6 Sentimental Unity Ceremony Ideas for Your Wedding

Part of planning a wedding is deciding how to conduct your wedding ceremony. Your officiant or wedding planner might suggest adding a unity ceremony to perform with your partner. Unity ceremonies are rituals that symbolize the joining of two lives uniting together until death do you part. While they don’t have to hold deep personal significance, unity ceremonies can also demonstrate religious or cultural traditions. 

These ceremonies are also effortless ways to personalize and spark joy at your wedding. A meaningful unity ceremony symbolizes the promise you make to your spouse and the love you have for each other. These are just six unity ceremony ideas for you to consider including at your wedding:

• Unity candles
• Sand ceremony
• Communion
• Feet washing
• Planting a tree
• Anniversary capsule

Unity candles

One of the most common unity ceremony ideas is to hold a unity candle ceremony. Three candles are placed on a table representing the bride and groom and their union. The couple lights light the larger unity candle with their smaller individual ones at the same time, representing their marriage. Once the unity candle is lit, the couple extinguishes their candles, symbolizing leaving behind their past as singles. Traditionally, the couple’s candles are lit by the parents of the bride and groom. This classic unity ceremony can also be highly personalized with the inclusion of family. 

Sand ceremony

The sand ceremony is similar to the unity candle ceremony with two sands representing the bride and groom and a larger glass container. Each person pours their sand into the container taking turns or blending the sand together symbolizing a new union. The sands of choice can have a personal significance of where they come from or match colors significant to the couple. The sand ceremony is a sincere way to incorporate your kids into your wedding to demonstrate the union of two families. The final product makes for a beautiful display in your home to fondly remember for years to come. 

Communion

Couples often choose to incorporate a spiritual ritual into their wedding ceremony. Taking communion is a spiritual practice performed by Christians and Catholics that honors the last supper of Jesus Christ. The ritual is comprised of the bride and groom consuming bread and wine (or grape juice) with their officiant leading them. Some couples choose to take communion along with the rest of their guests. For religious couples, the first communion taken together as husband and wife is a sentimental and sacred activity. 

Feet washing

Other unity ceremony ideas for Christians include a feet washing ceremony between the bride and groom. The tradition originates from the Bible when Jesus would wash his disciple’s feet. After vows and rings are given, the ceremony will shift to have the bride and groom sit or crouch down to wash the other’s feet in a basin with water. The act demonstrates humility and love toward each other and serving the other person through thick and thin. 

Planting a tree

Couples who love nature will love this unique unity ceremony idea of planting a tree. Like a marriage, a tree requires a commitment to love, care, and tending to. At the ceremony, the bride and groom can incorporate soil from their hometown and water the potted tree in the presence of friends and family. Afterward, the couple can pot the tree on their property or at a sentimental location and watch the tree grow and blossom over time. The tree also symbolizes the strength of their marriage as the roots grow deep and join together. 

Anniversary capsule

Finally, couples have the opportunity to create a wedding capsule to capture their romantic feelings and preserve them for the future. Prior to the wedding, buy a wooden box to seal everything you intend to keep inside that cannot be opened easily. During the ceremony, place inside handwritten love letters, physical photos, and any other sentimental wedding mementos. Then seal the box with a hammer and nails and keep it in a safe place. Most couples choose to reopen the box on milestone wedding anniversaries like their first, fifth, or tenth anniversary. Your wedding is the most important day of your life, so store the most important keepsakes in a special way. 

Are you looking for the perfect venue for your wedding ceremony? We’d love to host your wedding ceremony and reception at Jennings Trace. Contact us to learn more or schedule a tour and see why Jennings Trace might be your perfect place.