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In addition to reciting vows, many couples like the idea of including a physical symbol of their union in the ceremony as well.
This is why quite a few brides and grooms choose to use a unity candle or some alternative in their nuptials.
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.
The neat thing about the sand ritual is that the individual grains of sand become all blended together to make one new beautiful color.
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.
Traditions abound from other cultural backgrounds to symbolize the union of the bride and groom.
Many people are familiar with the African custom, now used by many African-Americans, or jumping the broom.
The broom itself is not the one you use to sweep your kitchen floor; generally it is made of natural materials, and is decorated with flowers or ribbons in white or the couple's wedding colors.
After the officiant declares the man and woman to be husband and wife, they exchange the traditional kiss and then hold hands while jumping the broom into their future as a married couple.
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.
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