6 Fun and Unique Unity Ceremony Ideas

One common wedding day tradition is a unity ceremony which usually consists of lighting a unity candle! Anyone that’s been to a wedding has likely seen this and knows what I’m talking about, but what if I were to tell you that lighting a candle together isn’t the only option for a unity ceremony? There are actually quite a few fun ideas that I’ve come across in my years as a Colorado wedding photographer that I thought would be fun to share with you!

What is a Unity Ceremony

A unity ceremony, like the name implies, is a traditional wedding ceremony that symbolizes the union between the couple on their wedding day. It’s a relatively newer wedding tradition, with origins dating back only to the 1970’s! The most common form of a unity ceremony is the couple lighting a single candle together, but as we’re about to see there are plenty of other fun ways that you can symbolize your union in your own unique way!

6 Fun Alternatives for Unity Ceremonies

1. Make a PB&J

My first, and probably favorite, alternative on the list is a unity PB&J! That’s right, a couple can make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich together to cement their union to one another in a fun and tasty way! Each partner will have one slice of bread, one will have a jar of peanut butter, the other a jar of jelly. They’ll put their respective condiment onto their bread slice and then combine them into one! This is such a cute idea that my couple Nikki and Dillion included in their wedding! And as a bonus you also have a nice little snack to share together after you two are officially newlyweds!!

2. Get Tattoos

Getting matching tattoos on your wedding day can be an awesome unity ceremony alternative for the right couple! Whether you get tattoos instead of rings, or in addition to your rings, either way there’s nothing quite like a permanent matching tattoo with the love of your life to showcase how deep your connection to one another goes!! You likely won’t want to have your tattoos done at your ceremony as it will take some time for the artist to complete them, and for them to heal. You could hire a flash tattoo artist for your wedding reception, but again that will take time from your wedding day that you could be spending with your guests and partner instead.

With that in mind I recommend getting your tattoos done either before or after your wedding day to keep things simple. And if they’re done prior to your wedding day, as long as they’re in an appropriate spot, you can show them off to your guests once your wedding day arrives!

3. Warming of the Rings

A fun and sentimental alternative for a unity ceremony is the warming of the rings. This is a moment during your ceremony where prior to exchanging wedding rings your guests in attendance will pass them around to one another. Each guest will touch and “warm” the wedding rings, showing their love and support for you two as you begin this next chapter of your relationship together. This is a great idea for couples that share a strong and deep connection with their loved ones. Just keep in mind that this can take a little bit of extra time for those bigger weddings!!

4. Plant a Tree Together

This next unity ceremony alternative is something the environmentalist in me is a HUGE fan of! Planting a unity tree is such a cool alternative as it’s not only a benefit to our environment, check out this article for other ways to be environmentally conscious for your wedding, but something that you can watch change and grow alongside your relationship. When it comes to the logistics of planting a tree together there are a couple different routes you can take. Depending on where your wedding takes place you may be able to plant your tree on site or nearby. If that is not the case though you can plant your tree in a pot for your unity ceremony and then transfer it to your yard or another location once you’re home!

5. Make a Cocktail Together

I know some couples LOVE to make and try new mixed drinks with one another, and this is the perfect unity ceremony alternative for them! This can be a classic drink that you both love, or something special the two of you have come up with on your own. It’s a great way to get the party started early, and especially fun if your mixed drink happens to be a signature drink for your reception!!

6. Handfasting

Handfasting is the final option I have listed for an alternative unity ceremony, and is actually a wedding tradition that’s been around FAR longer than the traditional unity ceremony! The tradition originated in ancient Ireland according to Brides, ALL the way back in 7000 BC and likely even earlier. The ceremony, which now has become a more common tradition even in non religious weddings, involves the couple having their hands tied or “fastened” together during their ceremony. This is meant to symbolize their unity and how their lives are now bound together as they embark on their journey through life together! It’s a fun alternative for those looking to add a bit more of a historic and traditional touch to their wedding day, especially if they’re of Irish descent!!

While not every wedding will include a unity ceremony, I hope that seeing these alternative ideas to the candle lighting ceremony at least got you thinking about including them into your day! It’s such a fun moment for your wedding day, and a tradition that can really look like anything you want it to be. There are so many other possible ways to have a unity ceremony that I didn’t even list here. If you have an idea for your own spin on the unity ceremony you want to include in your wedding day I’d love to hear it! Send me an inquiry through my contact page and we can book your wedding date today and start planning it out together!!