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Readings to Use at Weddings Sand Ritual

two grooms pour sand into a glass vase

Whether y'all're researching wedding unity ceremony ideas for religious or cultural reasons, or you're simply looking for unique ways to personalize your hymeneals vows, in that location are a handful of unity anniversary ideas that you tin can consider incorporating into your big day. Some of these popular wedding rituals accept religious origins, while other unique unity anniversary ideas are easily adaptable for secular and not-denominational weddings. You lot might already exist familiar with some of the more common options—such every bit lighting a unity candle, sand ceremony, or breaking a slice of glass—but this guide volition ultimately help y'all choose the best ane when yous're tying the knot. Continue reading to learn more than about the well-nigh popular unity ceremony ideas and their meanings.

When should yous do your unity anniversary?

It's important to remember that the exact order of your wedding ceremony ceremony will depend on your religion, culture, and personal preferences. Near unity rituals are performed after your officiant'south remarks, shortly before you exchange vows and wedding rings, which is then followed by the celebratory offset kiss.

Who should you include in your unity anniversary?

Certain wedding anniversary unity ideas will ever include family unit members and loved ones, especially during cultural or religious ceremonies. For secular and not-denominational unity rituals, who you include is entirely up to y'all. If yous and/or your partner have children and y'all're merging families together, information technology'south mutual to include your children in the unity ceremony too.

Religious Wedding ceremony Ideas

bride and groom braiding cords

Cord of three strands

This popular nuptials ceremony ritual has Biblical origins. Every bit described in Ecclesiastes iv:12, the cord of iii strands (as well known as God'southward knot) is the about difficult cord to destroy or tear apart. The iii strands represent you, your partner, and God joining equally one. You can utilize loose cords of whatsoever kind for this ritual, just if you desire to turn the braid into a keepsake after your hymeneals day, yous can easily notice decorative unity boards made especially for this tradition on sites like Etsy and Amazon.

bride and groom pes washing ritual <li>brett loves elle photography

Foot washing anniversary ritual

Foot washing is a Christian wedding ceremony ritual inspired by the Bible verses John 13: ane-17 in which Jesus washes his disciples' feet. Information technology is usually done to symbolize the couple's service, humility and commitment to each other.

groom stomps on glass at outdoor wedding ceremony

Breaking the glass

This Jewish wedding tradition takes identify after the rabbi announces the newlyweds as a married couple. The groom smashes a wrapped piece of drinking glass with his foot, which is followed past applause and a cheer of "Mazel tov!" from the guests. Tradition says that the couple will remain married for as long as the glass is shattered, while others believe it symbolizes the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

bride and groom are showered with petals while wearing stefana crowns

Stefana crowns

At Greek Orthodox weddings, the stefana crowns are almost more of import than your actual wedding rings. During the ceremony, crowns are placed on the couple's heads by the priest, accompanied by blessings. The crowns are and so interchanged between the couple three times before being tied together with ribbons to symbolize an official unbreakable marriage.

red and orange mandap at outdoor vineyard wedding venue

Saptapadi

This wedding unity ceremony idea is a performed at most Hindu weddings. The saptapadi, which means 7 steps and resembles the seven vows of wedlock in Hinduism, takes place around a sacred fire below the mandap—a square structure that is usually lavishly busy with material and flowers. While holding easily, the couple walk seven steps around the fire, alternating who leads. Upon completing the steps, the couple are officially married.

Cultural Nuptials Unity Rituals

bride and groom jump over broomstick decorated with flowers

Jumping the broom

This tradition dates dorsum to the 1800s and is believed to have origins in western African weddings and Wiccan communities. Jumping the broom takes place at the very stop of the hymeneals ceremony, later on the officiant pronounces the couple as officially married. The newlyweds jump over a broomstick earlier the recessional to symbolize sweeping away their old lives and welcoming their new life together.

handfasting ceremony

Handfasting unity ceremony

The handfasting ceremony tradition is a Celtic wedding ritual with medieval roots. It involves bounden the couple's hands together with ribbons or cords to symbolize their marriage. In the middle ages, handfasting was used in place of a marriage license earlier weddings were recognized every bit legal responsibilities of the government and church. Each colored cord has its own meaning, such as white for purity or red for passion.

vietnamese-chinese wedding couple presenting tea cups to their parents

Chinese tea ceremony

During the Chinese tea anniversary, the couple pours cups of tea and presents them to parents and of import family unit members, such as parents and grandparents. This symbolizes ii families coming together as one and typically takes place in private before the actual wedding, with close relatives in attendance.

