Colorado Wedding Ministers

Adding an unity ceremony to your celebration adds that special touch that sets it apart from the crowd. It becomes more memorable not only for you, but also for your guests. And in many instances it creates a wonderful take home memory from your day! Below are a few of popular and unique unity ceremony ideas for you to explore and of course we are always open to new ideas!

Candle Lighting
This unity ceremony usually takes two tapers and one pillar candle. It symbolizes that your love is like a flame, that once lite always burns together. Many couples have parents or persons of honor light the tapers, then the couple takes the tapers and lights the pillar candle.
There are many different variations of this ceremony, and this is a unity ceremony that does need to have weather considered if this is being outdoors. If allowed by your venue, it’s a sweet and touching indoor ceremony that many couples enjoy.

Unity Sand/Candy
The symbolic blending of different-colored sand into a single vessel represents the blending together two people or even a family into one. Each person is represented by a different color and everyone takes a turn pouring in the sand/candies/salt. The premise of this unity is the reminder of not only how different you are, that together you are beautiful and can’t easily be separated. This is a perfect ceremony for blended families, or ones that are renewing their vows and would like to include their children.
 

Water
 This ceremony incorporates three containers, one empty, and two with colored water, usually yellow and blue. Each color has a meaning, yellow for joy and happiness, blue faithfulness, and trustworthiness. Green stands for growth, harmony, and endurance. And yes, when blended the water becomes green for stability, endurance, and growth. This unity ceremony isn’t performed very often but when it does it creates an amazing ohhhh and ahhh factor!

Unity Cross /Unity Heart
 Unity Cross or Unity Heart is a multi-piece sculpture that you build together representing how you as two people are now leading one life together. One person places the outer piece of either the cross or the heart in the base as the Officiant explains how you were created as two halves of a whole. The other person then places the inner piece, representing that you both work together to create that whole. Lastly the couple places the pegs to hold the pieces together, completing the unity.
This ceremony can be created as a nondomination unity or it can be done with religious phrasing. Both are beautiful and create a lovely reminder of your day.

Blessing Stones
This unity ceremony has lots of different variations. One variation is that the couple places baskets of washed smallish river rocks, about 2-3 inches are placed near the ceremony site. The guests are invited to pick up a rock and hold it though the ceremony. At one point in the ceremony the guests are asked to bless the rock. Then the rocks are collected and placed in a jar on display in the couple’s home. Another is that after the ceremony the guests write good wishes or blessings that they wished for during the ceremony on the rocks with Sharpies, then the couple again places them in a jar or even polyurethanes them and places them in special locations in their yards. Some ceremonies just ask the guests to write on the rocks afterwards which now also can double as a signature book too!
Each one of these variations creates a fun atmosphere and works well with rustic wedding themes!

Medallion or Jewelry Unity
A unique unity ceremony where the couple gifts jewelry, usually engraved bracelets or necklaces with their children or parents. This is a very touching ceremony with blended families with children.

Breaking of the Glass
The breaking of the glass is one of the most beloved traditions of a Jewish wedding ceremony. One or two glasses, usually champagne or wine glasses are put in a cloth bag. After the blessing one or both of the newly wedded couple steps, stomps or even jumps on the cloth bag, breaking the glass inside. In the Jewish community, breaking the glass at a wedding is a symbolic prayer and hope that your love for one another will remain until the pieces of the glass come together again, or in other words, that your love will last forever. It is usually done at the end of the wedding ceremony with all the guests being invited to say “Mazel Tov” meaning Good Luck!

Salt Covenant
During ancient times, salt used as payments and promised, and then called a Salt Covenant. Just a pinch of salt could be used, transferred from one person’s salt to another with the knowledge that those salt crystals couldn’t be separated. Therefore, the agreement couldn’t be broken because they couldn’t retrieve their salt. Another unity ceremony that is very similar to others, but has a distinctive feature is that we know that salt is a preservative, that the exchange of salt implies a long-lasting marriage.  We all know salt is used on ice, so in exchanging salt, we hope that helps keep your relationship from getting coldhearted. And we know that salt add flavor so it is hoped your new marriage will have flavor, spice, preventing a marriage that isn’t dull.
This is a wonderful unity for a vow renewal and is recommended for indoor and outdoor ceremonies, but if being used outdoor, care must be taken that the salt doesn’t get wet.
Also, this is a great addition to weddings that have a Celtic overtone as many times it was also used along with handfasting and is much quicker if ceremony time is an issue.

