Become inspired by these unity ceremonies, and bring a touch of heartfelt personality to your wedding day.

There are countless ways to make your wedding truly reflect who you and your partner are as individuals and as a couple. While there are many decisions to make regarding florals, cake, and reception décor, one of the most important decisions you'll make is what will be included in your ceremony. One of the questions that will undoubtedly arise is whether to include a unity ceremony.

Unity ceremonies are meaningful rituals performed during your wedding to symbolise the union of two people. A unity ritual is by no means required, but you may find there’s a ceremony option that’s ideal for you and your partner. Whether you're looking for something religious, historical, or secular. A unity ceremony frequently allows other family members to participate, adding to the meaning and representation of two families joining together. It could also be the ideal way to honour both yours and your partner's heritage through tradition.

Unity Ceremonies to Inspire Your Wedding Day Planning

Read on for 9 ceremony options that’ll help get your wedding ceremony planning started.

A Wish Lantern

We adore the romance that this ritual brings. The couple releases a paper lantern into the air during this unity ritual, allowing their love to pass into the universe as one. Depending on the ceremony and the couple's preferences, they may release their paper lantern alone or invite all of their guests to do so as well.

Light a Unity Candle

This is a very popular type of unity ceremony. The couple usually lights one large candle from two smaller family candles during the candle-lighting ceremony. The smaller candles are traditionally lit by each of their mothers, symbolising the union of two families. But the light can come from any family member. 

Handfasting

Handfasting is an ancient Celtic tradition whereby each partner's right hands are bound together during a part of the wedding ceremony. The officiant will usually read the vows while cords are wrapped around the couple's hands. As they literally tie the knot, this symbolises their commitment to one another.

Sand Pouring

This is a great ceremony idea for a seaside or beach wedding, but the concept can work for any wedding theme. The couple alternates pouring coloured sand from personal vases into another vase, where they blend their sand to create a lovely display. As children can add sand to the family vase, this is one of the best unity ceremony ideas for blended families.

Water Pouring

This unity ceremony, like the sand ceremony, combines two colours into one. We recommend experimenting with colours before the wedding so that the resulting colour is one you really like. Water really mixes together, unlike the sand ceremony, where you can get clear layers and blended layers. Perhaps you like the effect of ink in water as a nice little twist in this ceremony—mixing ink in clear water could look fantastic. Consider how you want to colour your water and be creative, as certain liquids can produce a lovely layered effect.

Blending Paint

We love this idea for adding a pop of colour to your wedding ceremony. Couples with a creative edge choose a different colour of paint each and pour it onto a single canvas. The two paint colours blend and bring life to the blank canvas, resulting in a modern-art representation of their marriage.

Jumping the Broom

Jumping the broom is an ancient tradition that offers a great way to include children in your unity wedding ceremony because they can hold the broom! This ceremony is frequently used in conjunction with a handfasting wedding ceremony – the couple's hands will be bound together before jumping over the broom, symbolising leaving their single lives behind and jumping into their new married future together.

It makes for a great wedding photo, and at the end of the ceremony, the broomstick can be held at the exit point so that all the guests can jump over it as well!

Tree Planting

This is a lovely ceremony option for a forest or garden-themed wedding. This creative, nature-inspired idea involves a couple planting a tree together, filling a pot with soil to symbolise your union. Your relationship, like the tree, will require love and care to grow and bloom!

Love Letters

For this unity ceremony, the couple writes love letters to each other and keeps them in a box with a bottle of wine and some wine glasses, ready for a milestone anniversary later in their lives. Open it up, share the wine, and read the letters you wrote to each other many years before. Don't forget to add a lovely personalised label to your wine bottle!

If you are searching for more unity ceremonies to inspire your wedding plans, or would like someone to perform one for you – get in touch with our expert celebrant Simply Ceremonies! If you wish to have a ceremony which is all about you, our lovely Kent celebrant can create a truly memorable moment for you that is unique to you. Find out more about their services via this link, or get in touch via the contact details below.

Simply Ceremonies

Phone Number: 07970 513715

Email: karina@celebrant-uk.co.uk