17 Popular Unity Ceremony Ideas for Weddings and Their Significance

If you’re looking for ways to make your wedding ceremony unique and special, there are several wedding unity ceremony ideas to inspire you. Whether you’re opting for a religious or secular wedding ceremony, there are different ways you can personalize your vows. Some of the unity ceremony ideas you might have heard of include lighting a unity candle, sand ceremony, or breaking a piece of glass. However, this guide offers insight into some other popular unity ceremony ideas and their meanings to help you choose what suits you best.

When to Perform Unity Ceremony

The order of your wedding ceremony is influenced by your culture, religion, and personal preferences. In most cases, unity rituals are performed after the officiant’s remarks, right before the couple exchange vows and rings, and then followed by the first kiss.

Who to Include in the Unity Ceremony

There are different ways to incorporate your family and loved ones in the unity ceremony. During cultural or religious ceremonies, including family members is essential. For secular and non-denominational unity rituals, who you include is entirely up to you. If you and your partner have children, you might consider including them in the unity ceremony.

Religious Wedding Ceremony Ideas

Cord of Three Strands

This unity ceremony idea originates from the Bible. As Ecclesiastes 4:12 describes, the cord of three strands (also known as God’s knot) is almost impossible to destroy. The three cords represent the couple, and God uniting them as one.

Foot Washing Ceremony Ritual

This ritual is inspired by John 13: 1-17 in which Jesus washes his disciple’s feet. It symbolizes the couple’s service, humility, and devotion to each other.

Breaking the Glass

This Jewish wedding tradition takes place after the rabbi announces the couple as married. The groom smashes a wrapped piece of glass, and the crowd cheers, “mazel tov!”

Stefana Crowns

At Greek Orthodox weddings, crowns are placed on the couple’s heads by the priest. The crowns are then interchanged between the couple three times before being tied together with ribbons to symbolize an official unbreakable union.

Saptapadi

Most Hindu weddings perform the saptapadi, meaning seven steps around a sacred fire beneath the mandap. The couple walks seven steps around the fire