Ideas other than Unity candle, sand or string

Up until about 3 days ago (I'm getting married Friday) we were going to tie a Fisherman's knot. We decided this would make the ceremony longer, and give us something else to keep track of. So we opted out of it.

That said, my cousin has done the neatest thing I've seen, to date. He's a chemistry teacher, and he combined 2 clear chemical solutions into a heart vase, and when the chemicals reacted, they turned a deep pink. Pretty cool if you're a nerd.

If there isn't something that comes naturally to you and your FH, my vote is always going to be to skip it. marriage = unity

I've heard of mixing a cocktail, cheersing with pizza (it was used as an analogy for the bond of marriage during the ceremony), tree planting, hand fasting...

Try to think of things that are about two separate things coming together as one that can't be reversed.

My FH and I aren't doing anything - it's not natural for us so we opted out of this...we thought the exchanging of rings was enough

I thought it would be sort of funny to mix our favorite whiskey's, or even a mixer and whiskey and pour into a glass or shot glass and drink it. But we wouldn't have anything for keepsake but you're right...marriage is unity. Would it be trashy to do this? I think the chemistry concoction is cute and very unique!

I heard of the love letter box - you each write a letter to each other that is sealed, and during the ceremony put it in a box (with or without a bottle of wine to share on that anniversary!) and lock it to open upon an anniversary of your choice. I also heard you can open it if you ever come to an uncertain time in your marriage (like considering divorce) if you need a reminder of the reasons why you married each other.

I think it's a cool idea, and was totally for it, however FH is all for the simple and doesn't want to have something we need to lug around for the next few anniversaries, be it a candle, sand, or a box of love letters :] So we're skipping this tradition.

We are doing communion for the two of us.... but if you're not into that, I've seen where couples plant a tree together. It's pretty neat.

My photographer mentioned a cute one. It's like a wine box? You put your favorite wine in a box and nail it shut..then you open it up one your first anniversary, first fight, etc.

I guess that's not much of a "unity" thing.

What about you get a canvas, and use like masking take and create a monogram with your first initial, FH first initial and last your future last name. Then at the ceremony, you poor paint over it (this is getting kind of messy) and then peel the tape off and you have a work of art.

Kind of messy, but it's an idea?

What I was thinking about was like the wine box. But that we would also add in a letter from our wedding day to each other to read at a specific time (first fight, anniversary, something) that we could read and remind us of how we felt when we got married

We are doing a tree planting ceremony.

We got married at a winery so we did a wine blending ceremony.

Ryeanne, that is an awesome idea! I love it! Thanks so much!

I love hearing the ideas people have to make things personal to them. Especially the chemistry and wine blending, those are so unique! FH and I like to drink tea together, so I was trying to figure out something to do with tea, but I'm having a bit of a hard time incorporating it. We'll probably end up doing the handfasting if I can't think of anything else.

Im planning a variation of unity candle, first when each guest arrives they will be given a thin taper candle. All members in the wedding party will get one as well. When my fh and i light our unity candle we will then light the moh & best man's candle then they will light the candle to the person next to them, then that person lights the next candle and so on. My fh and i will walk down the centre aisle and light the candle of the first person in each pew (then walk back to the front of church). They will light the candle to the person next to them til everyone has a lit candle. I know this is allowed in my church but some places may not let you do it.

We are doing a hand joining thing:

These are the hands of your best friend,

young and strong and full of love for you,

that are holding yours on your wedding day

as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work

alongside yours as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you

and cherish you through the years,

and with the slightest touch

will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you

when fear or grief temporarily comes your way.

These are the hands that will countless times

wipe the tears from your eyes,

tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands

that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will give you

support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.

These are the hands that will hold you tight

as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands

that will give you strength when you

KatieM520, that is so beautiful.

There are some great ideas in this thread! We are still unsure of what we will be doing.

People do "ring warming" which is nice.

We were handfasted.

Look up the unity cross. Its probably what fh and I will do. I love that after everything you get something beautiful to have in your home. They also have a unity heart.

I saw a picture of the bride and groom each with a drumstick and they banged a cymbol at the same time.. it said: "Sand can be separated, and knots can be undone, but a noise, once made, can never be unmade." [Amanda Williamson] I'm going to try to incorporate it.