Sand Ceremony, Unity Candle, Other?

BrightFirefly

Happy Saturday ladies. We're iced in. My car is a solid sheet of ice. Not scraping that off today! Sitting here drinking some delicious blueberry tea - rather than working on homework ::gasp ::

Are you ladies having any special "ceremonies" within your ceremony? For example, a sand ceremony or a unity candle?

I REALLY like the sand ceremonies - and I've found some great "readings" - in particular this one - that I absolutely love.

"Today, BRIDE and GROOM, have chosen to commemorate their marriage through the celebration of the Sand Ceremony. This ceremony symbolizes the inseparable union of BRIDE and GROOM into a new and eternal marital relationship. Bride and Groom will simultaneously pour separate containers of sand into a common vessel. Each grain of sand in their separate containers represents a unique and separate moment, decision, feeling or event that helped shaped Bride and Groom into the separate and unique individuals that they are today. As they pour their separate containers of sand into a common vessel, those separate and independent individuals will cease to exist. Instead they will merge into a loving and supportive marital community. BRIDE and GROOM, just as the grains of sand can never be separated into their individual containers again, so will your marriage be."

Madisonpenny

We're doing a Handfasting ceremony.  It's an Irish tradition.

penny12986

We are having a reading but not a unity ceremony.  They just aren't us and we think of the whole ceremony as an act of unity.

Elinetrouwt

We're not having any. The vows and readings will be enough.

I'd love a handfasting though, but it's really not our culture or 'us' in any other way.

BrightFirefly

What's hand fasting exactly?

I could so google it..but...I'm lazy.

mekiakoo

We will do an unity candle or a sand one. Haven't discussed this with our officiant. We will next month.

Skyjewell23

We are doing a sand ceremony.

michelle11988

We are doing a unity candle.  I found really cheap candlestick holders and such at Ikea so that was the most cost effective way and they are something that looks reusable in our house decor.

Madisonpenny

Here's a link to a hand fasting ceremony. Click HERE

Nati05

We're doing wine box and letter ceremony. The link below explains what it is. I want to get this box for it too (2nd link)

http://www.celebrateintimateweddings.com/lovebox.html

http://supergiftplace.weddingstar.com/product/love-letter-ceremony-box-set#reviews

ETA: The second link I posted also has lots of stuff for sand ceremonies Bright...!

BrightFirefly

Nati,

That's really cool - I've never seen anything like that before.

BeachLover2885

The love letter ceremony sounds so interesting!! I also haven't heard of it before.

We are having an interfaith ceremony (FI is Jewish and I was raised Catholic). Neither of us are very religious, and I would have been happy having a completely nonreligious ceremony, but FI really wanted to have some Jewish elements. We are doing a few traditions from both, so we will have a unity candle.  My mom found a great set on etsy.  I think it'll be a nice keepsake for after the wedding.  FI is also stepping on the glass and the minister is going to recite a Hebrew blessing.  

BmoreBride311

We are doing the wine box, as well. Our friends did it at their wedding last month, and FI and I fell in love with the idea. 

elizabethmae315

We are going to do a Unity Candle, its something more spiritual to me than sand. 

One of my bridesmaids is a talented singer/songwriter and will be singing a song she wrote during the candle lighting. 

ginadog

Does handfasting always involve tying the hands?  I read one where is was just holding hands and that seems to be what most people do anyway, right?

We're trying to think of one Irish element and one Norwegian element to add to the ceremony to represent our heritages.

MeaganR12

We're doing the wine box and letter ceremony like Nati posted. I actually think I originally got the idea from her. Or maybe it was Littlemoments. I like it because it's not very common and It has a lot of meaning behind it.

Rebis58

We're doing the wine box ceremony, as well. I have been searching for a box to use but haven't found one I love yet! The one you posted is pretty, Nati. The picture in my head is more of an antique-y look, but I'll keep that link for a backup!

littlemoments324

We're doing the love letter/wine box ceremony as well!    (yes, i think you both got the idea from me...).  We didn't want to do the lighting of the candles, like others have said that the ceremony is more of a unity...the sand ceremony just wasn't for us...I think the love letter idea for us has more meaning & we're looking forward to our 25th wedding anniversary to open them!!  Also, we're going to write another letter to each other to place in the box with the 1st ones & open the box again for our 50th anniversary (or by them, maybe god forbid, we don't make it to our 50th because one of us has passed).

I'm getting so excited!

Madisonpenny

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_sand-ceremony-unity-candle-other?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:3f377a7d-305e-4c12-a264-5ff6faa9889cPost:82134c97-afaa-4b09-bf16-86066506ae9f">Re: Sand Ceremony, Unity Candle, Other?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Does handfasting always involve tying the hands?  I read one where is was just holding hands and that seems to be what most people do anyway, right?</strong> We're trying to think of one Irish element and one Norwegian element to add to the ceremony to represent our heritages.
Posted by ginadog[/QUOTE]

We're not tying our hands..I posted a link up top about it, it has 2 versions, we're doing the lower version, we're only gonna hold our hands onto of one another.  It kindda works though, we both have Irish in us and I really wanted to have an Irish element in our wedding plus our officiant is an Irish Reverand from Ireland and he has a bit of a thick accent.

pillsburyaj

We are forgoing the unity candle (venue is a historical building, so no flames) and the unity sand. I was hoping to find another thing we could do, but I think I am just going to nix that whole thing altogether. 

Lisariqua

You know I hadn't put much thought into this. I just told my FI about this thread and we have decided on the sand ceremony.

shelby8020

i love the diea of the love letter box!!!!! ive never heard of that before, its so unique!!!

butterflyjumper1

the love letter box sounds amazing!!! we are planning to do a unity since we are having a traditional ceremony at my church. we are meeting with our minister next week and will discuss more details then!!