Wine
In this unity ceremony, the couple takes a bottle of wine and pours two glasses for themselves. As they pour the wine, the officiant explains that the wine signifies the friends and family members of the couple. As they pour the wine the officiant explains that the wine signifies the friends and family members of couple. The officiant will then let the couple drink the wine, indicating that they are blending together their separate lives into one, creating a new family and friends.
This also can be modified to 1 glass of wine, shots, or even as a champagne toast for everyone!

Wine with Love Letter Box
This addition allows you to write letters to each other, telling each other how you fell in love, what it means to you and what your heart has to say. These letters are sealed and placed in a box, with the thought that you will open them on an anniversary, or when there is a challenge in your relationship. Many couples also add the bottle of wine they drank from to this box; however we do recommend using an unopened bottle as the opened bottle may leak over time.
You do not have to add the wine, and this is a quick unity to be added to any celebration, including an elopement. You can even substitute your letter with your personal vows to be reread to each other again on an anniversary or a time of distress.

Chocolate
A popular unity ceremony with elopements. A fast, fun, and tasty way to tell each other you love one another and confirming your vows that you have just made. The premise this unity is that when you bit into the chocolates, it may be a bitter, signifying that life may hold some bitterness, some darkness. But then the sweetness of the chocolate comes through and lets you know that no matter what the sweet love you share will always conquer the darkness.

Roses
This unity ceremony celebrates those who are special in the couples lives. These roses are traditionally given to a female relative such as a mother, grandmother, aunt, or even a friend of the family. This can be done by the couple, the flower girl, or an honored guest. Also, the roses can be given between the couple showing their love for one another, and as their first gift to each other as a married couple. You can even choose colors to reflect the feelings that couple has for the rose recipient. For example- Red- love/passion, dark pink- appreciation/gratitude, yellow-friendship/joy, peach-friendship/joy. You can even just use roses that match your wedding colors.

Truce Bell
The philosophy behind this unity is that even though you are two people who love each other, at times you may have disagreements. This bell that is rung during your ceremony is reminder of that love and a signal for a break in the discussion. This bell can be a treasured heirloom or maybe a cool find at a local shop. It is usually placed in the central part of the home for that tangible reminder of your day and for easy access.

Tea
For many couples this small act pouring tea for each other, the get to show a very valuable characteristics of their relationship. The deep shared desire to express your love by doing things for one another, to help each other, and to look after wellbeing of your spouse. This unity shows that you can help each other, lean on each other for strength, encouragement and hope. You get to show appreciation and symbolizing humility along with trust. As with many unities, this can be easily adapted to include others and can generally be done in an outdoor setting.

Lasso
A traditional unity dating all the way back to the Aztecs, this unity has Christian overtones and can be used with a corded rope, flowers or even a special rosary. Typically, the couple has a couple, frequently called patrons who stand up and place the Lasso around the couples shoulders, in the form of an infinity symbol (a figure 8) after they have exchanged their vows, acknowledging their union. This is usually done by the officiant; however, family members can also take part in this ritual. The couple wears the lasso throughout the remainder of the service. The couple then wears it until the end of ceremony.

Arras or 13 Coins
  Possibly one of the oldest of all unity ceremonies, this unity may go all the way back to the Romans, when the custom was to break a gold or silver coin, with each half given to the wedding couple as the pledge of marriage. Another theory is that this unity originated in Spain, where the groom gave 13 gold coins to the bride to show that he could support her. With many ways of presentation, the most common ways are to have the ‘patrons’ bring up to the couple a tray or small golden box that contains 13 small gold coins. One of the ‘patrons’ gives the coins to one of the wedding couple, then counts out the coins to the other party, as the officiant explains what they mean. The 13 coins represent different values that the couple desire to share between themselves: love, harmony. cooperation, commitment, peace, happiness, trust, respect, caring, wisdom, joy, wholeness and nurturing. Once given the ceremony is reversed and the coins are given back to show their dedication to the marriage. Finally, the coins are collected and given back to the ‘patrons’ and they are now seated.
This unity ceremony is often combined with the Lasso unity and works in an outdoor and indoor setting.

