Unity Ceremony

We're doing the Unity Cross. www.unitycross.com

So excited to get ours.

Our wedding itself and the exchanging of vows is the unity ceremony. I cannot buy into all the gimmicky ideas that have spun off from a simple the lighting of a simple unity candle.

I want to have our first communion together as husband and wife. We both want a short and sweet ceremony so, it will only be the two of us and hopefully in and out in 15-20 minutes! lol I don't like the sand ceremony because it's another piece of clutter that could be dropped and I'm scared the candle won't light and then I'll be mortified.... also another thing that I'll feel bad to get rid of because of the "meaning".... This morning a bride posted pictures of them watering a tree... the parents had a glass of water and then the bride and groom did the same, so unique and so sweet!

That's what I want to lol a very short and sweet ceremony. I do not want to be up there for almost an hour like so people do with just talking lol. that's why im no really into the whole unity ceremony part and so uncertain of what to do with it lol

We're literally "tying a knot". Though I'm tempted to leave it out. Its extra time and something else to keep around the house. Why bother?

And dear Rev. Ann, you're bordering on Spam. People come here to voice opinions, and while I appreciate your point of view, I'd avoid attacking people's decisions. (Ironic, though, right?) If you'll notice, she said "I cannot". She didn't speak for anyone else.

We are doing a unity paint canvas And I'm so excited!

We are doing the sand. Yes it is something else to clutter up the house, but i like the symbolism and it is something i will be able to look at all the time and hold dear, not like photo albums that get stuck in a drawer somewehre and forgotten about. We bought a pound of red sand, a pound of black sand, and a pound of white sand, and we will mix the three in a heart-shaped jar

We did a tree ceremony! It was awesome, and then we planted the tree in our backyard!

We're doing the candle. It's just something I've always wanted to do. We toyed with the sand ceremony idea instead, but since we are having an indoor, Nov wedding, we decided the candle suited us better. I love the sand ceremony for an outdoor ceremony, so you don't have to worry about the flame of the candle.

When you get right down to it, the entire ceremony is a unity ceremony, but many of my couples want a visual symbol of that unity as well. I find that they make the most sense when the ceremony has some relationship to the couple; my couple from last Sunday did a sushi sharing ceremony because sushi was part of their engagement celebration. It was very, very cool.

Randomly stuffing in ceremony elements, whether it's a candle, a sand ceremony or anything else, doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless it's meaningful for the couple or for the families. (Sometimes I'll suggest that the couple uses meaningful pieces from the families, like grandma's gravy boats, to pour the sand...).

I wanted to do something with a lock and a key because our first christman together 5 Christmases ago he got me tje key to my heart necklace and he wears the key. I just can't seem to find anything thats why I loved the first fight box idea because we could get an old.lock amd so on im just not into the sand or candle thing so I might just bypass that whole part of the ceremony lol

I am doing the wine and love letter ceremony with the officiant who actually created it! Anyways, I know people "borrowed" it from her and now it's popping up everywhere but I didn't know there was a "first fight" version...usually you open on your 10 year anniversary. But I am a big fan of the idea in general!

I actually got the idea off pinterest lol how doesyours go?

Actually created it? We'd all like to take credit for that. Like many things that 'pop up' in ceremonies, it's a product of many mind and evolution. Doesn't make it any more meaningful.

I'd never refer to a first fight however....

My FH always jokes about that idea and us actually doing it.

He always says, "So, we're going to open that box and drink that wine.. what, 2 weeks later?"

He's such a butt head but he's flippin' hilarious.

We're toying with the tying of the knot ceremony but I'm not opposed to chopping the entire idea all together. Our ceremony is already somewhat long. The whole ceremony is "unifying" in itself to an extent.

We are doing a tree planting ceremony.

We are doing the sand ceremony at our wedding to include my kids. I like the whole symbolic meaning behind the sand ceremony.

Did my first search on WW to find this thread...LOL...wanted to share this page that offers some unique "unity ceremonies!" Some have already been mentioned...

http://offbeatbride.com/2011/04/unity-ceremony-options

We're older...2nd marriages...I with grown adult children (& grandchildren) and he w/ teenagers. So we are seeking the perfect way to involve them & "join" our families...as well as take up some time, because as the Rev mentioned...most things are pretty brief! We would like about a 30 minute ceremony.

Candle ceremony is out for us...boring in my opinion, and it could be a disaster outside at the vineyard. Sand...another *yawn* for me...my daughter did this at hers, with the parents...I felt SO awkward & even spilled a little! LOL

Am considering the love letters/wine box...with the kids helping in SOME way. I also LOVE the mixing of the two clear "waters" that turn pink...but no real way of incorporating the kids in that one. Or we may just go with a wine ceremony!

I thought I posted already...may have been another thread...found this Unity Thumbprint Tree that we have decided on...my son will draw it on a canvas, and all of us will make a thumbprint leaf and sign it. Now if I can just find some good wording to go along with such! Want to take a stab at that, Rev?

We had heard of the unity candle and the unity sand but we wanted to put our own personal twist but keep it somewhat traditional.

We found a jewelry maker who would help us out. Using beaded necklaces from his departed mother and my departed grandmother, we had the jewelry maker combine the beads and charms from the used jewelry from separate families and make them into bracelets for the women (mother, sisters, nieces) and crystal sun catchers for the men (fathers, brothers, nephews).

The pastor asked what we had to present to represent our individual family. We announced "This necklace from my mother or grandmother" And then he took them from us and gave us the bracelets and sun catchers to present to our families as one. I will post some pics when I receive them.