While the unity candle service has been steadily the most common unity feature in weddings, sand ceremonies have increased in popularity as well. After witnessing a “libation ceremony” a few months back, I decided to do a little research about various unity features.
Unity candles are common and popular, especially among Christian communities. Candle sets are sold at bridal and craft stores, and can be dressed up with ribbon and decals to continue the theme of the wedding. In a unity candle stand, one large pillar candle sits with two tapers on either side. During the parents’ procession, the mother of the groom lights the candle that is on the side that the groom stands, and the mother of the bride does the same on her side. Then, during the wedding ceremony, the minister discusses the meaning and instructs the bride and groom to light the center candle, unifying them, with the candles that their mothers lit. They then blow the tapers out, and only the unity candle remains burning. Lighting the unity candle symbolizes the new married life together as one; the flame itself symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Many couples display their unity candles in their home and light them on anniversaries.
The sand ceremony is of the same concept, however the mothers are not typically involved. On a table, a center vase sits between two smaller vases. The smaller vases are each filled with sand: the bride’s one color, and the groom’s another. During the sand ceremony, the couple fill the empty vase with their respective colored sand and then have a meaningful keepsake to display. While the sand ceremony is wonderful for beach-themed weddings, they have gained a huge amount of popularity at venues all over. Often times couples will use sand from lake or ocean coasts where they grew up, or even from beach vacations they have taken together. Another take on this tradition is to fill an hourglass with sand. On their anniversary, the couple flip it over to represent their love and vows flowing into the next year.
The libation service was one we’d never seen at Heather’s Glen before. The couple brought a small tree in that they planned on planting at their home together. During the service, they each poured a container of water into the tree, representing the love and commitment that they would pour into their growing marriage. Water has also been used in ceremonies to wash each other’s feet or hands as a symbol of discipleship and purification.
During my research I stumbled across something called the “Covenant of Salt.” Ths tradition harks back to biblical times when it was used to bind a contract. Each party put a pinch of salt in the other person’s pocket. The contract made could only be broken if each grain of salt in someone’s pocket could be sorted, identified, and then returned to the rightful owner. Like the sand ceremony, each partner takes a vial of salt and pours it into a single container, joining the particles forever. Colored salt is discouraged in this ceremony, as they could then be identified as the bride or groom’s, and thus the contract would be dissolvable!
What service are you having? Please share with me some ideas I haven’t mentioned!
