Unity Candle

A relatively new trend, the Unity Candle ceremony is pretty straightforward and elegant. You choose a large candle and two small pillars. At the beginning of your ceremony the pillar candles are lit to symbolize your individual commitment. Near the end of the ceremony, just before or after the vows, you and your new spouse each take one candle and use them simultaneously to light the larger candle. 

Many couples keep the candle for the entirety of their marriage and light it on every anniversary. It is a beautiful ceremony that you can continue for years to come.

Hand Fasting "Love Knot"

An ancient ceremony, hand- fasting comes from a Celtic and Druidic tradition where a couple’s hands are bound together in a ceremonial knot to represent their relationship. It is from this tradition that we get the term “tie the knot”. Though it is a pagan rite, many non-religious couples have chosen to include it in their ceremonies for its deep symbolism. See my full article on handfasting here.

Jump The Broom

A Wiccan Tradition that has also found its way into the modern ceremony, Jump The Broom holds a special place in my heart as I did it at my own wedding. A couple builds a broom together of sticks, reeds, ribbons and beads (etc.) the week before their wedding. This symbolizes all the parts of themselves they are bringing into the relationship.

Then, after the ceremony and the kiss, before they head back down the aisle, they jump it together to symbolize their willingness to overcome anything (past, present or future) as a pair.

The broom is kept in the home for their entire marriage, in a corner facing west, where all things set (like the sun). The broom should be shaken out regularly as it is believed to catch all of the bad luck that might have befallen the couple, but did not.

Planting A Tree

Planting a tree together is a beautiful new ceremony that has recently gained popularity. A tree is chosen and brought to the altar in a pot. Two vases, cups or otherwise containers are given to the couple. Each couple adds soil from their vase to the pot and together they use a pitcher to water the tree. The couple nurtures the tree for the first month of their marriage and then choses a place to plant it together where they can visit it often. Some couples chose to visit the tree each year and, as in native american cultures, decorate it with ribbons or strings of popcorn on the anniversaries. Check out this link to find out some amazing symbolism regarding trees you can choose.

Beer/Wine/Whiskey Blending

You may have noticed a pattern by now. Most unity ceremonies involve taking two things and making them one, as a symbol of marriage doing the same for you. Beer,  Wine and Whiskey Blendings are no different.

In this ceremony a couple blends two wines or beers into the same cask from two separate glasses. They then each take a drink from the blend and often the blend is then passed to children or other close family members.

The First Light (420):

Couples, especially in Colorado, have chosen to light and share a joint as a part of a unity ceremony.

Native American Blanket Ceremony

Perhaps one of my favorite ceremonies, the Native American tradition involves a blanket, traditionally made by the mother of the groom, which is wrapped around the bride and groom as the final step of the ceremony.

Typically, the mothers of the couple or their children will wrap the blanket. It is meant to symbolize the love and acceptance of the families and the welcoming of the new family member into both of their bloodlines.

Lasso Ceremony

A Mexican and Native South American tradition that has found its way into many modern (especially Catholic) ceremonies is a "Lasso-ing" during which a bride and groom are loosely bound together by a lasso of ribbons, cloth or garlands of leaves and flowers. A blessing is said over the couple to imbue the lasso with it's significance. 

Saber Exchange

An Asatru, or Norse, ritual of trust and honor. Historically exchanged between the fathers of the households, many couples choose to exchange sabers between one another as a symbol of accepting each other into marriage with love and trust.

Paint Blending

For the artistic couple or the couple who just loves to have fun. A paint blending involves two colors, one for each of you (or if you have kids, get them involved too!) to drip blend over a canvas. This creates a keepsake as a symbol of your love and it is fun to do (and watch) for both you and your guests!

Spell Jar

This is a beautiful way to bring your elemental, witchy, pagan or earth centered beliefs into your ceremony. 

​

You can build a spell jar together as part of a unity rite by selecting ingrediants that symbolize energy you want in your marriage, lavender for calm, rose petals for joy, pink salt for safety etc. You then will them together in turn saying vows over the jar and sealing it finally with two candles.  

​

Sand Ceremony

​

In this tradition, which originated from the Polyneasian islands, a couple takes two vases of sand, different colors, dyed traditionally to represent their tribes, and combines them in one vase.

The vase is kept for the entire marriage to symbolize their love.

​

This is a great ceremony to symbolize two lives coming together especially if one or both of your has children or family that will join in the pouring.

Lantern Release

Some states will allow you to do a lantern release as a part of your ceremony. Be sure to check local fire warnings and guidelines first. This has a truly romantic and fairy tale feel to it and is especially beautiful at late evening ceremonies. 

Elemental Altar

Great for including children, party members or parents and grandparents, the elemental altar consecrates the rings and can be made of just the four directional elements (water, air, fire and earth) or include the Eastern elements of stone, wood and metal as well. Each element has a reading and is presented to an altar which holds the rings until they are placed on your hands.

Clock Winding

Wind a clock together to represent your promise to be dedicated as to each other is eternal. Rewind the clock every anniversary as a symbol of keeping that promise alive.

Seal Your Vows

A riff on the old tradition of "burying the vows" this allows you to keep them forever and not break any venue rules. Seal your vows in a box together at the altar after you have read them and set a year marker to open and read them again (2, 5, 10).