Unity Candles and More
A unity candle is a beautiful addition to a wedding ceremony. The bride and groom each have one small taper candle that they use to light the flame of a larger pillar candle. It symbolizes the union of the two individuals into one, and can also represent the blending of two families.
There are plenty of alternatives to the unity candle, if you are looking for a different ritual with the same type of symbolism. One very pretty option is the sand ritual. The bride and groom will each have a container of colored sand. At some point during the ceremony, the couple will pour their sand into a larger vessel, mixing the two colors of sand as they are combining their lives.
Another custom to consider is to use rope or ribbon that is interwoven and knotted together. The hands of the bride and groom are tied together in a ceremony that is known as handfasting. This is an ancient Celtic tradition, so it would be a nice addition to the wedding service of a couple with Irish or Scottish heritage. Handfasting today is also often used in pagan wedding ceremonies, particularly when the service will be held outside.
When the marriage of the bride and groom will also mean the union of step-children into a blended family, it is a very nice idea to have a portion of the ceremony that involves the children as well as the newlyweds. One of the more popular rituals involves presenting gifts of wedding jewelry from the new step-parent to the child. The wedding jewelry gifts are often pieces with a symbolic design, such as a Celtic knot, or a sentimental piece like a locket with a portrait of the new blended family inside.
These are just a few of the unity rituals that you can include in your wedding. Most cultures will have their own customs, so take the time to look into the traditional rites of your own heritage. If none of the traditional rituals feel just right for your wedding ceremony, feel free to invent your own ritual to commemorate your union as husband and wife.
Filed under Wedding Jewelry, Wedding Planning | Tags: Blended families, unity candles, wedding ceremony, wedding jewelry gifts | Comment (0)Blending Families
Many couples who are planning weddings have children from previous relationships. Blending two separate families into one is never easy. It is very important that the children feel welcomed by their new step-parent; a wonderful way to do this is to include them in the wedding ceremony.
There are a variety of ways that children can be involved in the wedding, depending on their age. A teenage son, for instance, could be asked to do the honor of escorting his mother down the aisle. Likewise, a teenage daughter could be her parent’s honor attendant.
Little girls will be happy to serve as flower girls. Be sure to make a big fuss over the little ones – get them a fancy dress, give them special flower girl jewelry, and let them know how important they are to both the bride and groom.
Some couples choose to involve their children in the marriage ceremony to an even greater degree. A very sweet idea is to have a special part of the service after the wedding vows are exchanged. The child is invited to come and stand between the newlyweds, and personal vows are made about the new family. This is a beautiful way to show a child how important she will be in the blended family.
Getting a blended family off to a good start is critical. Involving the children from a previous marriage in the wedding day is one idea to help them feel happy about the new marriage. If the child is old enough, it would also be fun to ask for their opinions on the details of the wedding. It is a great way to make sure that the child is excited about the new family, and to make the blended family a happy one.
Filed under Uncategorized, Wedding Planning | Tags: Blended families, children, flower girl jewelry, second time wedding, Wedding Planning | Comment (0)
