You could even get the color of the balloons to match your bridal party colors, or simply do white or black. This would look stunning in photos!
21. Unity Puzzle
Assembling a puzzle as a part of your unity ceremony signifies that you two complete each other as a couple.
For the unity puzzle ceremony, you could use a puzzle that is meaningful to you both as a couple – maybe you have one that has been passed down for generations.
You could also design a puzzle to be created custom for your wedding.
Add a photo or simply your wedding date and names for a custom keepsake!
Bonus: Use the puzzle as your guest book during your reception!
There are so many types of unity ceremonies.
Which one will you choose? Will you choose to be traditional to honor your family or will you want to stand out and put a modern twist on your unity ceremony?
Whether you choose a traditional unity ceremony or a nontraditional unity ceremony, these rituals add a heartfelt significance to your special day.
Nontraditional unity ceremonies are still gaining popularity, so stay tuned for more ideas!
Your Next Wedding Ceremony Planning Step: Read my post on how to write your wedding vows!
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Have any unique unity ceremony traditions to share? Leave a comment!
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