UNITY CEREMONIES add a personal touch to your wedding, creating a moment that is meaningful and unforgettable in your ceremony. I’m here to help you find the perfect idea—or even create something unique—that reflects your story and the life you’re building together.
POPULAR UNITY CEREMONIES
UNITY SAND
UNITY SAND
I guide you in blending three or more colors of sand into a single container, symbolizing the union of the couple (and children, if included) as one family. Unlike many officiants, I encourage at least three sand colors, making the display more vibrant and allowing your two colors to stand out beautifully.
LOVE LETTER &
WINE BOX
LOVE LETTER & WINE BOX
This keepsake box holds a bottle of wine, two glasses, and two letters. Before the wedding, each of you writes a letter to your future spouse, sharing why you love them, the traits that first drew you in, and the memories that shaped your relationship. Open the box on your first anniversary or during a challenging time when you need to remember why you fell in love.
ACTUALLY TYING
THE KNOT
ACTUALLY TYING THE KNOT
In this ceremony, both mothers present the couple with a long, thick ribbon or cord in two colors—perhaps in your wedding colors. Together, you’ll tie the cords into a knot, symbolizing the union of your two families and the bond you’re creating.
MY PERSONAL FAVORITES
RING WARMING
CEREMONY
RING WARMING CEREMONY
Your rings are passed around the room, resting on a small pillow or in a bag. Each guest holds them briefly, offering a blessing or prayer for your marriage. By the time you exchange vows, the rings will carry the warmth and good wishes of all your loved ones. Alternatively, the rings can be displayed at the ceremony entrance, allowing guests to give their blessings before taking their seats.
WINE, BEER OR COCKTAIL
Each of you takes a carafe of wine (one red, one white) or beer (one dark, one pale) and pours it into a single glass to share a sip. There are various designs and containers that you can pick from.
WINE, BEER
OR COCKTAIL
JAR OF
COOKIE DOUGH
MASON JAR OF COOKIE DOUGH
Family members—parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents—each add an ingredient to a Mason jar to create chocolate chip cookie dough. The couple adds the most important ingredient: the chocolate chips. On your one-year anniversary, bake the cookies together as a sweet reminder of the warmth and love of your family and friends.
PB&J SANDWICH
In this lighthearted ceremony, the couple makes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich together, symbolizing their unique qualities coming together to create something perfect. One spreads the peanut butter, the other adds the jelly, and together they share the first bite—sweet, simple, and a fun reminder of teamwork and harmony in their marriage.
PB&J SANDWICH
LOVE LOCK FAMILY TREE
LOVE LOCK FAMILY TREE
The couple or family members place personalized locks on a decorative tree or frame, symbolizing love and unity. Each lock reflects their bond, while the tree represents the growth of their relationship. It’s perfect for blending families, as everyone can add a lock, joining hearts into one.
TREE PLANTING
OR UNITY SAPLING
TREE PLANTING OR UNITY SAPLING
Together, plant a tree sapling with a bit of soil—perhaps even from your childhood homes. Parents can join in by adding water, symbolizing the love and guidance they've given. After the ceremony, take the potted tree to your home, where it will be a lasting symbol of putting down roots, longevity, and strength in your marriage.
OUTSIDE THE BOX IDEAS
WHISKEY BARREL
WHISKEY BARREL
The couple pours their favorite whiskey into a small barrel, symbolizing the blending of their lives. As the whiskey ages, it reflects the growth and deepening of their love, and can be enjoyed on a future anniversary.
FAMILY PUZZLE
FAMILY PUZZLE
To symbolize the blending of your families, each member holds a piece of a puzzle that fits together. As I share a few words, we’ll assemble the pieces, creating a meaningful display you can keep in your home as a reminder of the unity and connection between your families.
THE PEBBLE TRADITION
THE PEBBLE TRADITION
Each guest holds a small stone during the ceremony, offering a blessing or prayer for you as a couple. Afterward, they place their stone into a vase or special container, creating a lasting display of the love and support that surrounds your marriage.
THE UNITY
CROSS
THE UNITY CROSS
The Unity Cross is a multi-piece sculpture assembled during the ceremony, symbolizing how two become one. The groom places the outer cross into a beautiful wooden base. The bride then places the more delicate cross inside the groom’s, and together they form a unified whole. The bride and groom use three golden pegs to lock the union together, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
HOUR GLASS
CEREMONY
HOUR GLASS CEREMONY
A twist on the sand ceremony, the Hourglass Ceremony uses colored sands to symbolize the couple’s union. As the sands are poured, they remain distinct but inseparable. Over time, they become so entwined they cannot be separated, representing how the couple’s love grows stronger with each passing year. The hourglass can be turned each anniversary as a reminder of this deepening bond.
CORD OF
THREE STRANDS
CORD OF THREE STRANDS
This symbolizes the unbreakable bond between a man, a woman, and God in marriage. The bride and groom each hold one strand, while the third, representing God’s presence, is woven in. As they braid the strands together, it symbolizes their commitment to each other and to God, creating a union that is strong, faith-filled, and able to withstand any challenges.
UNITY GLASS
CRYSTALS
UNITY GLASS CRYSTALS
Similar to the Unity Sand Ceremony, each of you will select colorful glass crystals to combine during the ceremony, creating a unique blend. These crystals are later fused into a custom glass sculpture, symbolizing the beautiful fusion of your personalities. This one-of-a-kind piece serves as a lasting reminder of your love, commitment, and the way you complement each other—a meaningful display for your home.
GERMAN WEDDING CUP
GERMAN WEDDING CUP
In Nuremberg, a noblewoman named Kunigunde fell in love with a goldsmith, and they wished to marry. Her father, disapproving, gave the goldsmith an impossible task: create a chalice for two people to drink from at once without spilling a drop. The goldsmith succeeded, and the "Wedding Cup" became a symbol of love, faithfulness, and good luck for the couple who drink from it.