ring warming ritual during anniversary <li>jessika feltz photography

Ring warming ceremony

Believed to be an Irish or Gaelic wedding anniversary tradition, the warming of the rings takes place when the couple's wedding bands are passed around by guests during the ceremony. Each person is asked to briefly agree the rings in their hands while likewise saying a short, silent prayer for the couple (if desired). The rings are returned to the couple with blessings and positive energy for a long, happy marriage.

bride and groom hold bottle of bourbon that was dug up from the ground

Burial the bourbon tradition

Burying the bourbon is a Southern tradition that's said to prevent rain or bad weather condition on your special mean solar day. Exactly i month before your hymeneals, dig a hole at your anniversary site and bury an unopened bottle of bourbon (make sure that information technology's upside-downwardly). According to the superstition, y'all'll accept sunny skies for your wedding day! Right after you and your spouse say "I do," dig up the canteen and bask. While we're not positive that this works, we can't argue that it makes for a priceless photograph op.

bride and groom pose in traditional thai wedding attire

Water pouring ceremony

The h2o pouring ceremony is considered a symbol of good luck at Thai weddings. During this unity ritual, the couple are seated at a table and presented with headdresses or crowns, typically with a cord connecting the ii of them. The couple and then position their hands with their palms together and place them over trays to take hold of the h2o. Using a conch shell, their elder relatives take turns pouring blessed water over the couple's easily.

Secular Wedding Unity Ceremony Ideas

bride and groom light unity candle

Unity candle ceremony

The nuptials ceremony ritual of lighting a unity candle, which began well-nigh xxx or xl years ago, represents the joining of ii people and their families. Before the parents from both sides accept their seats, they (traditionally the mothers) each low-cal a taper candle and identify it next to a pillar candle that remains unlit throughout the anniversary. Afterward the couple exchanges their vows, they light the pillar candle using the flames from the taper candles, signifying several generations of commitment.

couple pours sand into a glass vase

Sand pouring ceremony

The verbal origins of this tradition are fuzzy, but sand pouring is one of the most pop wedding ceremony anniversary rituals around today. For this idea, the couple pours two separate vases of sand (usually in different colors) into the same vessel, creating a layered, one-of-a-kind pattern. From that point forward, information technology will exist impossible to always split up the colors, which represent the blending of two people forever. Many couples personalize this ritual by using sand from meaningful locations, and it'due south particularly popular for beach weddings and destination weddings.

wine bottle in a wooden box with two wine glasses

Wedding ceremony time sheathing

This is a newer hymeneals ceremony ritual, just we dear the romantic notion behind it. Before the wedding ceremony, you and your spouse write honey letters to each other and so seal or lock them inside a box during the anniversary. Traditionally, the letters are accompanied by a bottle of your favorite vino or champagne—and whatsoever other mementos y'all want to save as a emblem. You'll eventually open the wine box or fourth dimension capsule at a later date, such every bit an anniversary or life milestone.

couple drinks wine during wedding ceremony

Canteen of wine unity ceremony

Vino has been a symbol of life and prosperity for centuries. There are several variations of using wine during a wedding, especially at religious ceremonies, just a mutual option is to have two small carafes of wine, one white and i carmine. After exchanging rings, the couple pours the wines into a third carafe, creating a blend. They each take a sip of the mixed vino to stand for their individual lives condign ane.

sapling tree in terracotta pot decorated with couple's initials inside a heart

Unity tree planting ceremony

This hymeneals unity anniversary idea can be hands customized for any theme and personal mode. Information technology has no official religious or cultural ties, just the tradition itself symbolizes yous and your spouse beginning a new life together. Taking care of your sapling tree (or whichever type of plant you choose) will remind you to nurture each other throughout your marriage, even when the honeymoon stage fades! Like flowers, copse symbolize different things—for example, ruddy trees represent good fortune—so choose a type of tree that resonates with you the near. During this ritual, you lot and your spouse will have turns adding soil and water to the bulb.

bride and groom pour blue and black paint onto a blank canvas

Paint pouring ceremony

If you lot're looking for a fun way to personalize your wedding ceremony, you'll love the paint pouring ritual. The concept is simple: y'all and your partner pour two different paint colors onto a bare canvas to symbolize your lives coming together equally 1. The end result is a i-of-a-kind piece of art that y'all tin can display in your domicile after you're married.

Readings to Use at Weddings Sand Ritual

Source: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/wedding-ceremony-rituals-and-the-history-behind-them