We are having an outdoor wedding in the garden of an old Victorian home in our area. I love the idea of what a unity candle represents but am not keen on the candle idea itself as it gets breezy where we are.
I have done a lot of searches and just can't find anything that interests me yet. The sand idea is nice, but that really isn't us as well. The rose idea is nice, but I would like something a little less perishable.
What I am looking for is something to symbolize the two of us coming together in marriage (we already live together) and will also serve as a memento of our special day that we will have for years to treasure.
A little about us:
We are both in out late 30's
this is the first wedding for both of us
neither of us are religious or spiritual
Any suggestions would be great. We will be married October 4, 2008
Have you heard of the handfasting ribbon ceremony or the unity coins? Google those two to get all the info. But, if you're not spititual, these may not be for you either. If you want to use the candle, use a hurricane glass over it and that will stop the wind from blowing it out. Top Wedding Questions Forum Moderator - "Write your sorrows in the sand, your blessings in stone".
Im not familiar with anything other than the candle or sand my experiences have been related to a church cermony. THe hurricane lamp would certainly work unless your in a really stiff breeze.
A handfasting is a wiccan practice, and the Scots use a piece of each families tartan tied around each arm to signify the coming together. If your scottish that would work great!
I have never heard of unity coins but I have seen different colored oils used. It can be sealed once used but then I don't know the shelf life.
The best tokens are usually the tried and true. Your rings are a lasting reminder of your commitment as well.
"The basic handfasting. If the celebrant is using her prayer stole, she may first take the stole in her hands.
Celebrant: “This prayer stole indicates that something within yourselves yet infinitely greater than yourselves has joined you together. [Or: “This prayer stole indicates that God has joined you together.”] As your hands are bound, so are your hearts, minds, bodies and souls.”
The celebrant wraps their hands, closes her eyes in a few moments of silent prayer, and then unwraps their hands. The ritual may end there, or the celebrant may say the following words, adapted from a Celtic handfasting. Supporting the couple’s joined hands with her right hand from below:
Celebrant: “As you hold the hands of your beloved, listen to what I am about to say. Above you are the stars, below you is the earth, as time does pass, remember: Like the earth should your love be firm. Like a star should your love be constant, imbued with the light of God [or: imbued with light]. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage. Let the strength of your wills bind you together. Let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable.”
Another idea, The Unity Cup: In the Unity Cup, your celebrant first instructs you to drink from individual goblets of wine. She then pours a portion of each cup into a third larger goblet from which you will both drink. For words:
"(Bride) and (Groom), in marriage you commit to share all that life will bring. Whatever ever sweetness life contains will be sweeter because you share it. Whatever seeds of bitterness life contains will be less bitter because you share it."
Unity Ceremony Suggestions
