Unity Ceremonies

Unity ceremonies are a chance to make your ceremony a little more you. They can be symbolic, sentimental, cultural, spiritual, playful, or a combination. From lighting a candle to blending something meaningful, these rituals give you a moment to pause, celebrate what brought you here, and symbolize the life you’re choosing to build together.

A unity ceremony may include:

  1. Hand Fasting “Tying the Knot”

  2. Champagne or Mixed Cocktail Ceremony

  3. Love Letter Ceremony (Box Keepsake)

  4. Blending of the Sands

  5. Unity Candle

A tall, arched window in a red brick building with peeling white paint on the window frame, with green foliage and trees visible outside.
A couple exchanging wedding rings during a wedding ceremony, with an officiant standing behind them in front of a window.

Hand Fasting “Tying the Knot”

This is one of the most popular unity ceremonies we have seen. A beautiful and symbolic ritual with roots in Celtic tradition, handfasting involves gently binding your hands together with ribbons, rope, or fabric. Each wrap represents a promise or intention for your marriage, creating the literal symbolism of “tying the knot.” Colours and materials can also be chosen to hold personal meaning.

A row of vintage books titled 'The World's Great Classics' on a wooden shelf, including volumes on Persian and Egyptian literature.

Champagne or Mixed Cocktail Ceremony

A toast to the life you’re building together. Each partner pours a beverage into a shared glass before each take a sip. You can keep it simple and celebratory, or you can include all of your guests. At one of our previous ceremonies the couple made a mimosa while they were doing this mimosa’s were served to the guests. This could also be done with a signature cocktail.

A large glass beverage dispenser with pink-colored drink and ice, with a spout, placed on a metal stand on a table, with empty glasses in the background.

Love Letter Ceremony (Box Keepsake)

Take a moment during your ceremony to place your vows, or other special items in keepsake box. The box can be opened on a future anniversary, or whenever you need a reminder of the promises and feelings you shared on your wedding day. You can also add photographs, mementos, or other meaningful items to the box. We took this one step further at our wedding and used the box as our guest book.

A globe sitting on a table by a window with natural light. The globe is an antique-style world map and is slightly tilted. The background includes objects like a red item and blurred decorations, with a dark shadowed area on the right.
A globe sitting on a table by a window with natural light. The globe is an antique-style world map and is slightly tilted. The background includes objects like a red item and blurred decorations, with a dark shadowed area on the right.

Blending of the Sands

Each partner pours a different colour of sand into a shared vessel, creating a unique pattern that represents two individual lives becoming intertwined. This keepsake can be displayed in your home as a lasting reminder of your wedding day. Families or children can also participate by adding their own sand.

A woman with a flower crown and glasses smiling at a man during a wedding ceremony, holding a rope. The man is looking down at the ropes, dressed in a vest and shirt. An officiant in a cream suit stands in the background, gesturing with his hands in front of a large window.

Unity Candle

We often see this type of unity ceremony performed in a church. In this case each partner lights a smaller candle before using the flames from those candles to light one larger candle together. The ritual symbolizes two individual lives joining together while still retaining their own light and individuality. Parents, children, or other loved ones can also be invited to participate.

A cozy dining table set with a bouquet of flowers in a glass vase, salt and pepper shakers, and folded napkins with cutlery, in a warmly lit restaurant with wooden chairs and shelves filled with various items in the background.
Sign for The Knox wedding and event venue in front of a red brick building with a lawn and lush greenery.
Sign for The Knox wedding and event venue in front of a red brick building with a lawn and lush greenery.
A brown leather guest book with engraved text and date, resting on a dark wooden surface, with a teal cloth and decorations nearby.

Micro-Wedding Captured by: Josh Sauer

A cozy porch with wooden flooring, decorated with colorful cushions on chairs, surrounded by green plants and flowers, with sunlight filtering through the trees.