Unity rituals are small ceremonies, usually taking place within a wedding service to symbolize the couples' commitment to one another. They are rich in culture ranging from ancient practices to modern day adaptations and rooted in cultures from around the world. Rituals are a wonderful compliment to any wedding service, and can be combined or modified for your perfect ceremony. They can even take place as a separate event on the big day or a stand alone ceremony for other occasions.
The ring exchange is the most common ritual in contemporary weddings. It symbolizes the eternal bond between the bride and groom, and is a daily reminder of the vows you take in matrimony.
Other than exchanging rings, the most common rituals included in weddings today are those that involve and demonstrate two becoming one.
A sand ceremony, where couples pour sand into a container, or onto an artwork which becomes a beautiful keepsake and physical representation of their marriage vows.
A tree planting where their love will continue to flourish and become stronger as they grow together over the years.
Lighting candles, to represent their burning love, and guiding light they provide for one another.
There are as many ways to show unity as there are couples, and all are lovely expressions to include in your special day.
Verse readings are wonderful way to include your own personal values into your ceremony. Whether they be passages of inspiration, or deeply rooted in your religious foundation, they are a great way to personalize the service, as well as a reminder of the values you wish to bring to your new life as a married couple.
Verse readings can also include the reciting of mantras, or excerpts from any religious text or tradition.
Wedding prayers, which can be religious or of non-religious intent, often include requests for blessings, guidance, strength, and unity for the couple in their marriage. They can also express gratitude and celebrate the couple's love. Some common themes include prayers for patience, kindness, joy, and a strong foundation for their future together.
Having loved ones perform songs or read poetry at a wedding personalizes the celebration, adding a unique and heartfelt touch. It creates a more intimate atmosphere, and can help guests connect with the couple on a deeper level. Additionally, it can make the wedding day more memorable and special, and enhance the sense of joy and celebration.
These ceremonies are deeply rooted in latinix and phillipino traditions. Where a couple is bound by a lazo (lasso)/cord presented by two loved ones, representing unity. A veil, presented by two additional loved ones, is then draped over the couple to represent their ultimate commitment to protect one another.
The Arras tradition is an exchanging of coins between the bride and groom to symbolize prosperity, trust and unity.
These traditions are a wonderful way to bring participation from your loved ones into the service, and bring a sense of community to your big day.
Smudging is an antient indigenous ritual performed to cleanse the couple of negative energy and bring peace and purity into the moment. The bride and groom take turns fanning each other with the smoke from a sage stick so they may begin their married life with positive energy and a fresh start.
Blessings of the Elements is a meaningful wedding ritual that honors the four natural elements—earth, water, air, and fire. In this ceremony, the couple, and sometimes their guests, receive blessings from each element. All symbolizing a unique kind of support for the marriage: earth for stability, water for emotion, air for communication, and fire for passion. This ritual invites the strength and wisdom of the natural world into the couple’s union.
This is a non-traditional exchange of crowns. It was originally inspired by the Irish Crowing Ceremony, and pairs well with any Irish or other traditions for a truly unique wedding flair.
Each crown is blessed and presented to the couple, and much like the exchanging of rings, the bride and groom state vows before placing the crown upon the other's head. The couple is then presented as the king and queen of their new life together. Their crowns representing their commitment to shared responsibilities, leadership and equality in their marriage.
Hand fasting is an ancient Celtic tradition that symbolizes the joining of two souls. In ancient times, this would take place beneath a sacred tree prior to the wedding ceremony.
The bride and groom join hands, and a cord/rope is wrapped around them. With each pass of the cord around their hands they are reminded of their vows to one another. Once complete the couple has symbolically "tied the knot." Handfasting is a lovely ritual to incorporate a visualization of warmth and unity to your wedding ceremony.
The Hawaiian Lei Ceremony is very similar to that of the ring exchange, and is a beautiful and refreshing tradition. Classically, it is performed in the same manner as the ring ceremony, where the vows are spoken and the leis are exchanged. However, it is not uncommon to see this ritual utilized, today, as part of the ring exchange, where a couple will adorn each other with flowers, and then place their rings on one another's finger.
Washing each other’s feet is a powerful and intimate gesture that symbolizes humility, love, and a lifelong commitment to serving one another. Rooted in biblical tradition, this act reflects the heart of a marriage built on mutual respect and selflessness. It serves as a quiet but profound promise to care for each other with grace, to lead with compassion, and to walk together in love and humility throughout the journey ahead.
Jumping the broom is a Black wedding tradition rooted in the tribal traditions of Africa. The ritual involves the couple jumping over a broom to symbolize their union and new beginning. It's often done after the vows and rings are exchanged and before the couple walks up the aisle as newlyweds. The broom is sometimes passed down through generations or gifted to the couple as a keepsake, and is usually decorated by loved ones with ribbons and other adornments.
Breaking the glass is a deeply symbolic Jewish ritual, done as a reminder of the fragility of life and love, and the importance of treating marriage with care and reverence. The sound of the glass breaking honors the memory of the destruction of the Holy Temples in Jerusalem, connecting the moment to Jewish history and resilience as a people. Typically, the glass is wrapped in cloth and placed on the ground before the groom or sometimes both partners, then is stepped on, solidifying the transition into a sacred and lasting union.
