Lei CeremonyĪ lei ceremony is a tradition from the islands that involves the exchange of floral leis between the bride and groom to symbolize honor and the desire to spend the rest of ones life with the other person. Best of all, these items can be purchased at your local craft supply store. You can also use paint in a glass and pour it over the canvas to create work of art. A small 9 by 12-inch canvas, with two paint brushes and two paint colors is often used to create a special painting that the bride and groom did themselves. To protect the bride and groom’s clothing, aprons are suggested.

However, the unity painting has gained popularity as a unique way to show your bond and have an item to look at for years to come. Painting at a wedding ceremony may seem a little strange, especially with a white dress.

You can choose to have this ritual in the middle of your ceremony or after you have said “I do.” The lantern symbolizes letting your love reach it’s highest potential. These small, biodegradable lanterns are made from rice paper and hold a small candle which is lit. Unity Wish LanternĪ wish lantern is a fun ritual that you can opt to have your guests participate in too. Another option for this ceremony is the blending of two different wines such as red and white into one single glass. As the couple take a sip, the officiant speaks about how good wine is like a good marriage, and that it takes time to nurture and allow the marriage to grow, much like the grapes on the vine.

It is poured into one or two separate glasses. The couple chooses their favorite bottle of wine and it is uncorked by the officiant. The wine ceremony is a special ritual that is blessed by the officiant. As the tree grows, the couple can find a special spot in their yard to plant it and continue to watch it grow. The couple plants the tree together, and the planting is blessed by the priest or pastor. In this ritual, a container, dirt, and special tree are used. The tree ceremony is a popular choice to symbolize the growth of a relationship over time. The symbolism behind this ceremony is the mixing of each others sand to create one piece and represent unity. The couple pours their sand alternately into another container to create a piece of sand art. The sand ceremony involves two different colors of sand, each representing the groom and the bride. Traditionally, the box is not open until several years after you are married, with most couples opting for either their 5-year or 10-year anniversary to unlock and share the memories. The box may also contain wine glasses and your favorite bottle of wine. Love Letter CeremonyĪ love letter ceremony allows you to write your thoughts and feeling about each other and lock them away in a special box. This ritual is typically performed prior to the exchanging of the rings. A knot is then tied and the couple present their tied hands to those in attendance. Six ribbons of equal length are draped over the couple’s hands while the pastor or priest talks about the symbolism of the binding. In this ritual, the couple holds hands to create a figure eight or resemble the infinity symbols. Handfasting or Binding of the Hands is a marriage ritual taken from Ireland and Scotland. This braid can later be displayed in the home as a reminder of this bond. Traditionally, the man and woman create a braid together to symbolize the joining of their union along with the couples faith in God.

Any color of twine or string can be used. A Cord of Three StrandsĪ cord of three strands (also known as God’s knot) is very similar to the unity candle ritual, except that it uses three strands of twine or heavy-duty string coming together as one. If you want to break away from tradition and add something unique and fun as an alternative to using a unity candle, here are a few ideas that you and your finance can incorporate into your wedding ceremony. 1 ritual performed around the United States. The symbolism behind the unity candle, joining two flames into one, is one of many rituals that couples incorporate into their wedding ceremony.

Alternatives to unity candle