SANDS OF UNITY ~ An alternative to the Unity Candle, 3 containers and colored sand is all that is needed.  This ceremony can involve the family members also with a joining of families. 

UNITY CANDLE LIGHTING ~ There are many traditions commonly included in marriage ceremonies, one of the most beautiful & expressive is the Unity Candle & can symbolize the joining of your lives & your families. 

BLENDED FAMILY ~ Studies show that children accept a parent’s remarriage more readily when they feel included in the wedding plans & are given a tangible symbol of being embraced by a new family.  Presentation of the Family Medallion or any other gift provides this message of love & affirmation. 

ROSE CEREMONY ~ In the elegant language of flowers, red roses are a symbol of love & the giving of a single red rose is a clear & unmistakable way of saying the words “I Love You”.  For this reason it is fitting that the first gift as Husband and Wife be the gift of a single red rose. 

ROSE GIFT CEREMONY ~ Bride and Groom get to honor the blending of families by presenting a rose to their mothers.  Usually performed at the beginning of the ceremony, after the welcome. 

ROSE QUARTZ CEREMONY ~ The rose quartz, is considered to be the love or passion stone.  This is a great way to include everyone at the wedding in a part of the ceremony & a good way to ensure that everyone will make contact with the bride & groom at some point during the day. 

SHELL BLESSING (Beach Weddings) ~ This lets newly wed couples get their wedding guests involved in the ceremony.  This involves giving each guest a seashell after the ceremony.  Everyone walks down to the water’s edge, says a personal blessing or a prayer for the new couple, and then each person tosses their shell into the ocean.  With a Special Seashell Blessing from the Officiant. 

BLESSING OF THE HANDS ~  The hands you are going to be holding on your wedding day are the hands you know you want to be holding for the rest of your life.  The Blessing of the Hands is a beautiful way to make your ceremony truly unique. 

WRAPPING OF THE HANDS ~ This is an ancient Celtic tradition, as you might have seen in Braveheart.  Because the hands convey the warmth of the heart and the infinity symbol conveys “forever”…wrapping of the hands also symbolizes the bringing together of your two hearts in a marriage of strength and unity. 

PARENTS BLESSING or BLESSING OF THE GATHERING~ This involves the parents of both the bride & groom, asking for their consent and acceptance of the new family member or the asking for the consent of the gathering, as a whole, for their blessings on the marriage.  Usually performed at the beginning of the ceremony, after the welcome. 

WINE CEREMONY ~ The cup of wine is symbolic of the pledges you make to one another to share together the fullness of life.  GLASS BREAKING ~ can be performed in connection with the Wine Ceremony. 

JUMPING THE BROOM ~ An African & Celtic ritual, this signifies the couples entrance into a new life with the creation of a new family and the sweeping away of their former single lives. 

FLOWER CEREMONY ~ This can be a family and/or friends ceremony.  Each designated person comes up and places a different flower in a vase to create a “garden of love”.  Every flower has its own meaning and as the designated person places their particular flower in the vase, they explain the meaning of the flower. 

BLESSING TO THE FOUR DIRECTIONS ~ In many ancient religious traditions, it is customary to bring a service of worship or celebration by calling on the four directions.  This is a way of symbolically inviting all of creation to be present and take part in the festivities. 

FOUR ELEMENTS CEREMONY ~ Don’t forget to consider the four elements in your wedding which, when balanced evenly, will create a harmonious and joyful occasion for your and your guests.  Because the elements affect all aspects of life, your wedding needs to have the same balance of each, water, air and fire that all life requires.