Top 17 Unity Ceremonies to Consider for Your Wedding
In the Midwest, we see a lot of unity expressions during wedding ceremonies. We love these personal and touching moments at Emerson Fields wedding venue! The best part about the unity ceremony is that you can completely customize it to reflect your unique personality as a couple. No two couples are alike so no two wedding ceremonies look the same. While it isnβt required as part of your wedding ceremony, it does add a memorable moment for both you and your guests as you and your new spouse unite together in marriage.
Kristen Pulido Photography
A wedding unity ceremony typically takes place during the ceremony after saying your vows but before exchanging rings. In this special ceremony, the couple celebrates the coming together of two people into one married union. The best way to celebrate this new union is⦠whatever way best reflects you!
We have seen many unity ceremonies at Emerson Fields, some religious, others cultural, and some just a blend of the coupleβs personality! Take a look at these 15 unity ceremony ideas to help you brainstorm how to celebrate your union in front of family and friends.
Here are 11 unity ceremonies we have recently seen at Emerson Fields
1. Tree Planting Unity Ceremony
Are you or your fiancΓ© a plant lover? A lovely, natural-looking unity expression to consider is to plant a tree together during your ceremony. Gather two nice vases and fill them with soil. You will each help βplantβ the tree by pouring in the soil together. Then finish it by watering the plant with another vase of water or a cute small watering can. To add a more personal element, gather soil from each of your familyβs property or hometowns.
2. Traditional Sand Unity
Integrating your two individual lives is a lot like the traditional sand unity ceremony. Mixing your two lives will combine the two of you into a new union. Consider the sand unity ceremony if you appreciate the symbolism and want something interactive! Pick a vessel that can be capped off to not spill. You can opt for natural-looking sand or colored sand. If you get colored sand, know that over time it will gradually mix, so choose two shades that work well together.
3. Assemble a Unity Cross Together
A few of our couples have assembled a unity cross together during their ceremony for a beautiful representation of their faith. The two individuals each added a piece of the cross together. Then they added three pins to hold it together, representing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This was a beautiful piece and will look lovely displayed in their home.
To ensure your wedding day is nothing short of spectacularβ be sure to grab our Tipping Guide at the end of the blog! Show your vendors how much it means to you that they supported you through it all!
4. Take Communion Together
Another popular and memorable way to begin your marriage is by taking communion together. This is a great option for Christian couples who want to signify that God is at the center of their marriage. It is a physical representation of their belief in the salvation of Jesus. The communion can be taken by just the couple or offered to all guests if applicable.
5. Light Traditional Unity Candles
The most traditional of unity ceremonies is the unity candle. This can be either a religious or non-religious unity expression. The most traditional way to do a unity candle is to have two family members light the candles when they come down the aisle. This signifies the two families joining together and giving their blessing. Then, during the ceremony, the two partners each take a candle and light the center candle together. Now the center candle represents the new marriage! Special setups may be required if you plan to do a unity candle at your outside wedding ceremony. Wind can foil this beautiful moment if you arenβt prepared.
6. A Cord of Three Strands Unity Rope
This additional Christian option is based on the Bible verse Ecclesiastics 4:12. The three cords represent the groom, God, and the bride. When braided, you intertwine the ropes together so that God is at the center of the marriage. This physical act of combining the three chords represents your new union together.
7. Ceremonial Foot Washing
One way to show your new spouse that you vow to love and serve them during your marriage is the foot washing unity ceremony. It comes from the Last Supper when Jesus washed his disciplesβ feet to show them his intimate love. Have a small basin of water with white towels and a chair available. Take turns rinsing one anotherβs feet while a song plays in the background. This is a touching unity ceremony and perfect for couples who want to show their love and devotion.
8. Have a Prayer Circle with Family or Friends
When it comes time for the unity ceremony, after the vows and before the exchanging of rings, your officiant can invite your parents, other family or friends, or even the wedding party to come forward to pray with you. This can be more intimate with soft music playing while you are prayed over with quiet voices. Or you can have appointed people pray into a microphone while wedding guests listen in their seats.
9. Have a Special Song or Singing a Song Together
Are the two of you musical? Consider singing or playing a song together! The literal unity of your two voices melding together would be a beautiful part of the ceremony. We have had a bride and groom play and sing together before and it was perfect for their micro wedding!
Weβve also had a bride write music and have it played during the ceremony. Another couple played a worship song and had the lyrics on the program for guests to join along. Yet another couple had a surprise musical number that the father of the bride put together. They gave different musical parts to the wedding guests and then started singing βThe Way You Look Tonightβ by Frank Sinatra during the ceremony. Musical talents blend perfectly into a wedding ceremony no matter how you choose to showcase them.
Grab our ultimate guide to tipping your wedding vendors below!
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Grab our ultimate guide to tipping your wedding vendors below! ~
10. Unity in Glass
One popular and unique wedding unity ceremony is the Unity in Glass. This artistic unity expression blends two shades of colored glass. Then you send it back to the company and they blow it together so that you have a sculpted glass art piece to display in your home for years to come. Check out Unity in Glass on Instagram!
11. Uniting or Blending Families Ceremony
Maybe itβs not just βtwo becoming oneβ in your marriage ceremony! If you are blending two families, you could have your children included in the unity ceremony. We have had couples give the kids a special gift or give them a ring during the ceremony. Often the officiant will pray over the new family. You can also call them forward during the ceremony to participate in something like planting a tree or pouring sand together.
A few additional Unity Ceremony ideas for your wedding:
12. Warming the Rings
The wedding party or select guests or family members take turns βwarming the ringsβ, speaking well wishes, or praying over the union of the two people.
13. Unity Anniversary Box
Add items to an anniversary box like letters you wrote to one another, letters from family members, a bottle of wine, and maybe some photos. Then seal up the box and open it on your one, five, or ten year anniversary!
14. Handfasting Unity Ceremony
In this unity ceremony, your officiant will loosely fasten your hands together. You could say your vows together at this point or have a special script written up for your officiant about the union of the two of you.
15. Brew Coffee or Tea Together
Caffeine lover? Brew two blends of coffee or tea in little teapots or a French press. Then pour them into a single cup and take turns sipping it together while some music plays in the background.
16. Hand Washing
Much like the foot washing ceremony, a hand washing unity ceremony is a little less invasive. Have a handwashing basin, a couple of towels, and nice hand soap. Take turns washing one anotherβs hands to show your service and love for each other.
17. Other Religious or Spiritual Unity Expressions
A few examples of other religious or spiritual unity expressions are: a lasso ceremony (common in Latinx, Catholic, and Filapino cultures), Stefana crown (Greek Orthodox), glass breaking (Jewish), jumping the broom (Black or African American weddings).
A few extra tips for your unity ceremony:
Consider the weather and wind if your ceremony is outdoors.
Check that your lighter works and go with a neutral color if you choose to light candles.
Donβt add things to your wedding ceremony just because it is expected.
Incorporate family or friends into the unity ceremony to symbolize your two families joining together through marriage.
Kristen Pulido Photography
Whether you decide to go traditional or even create your own unity ceremony, incorporating this into your ceremony where you acknowledge your new union creates a special moment. Which of these unity ceremonies will you consider for your own wedding day?
Donβt miss this important memo - tipping your wedding vendors who help you with your unity ceremony is of utmost importance! Grab our Guide to Tipping Wedding Vendors to make this a seamless and easy task!
Looking for more wedding inspiration? Check out our Memorable Ways to End Your Wedding Reception blog for the most unique and fun ways to end the big day!
08/24/2022 - Gabrielle Isom
