Unity Ceremonies
A Unity Ceremony can hold significant meaning within a service or celebration. You can use these elements / symbolic gestures for all different types of ceremony.
​
More and more couples are turning to use these elements to heighten the ceremony experience.
​
Using symbolic gesture helps to mark the transition between the way things were - to stepping across a threshold to a newer world such as; a new beginning milestone, a new commitment you are making to someone, or a farewell to someone or something you held dear.
It unites everyone in an experience which is not just through the spoken word but through an action, such as hand fasting or the lighting of candles. It offers a more 'sensed' experience and will be remembered for years to come.
​
You may have some of your own personal ideas about what your Unity Ceremony could include.
I would be delighted to work with you to help you weave it all into you special personalised ceremony.
Marking the moment of your memorable milestone with a Unity Ceremony
Hand fasting
The history of hand fastening is where the phrase "tied the knot" originated.
If you type "hand fasting" into YouTube you will see some videos of how it works.
I tend to use ribbons instead of rope and I encourage involving other family members to choose a ribbon to share a well wish with you and then place the ribbon around your hands. So they can also be involved in the moment you make your commitments.
​
Hand fasting unites you both symbolically. It can be incredibly moving experience for everyone present at your special ceremony.
Sand Ceremony
A sand ceremony is a special way to bring together families who come from different countries.
It is a moment to unite together all the special people in your life as you make your commitment.
Each of the immediate members of the family can pour their sand into a vase.
The vase will remain as a keepsake forever and remind you of your special day.
Memory boxes or memory boats
This is a lovely way to include children for memorials or interment of ashes.
​
They can write a memory and put it in a box and share the memory at the service with everyone.
​
If your memorial or interment is near water, you can create memory boats and send them off into the water.
Alternatively some people choose to place notes on balloons and set them off into the sky.
Wine Ceremony
A wine ceremony usually takes place after the exchanging of vows/rings/gifts.
The couple will take their respective wines and poor them into a single glass which they will then both drink out of.
It is common for the couple to toast three times.
​
A great option for wine lovers.
A wishing Tree
Here you can include your guests in your celebration or memorial service by asking them to write a well wish to you as a couple and your future together or to remember the special qualities of a loved one who has passed.
​
This ceremony can be opened with a poem for the well wishing to begin.
Lighting candles for those you've lost
The lighting of a candle can hold a lot of meaning. It is remembering the light of those we've lost at an important family occasion; a beginning milestone, a commitment and farewells.
​
It is symbolic in representing the continual light shining, keeping a memory alive and taking that moment to remember those we held dear so they are not forgotten.
An Oathing Stone
For couples who feel close to nature and would like to experience a heartfelt symbolic gesture. This can be by saying their vows while holding a stone or it can be passing a stone around friends and family to hold it and have a moment to wish you well. The stone will then hold the love and energy of their words.
​
Couple's often engrave the stone after the commitment ceremony.
The Scottish Celtic tradition is a way of setting your oaths in stone forever more. It could be where the phrase "you are my rock" came from.
Water and Salt
For memorials or interment of ashes.
If your ceremony takes place in the elements we arrange a bowl of water and a a bowl of salt, each person pours some salt into the water and says a well wish for their loved one. Each person takes a turn to do this. At the end the water is poured into the ground., where the thoughts shared are forever sewn into the fabric of the earth.