Broom Jumping
The Jumping the Broom unity ceremony is one that has a long history in the United States, originally beginning around about the late 1700’s. But does the Broom stand for? History tells us that the straw of the broom represents family, the handle, God; and the ribbons, the ties that bind. There are many historical legends in why and how it was used, however almost all of them agree that the broom “swept away” their old life, and by “jumping the broom” they were taking a leap of faith together in their new lives.
Many couples have a person on honor hold the broom until the end of the ceremony, which they are invited to place the broom in front of the couple. The guests are then asked to help count 1-2-3 Jump! which then the couple together “jumps the broom”, kisses and then starts the recessional. The broom is quickly picked up and the rest of the wedding party exits. A small bit of practice in jumping the broom is very helpful, to make it as stress-free as possible.

Cord of Three Strands
The Cord of Three Strands unity is usually a religious ceremony that joins the couple together under God. That marriage relationship takes three; you, your soon to be spouse, and God. By braiding together, a gold cord for God, white and purple for the couple, it shows that you are joined for this life and beyond. The cords are usually attached to a ring, which can be fasted to a wooden plaque, or held by a person of honor.

Lovers Knot /Sailors Knot
This unity ceremony is the nondenominational version of the cord of three strands. The couple has two colored cords or ribbon, which as the officiant explains what they are about to do, the ties the cords into two fishermen’s knots and then pulls them tight. The knot is then the symbol of not only the love the couple has but also the strength of that love.

Handfasting
Handfasting is a traditional Celtic wedding ceremony, with many different variations. Very simply the term comes from the verb to hand-fast, which was used to make a temporary contract of marriage. The symbolic binding of the hands or wrists inspired the terms "bonds of holy matrimony" and "tie the knot." This custom has also been known the world over, through many different periods of history. It is also said that the handfasting tradition also comes from a time when rings were for the very rich, yet love knew no bounds and a simple cord represented commitment and love.
A cord of at least 5 feet is recommended and the wording used can vary from couple to couple. It can be made of ribbons, cordage, professionally or even made by the couple, with or with out charms, stones or other items that have a special significance. As the officiant performs the ceremony the cord is wrapped around the couple’s wrists or hands by either a person of honor or the officiant.

Corpse Bride or Ring, Candle, Cup

The “Corpse Bride” or Cup, Candle, Ring unity is a truly extraordinary ceremony, and one of our favorites to do. This is usually done with weddings that are themed or in October. But it is one of the most memorable. This ceremony requires at least 1 cup, 1 candle, and of course the rings. After doing this ceremony several times, we have mastered the tricky choreography, and even though we do recommend a bit of practice, we are able to have this special unity ceremony flow without any challenges.

Below is the quote from the movie-

“With this hand, I will lift your sorrows.

Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine.

With this candle, I will light your way in darkness.

With this ring, I ask you to be mine.”

German Wedding Cup
This wedding unity ceremony dates back centuries ago, in Germany. History has it that the father of the bride wanted a certain husband, and the bride had a different opinion on who to marry. After many heated discussions between the father and the daughter, the father gave in and gave the daughters choice an impossible task; make a cup that the bride and groom had to drink out of at the same time, but without handles. This somewhat challenging unity shows that two people in love can conquer any challenge together. Once the couple has drunk from the cup, wishes of love, faithfulness, and good luck are blessed on the newly wedded couple. 

(We suggest using straws!)

Tree Planting
The planting of a tree, plant or flower is perfect for any wedding ceremony, even if it’s just for the two of you, or if you want to include others in your unity celebration. This has so many different variations, but the most common and time economical variation is to already have a plant, tree or flower already in a pot, then the couple just adds dirt and water. The poem Tree of Love by Sandra E. McBride is one of the most commonly read during the tree/plant/flower unity ceremony.

Painting 
An out of the box unity that can be done a few different ways. It can be repainted and revealed at ceremony, or the paint can be poured/sprayed or added today of. Many couples or families place masking tape on the canvas for dates or even names. The premise behind this unity is that the painting is a reflection of your lives together. That once its painted there are light and dark areas, areas that you like and don’t like. Just like life, but blended together it creates a beautiful mix of colors that make up the world you live in.