Does there have to be a unity candle?

Totally optional. The only unity ceremony you need will require an marriage license, officiant & rings, if you wish.

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www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/welcome-new-users-faq-lingo-and-guidelines/b8afb852c65804c6.html

Its optional!

Its up to you and not necessary. We did a sand unity ceremony because I loved the sand shadowboxes we did and I liked what it symbolized.

The unity candle ceremony has been around since the early 70s, possibly earlier.It's traditional but not necessary.

Thanks ladies feeling better already, there are so many things to consider in planning!

Nah it's up to you. Actually, Catholic ceremonies just removed it as part of the ceremony as well so we won't be doing it (which is fine with me).

There doesn't have to be, but DF and I plan on doing a unity hourglass we will fill with sand. We loved the symbolism of it.

Optional - but we are doing sand and just like @MNA we are using a hourglass with our name and our daughter name engraved (She also will be included)

We opted to do a wine ceremony. We each poured wine (his red, mine white) into a glass, and shared it.

Not required at all, but we love wine tastings, and his mom only drinks red, and mine white so it was a nice nod to our families.

Not necessary at all.

Nope and we're not doing one. If it's important to you do it but I think a wedding ceremony is in itself enough of a symbol of unity.

Nope, totally optional. I didn't do it at my first wedding 25 years ago and I won't be doing it next year at my second wedding. It can be lovely, but I don't want to spend extra time in the spot light.

Nope

Optional....FH wants to do the sand ceremony

Not necessary and in some services (such as Catholic) they're not allowed.

The wedding ceremony itself is a unity ceremony. IMO anything else is just distracting and awkward.

Nah. I've been to one wedding with a unity candle, two with unity sands, and a bunch with nothing of the sort. It's entirely up to you and your partner. I agree with LibbyLane. It's a unity ceremony and these things distract and prolong it in an awkward way.

We wanted something like it that wasn't a unity candle, so we are planting a tree together with soil from our childhood homes

Why did the Catholic Church remove this ceremony?

The unity candle was never a Catholic ritual.

If you want to pour sand or include another ritual element that is meaningful to you, then do it, but don't suffer over it.