Unity Rituals

Ring Warm

Another centuries old tradition. Pass your wedding bands around to your guests. As each of them hold the rings, they have an opportunity to make a wish for your marriage. When it comes time to make your promises, you will be using rings that are filled with the promises of everyone who loves and supports you.

Hand Fasting

Literally tie the Knot as you say your I Do’s by binding your hands together. A great, romantic tradition that spans several cultures, and thousands of years. Braid a rope together, bring your family tartan, or have family present you with ribbons that represent each member. Your hands tied together by a knot that will represent the vows that tie your hearts together.

Blanket Ceremony

This indigenous tradition begins with a sibling wrapping each of you in individual blankets, representing your past lives, and your unique stories. The Blankets are then presented to your parents to keep in their homes. A third blanket is then wrapped around both of you. This blanket represent your new life of peace and happiness. It brings you shelter and warmth, and will remain strapped over the foot of your bed in your home together.

Jump the Broom

A Black wedding tradition with roots in West Africa, was used during slavery since enslaved couples were not able to legally marry. The handle of the broom represents the strength of your relationship, the bristles represented your families, and a ribbon around the handle represents the ties that bind you together. The broom is waved above your heads to ward off evil, before it is placed on the ground. Jump over the broom together - but the person who jumps the highest will be designated the Household Decision-Maker.

Break Sapatia

An Ismaili tradition that has spanned a thousand years. This ceremony centres around sapatia, which are small, covered clay plates filled with lentils; symbolizing abundance and bounty, silver; symbolizing wealth, sugar; symbolizing sweetness and harmony, and turmeric; symbolizing good health. Two sapatias are placed in front of each of you. Break the sapatia by stepping on them, thereby releasing the gifts they contain. It is said that the first person to break the sapatia will rule the household.

Tea Ceremony

This eastern tradition has you serving tea for your new in-laws and elders to show respect and gratitude. The flavours of the herbs are meant to symbolize purity, stability, and fertility, and can be a great way to involve family.

Wine

Growing up in Niagara, I spend a lot of time around vineyards and wine. Whenever there is something to celebrate, we pull out a special bottle. What better time to taste something special, but your wedding day. Bring two bottles to the ceremony. We will open one as a symbol of your marriage, and cheers to the vows you’ve made. The second bottle will be put into a box for your 1st, 5th, or 10th anniversary. When it’s ready to be open, be sure to replace it with another bottle for the next occasion to celebrate!

Spirits

Whiskey takes years of barrel aging to build complexity. The best Tequilas come from agave that have had years of growing periods. Your relationship didn’t become what it is over night. Spirits are a great way of celebrating how unique your relationship is. Have a glass today, and then promise to keep the bottle safe. Liquor can evaporate over time, and so can your love. Revisit this bottle every year to toast the year that’s passed, and keep your love alive.

Coffee

A cup of Java is an art form. It requires the perfect beans, the right amount of toasting, and a grind that releases the flavoured in just the right way. All of that circumstance to make the perfect cup is no coincidence. Just like your relationship, the perfect cup of coffee takes work. But the reward can be so reach and full of flavour. Make your own blend of beans together, or prepare the perfect cup.

Signature Cocktail

Something to Sip that’s as Special as you! A signature cocktail brings together a bunch of ingredients that are important to your marriage. Maybe Tequila for Growth, Triple Sec for Optimism, Lime for Clarity, and some Jalapeño for Spice - some see a Spicy Margarita, I see something to represent your marriage!

Arrange Flowers

Tulips for unconditional love, hydrangeas for gratitude, carnations for good fortune, lilies for humility, lavender for devotion… Flowers carry so much meaning. Have each of your family members present you with a flower for your arrangement. You’ll end up with a beautiful bouquet that can act as your centre piece for your head table.

Tree or Plant Potting

There’s so much symbolism in nature. How plants and trees grow, set roots, or survive harsh weather. Allow it to represent your marriage. Water it together, or show your commitment to caring for this relationship. As a personalized touch, have your families each bring soil from their own gardens - they are the people who nurtured you, and their soil will nurture your plant!

Release Butterflies

Butterflies can mean a lot of different things. For your wedding, they can be a symbol of your marriage, or of people you love. Consider the transformation that they represent. A symbol of growth and change, into the people you are today. Butterflies are also fleeting - they surprise us when they show up, and are gone as quickly as they appear. For that reason, they are a great symbol of family members we have lost. Releasing butterflies can be a great tribute to someone you love, or a representation of your relationship’s growth. Either way, a beautiful way to celebrate.

Memory Box

Remember that trip to Spain when you got super lost and had to buy a map and try to interpret it in Spanish? Or the date night that turned into an impromptu concert and dancing under the stars? And you’ll never forget when you got in your first fight ever, that happened to be over whether or not “YEET” is an acceptable Scrabble word. Bring your map, ticket stub, a scrabble tile, and any other items that tell a story. When you see these, they will remind you to always work together, find adventure everywhere, and to never sweat the small stuff!

Love Letters

Write a love letter to one another and exchange it the morning of your ceremony. Then bring them with you. During your ceremony, we will put it into a Letter Box. Every year, as an anniversary gift to one another, write another set of letters, exchange them, and put them into the box. Reflecting and communicating about how your love has evolved year by year is important. Over time, you will be building your love story. One day many years from now, being able to read your love story again will be a cherished memory.

Marriage Time Capsule

Set a date for an anniversary years from now, and build a box of things you want to remind your future self about this moment. Add in an invitation from your wedding, letters you wrote to your future self, the ring boxes, a flower from your bouquet, and, of course, your vows. Seal the box together, and make a commitment that it doesn’t get opened until you are ready!

Candy Blending

Your family is as unique as a jar of candy. Have each of your children pick their favourite candies, and be sure to pick one for each of you, too! Everyone will get the chance to pour them into a jar together. If someone didn’t put their candy in, it wouldn’t be the same jar; and if anyone wasn’t part of this family, it wouldn’t be the same either. A great way to include all of your blended family!

Painting

Your family is unique. Every person within it comes with their own individuality. Choose a colour to represent you, and each of your kids. Everyone will take turns pouring paint obverse a canvas. Watch as the colours blend together creating patterns and new colours. If you weren’t all on this canvas, things would look very different. Together, your family is as perfect as this painting.

A Gift for Mom’s

At the top of the aisle, after your grand entrance and before you take your position, remove to flowers from your bouquet - one for your mom, and one for your new mom-in-law. Something for them to hold for the ceremony.

Surprise Involvement

Who has the rings? Maybe they are taped under someone’s chair! Who is signing your marriage certificate? Let’s pull two names from a bingo drum! These little surprises will have everyone laughing - and will keep guests on their toes!

Star Map

This relationship feels written in the stars! So let’s build you a constellation that you can find every year on your anniversary. Let’s connect Libra for balance, Cyngus for Devotion, and Polaris for Direction, building something that feels like you.

Re-think the Runway

Is it an aisle? Or a Catwalk? Your wedding party looks their best, let them have some fun! For a twist on the usual, make Grandma your flower girl, or invite a loved one to perform a dance up the aisle.

Wedding Prop Bets

Ahead of the ceremony, hand out betting sheets and have someone collect them as the ceremony begins. Will the ties be red or blue? Is dad going to cry? Will the officiant mention the Dog? Will they sign to “At Last” by Etta James, or “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran? Everyone will be on the edge of their seats, wondering who won!