The Kiddush cup holds deep spiritual significance in the Jewish faith. It is a special, often beautifully crafted cup used during the Kiddush blessing (a prayer recited over wine or grape juice to sanctify sacred moments). The Kiddush marks the holiness of the union and the beginning of a new chapter together. After the blessing is recited, the newlyweds share a drink from the cup, symbolizing their shared joy, commitment, and the sacred bond of their marriage.
While the Kiddush Cup is specifically a Jewish tradition, there are other variations of the ritual that allow for any couple to partake in the symbolism of this tradition.
In a Jewish wedding, the signing of the ketubah is a cherished tradition. It is a beautifully designed marriage contract which outlines the couple’s commitments and is signed by the couple, witnesses, and often the officiant before the ceremony. Both legal and symbolic, the ketubah reflects the sacred promises of marriage and is often displayed as a lasting reminder of those vows.
Circling the groom is another long standing Jewish tradition. After they arrive at the chuppah, the bride circles the groom seven times. This symbolizes the seven days of creation and represents the creation of a new home together, and the intertwining of their lives.
At Hindu weddings, it is customary to begin with a puja, or sacred prayer, to invite divine presence and blessings upon the couple. Most often, the ceremony opens with the Ganesh Puja, a heartfelt invocation to Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles. This prayer seeks his guidance so that the rituals may flow smoothly for the couple. Other deities may also be honored throughout the ceremony, each prayer offered to invoke blessings, good fortune, and commune with the divine.
Saptapadi is a Hindu tradition where the bride and groom take seven symbolic steps around a sacred fire. Each step represents a vow they make to each other while a mantra is recited, and symbolizes the couple's union for seven lifetimes.
The most common ritual of Hindu weddings, is the Mangal Phera ceremony, which involves the couple circling a sacred fire four times. Each circle around the fire represents a different aspect of life: Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire/pleasure), and Moksha (liberation/self-realization). Some variations of this ritual include the principles of saptapadi, and the couple circles the fire seven times, including their vows with each pass. The act of circling the fire together symbolizes the union of the couple and their commitment to their shared journey. It is common for priests, family or the officiant to chant mantras during the circling, and sometimes knot tying is used to represent the official union of the couple.
Hinduism is multifaceted, and has many variations, which makes this tradition easy to modify and incorporate into other wedding traditions.
Jailmala or Varmala is the Hindu exchange of floral garlands. Much like the Hawaiian Lei Ceremony, Varmala uses the garland of flowers as a symbol of acceptance, love and harmony. They represent the union of families, and mark the moment the couple become officially married.
Guided meditation is becoming a popular addition to many wedding ceremonies. Drawing from Buddhist tradition, it offers a moment of stillness, allowing the couple and their guests to center themselves, release distractions, and focus on love, connection, and the sacredness of the moment.
In the Buddhist tradition, "circling the Buddha" (circumambulation), is a devotional practice of walking around a sacred object, such as a Buddha statue, as a gesture of deep respect. It symbolizes the path toward wisdom and compassion. When included in a wedding ceremony, this ritual serves to bless the couple’s union and invite spiritual guidance and harmony into their married life.
It is also common to see offerings of flowers, incense and food made to idols, like the buddha. The offerings represent deep respect for the dedication it takes to attain enlightenment, as well as wishes for the couple to achieve it together.
The Anand Karaj is an inspiring wedding ceremony of the Sikh tradition, where the bride and groom, as well as their parents, are seated around their holy book, Guru Granth Sahib. After the reciting of the Ardas (blessings), the couple walk four circles around the Guru Granth Sahib together while the Laavan (hymns) are sung. Each circle symbolizes part of the journey toward spiritual union, and represents a teaching from Guru Ram Das Ji; Duty, Knowledge, Spiritual Discipline, and Divine Grace. The ceremony is typically concluded with reciting the final Ardas, and the enjoyment of pudding or sweet desserts.
The Chinese tea ceremony is a cherished wedding tradition that symbolizes respect, gratitude, and the joining of families. During the ceremony, the newlyweds kneel and offer tea to their parents and/or grandparents, as a gesture of honor and appreciation. In return, the elders share blessings, words of wisdom, and red envelopes containing monetary gifts, to wish the couple happiness, prosperity, and a harmonious life together. It's a heartfelt moment that beautifully blends cultural heritage and family connection.
The ancient tradition of water pouring in Thailand is a beautiful ceremony, where guests pour water from conch shells over the bride's and groom's hands. It symbolizes the flow of positive energy, purity, luck and new beginnings.
The bride and groom sit at a ceremonial table with their hands bound together. Their guests offer their warmest wishes as they pour the water over the hands of the newlyweds.
The Korean Traditional Paebaek Tea Ceremony was historically a private ritual after the wedding where the groom's family formally accepted the bride into their home and also allowed the bride to pay her respects to the groom's family and relatives. Today, this ceremony can be performed as part of a wedding service, and usually fits well as part of the reception.
The couple honor the groom's parents by offering an array of various delicacies. They bow with full and half bows to the parents before seating themselves and then serve the groom's parents tea or rice wine. The parents then toss dates and walnuts to the happy couple to offer blessings of children. This can also be repeated with the bride's parents to demonstrate equality and inclusion.
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