It's Not Just I Do
Add a Unity Ceremony to Your Wedding
A wedding ceremony of any kind is steeped in traditions, sometimes religious and sometimes secular, which vary according to the particular backgrounds and desires of the bride and groom. A unity ceremony, as part of the wedding ceremony, acknowledges the contributions of the bride's family, the groom's family and sometimes their children, to the marriage.
There are two types of unity ceremonies that are popular as part of the modern American wedding ceremony. One unites the flames of 3 candles. It is of unknown origin and may have to do with African tribal traditions. The other uses the blending of different colored sands and likely has its origins in Hawaiian or Native American traditions. Regardless, they are both beautiful and meaningful.
Both ceremonies signify the new unity between a bride and a groom as well as the uniting of their two families. They may happen after the wedding rings are exchanged and before or after the pronouncement that the couple are husband and wife
To learn more, read our articles on the Unity Candle Ceremony and the Unity Sand Ceremony
