There are a few symbolic "rituals" that have become part of wedding ceremonies that always seemed just lovely when I attended weddings. Now that I'm a year away from my own wedding, those rituals don't feel "right" to me.
The rituals to which I'm referring are the ones the ones that symbolize the joining of two people. The unity candle, probably one of the most popular these days, is actually a fairly new item. Wikipedia (and we all know that's the definition of truth) says unity candles have only been around for 30-40 years. Still, they seem really, really traditional to me. Not our style.
There's a lot wrong here. Is that unity candle mic'ed?
There are some newer "two people becoming one" gestures out there. There's the pouring of sand, which reminds me of making sand art in a SueBee honey jar in college (one of activities planned as an alternative to drinking...which we did anyway, after making our sand art).
Sand ceremonies are so popular now that companies are making special vessels just for the pouring of the sand.
Even newer than sand pouring is blending wine or planting a tree. I have to admit that I thought the tree planting was kind of cute for about 2 seconds. I don't know if that was because Marc likes the term "tree hugger" of if I liked the idea of taking the tree home and planting it.
Maybe these ceremonies don't seem like they apply to us because we've been together for so long (five years). Maybe the fact that the components look like they were picked up at Michael's (with a 40% off coupon, bien sur) bothers me. Maybe despite the personalized engraving, the fact that they seem so generic gets to me. It just doesn't feel like our kind of thing.
Sand ceremonies are so popular now that companies are making special vessels just for the pouring of the sand.
Even newer than sand pouring is blending wine or planting a tree. I have to admit that I thought the tree planting was kind of cute for about 2 seconds. I don't know if that was because Marc likes the term "tree hugger" of if I liked the idea of taking the tree home and planting it.
Maybe these ceremonies don't seem like they apply to us because we've been together for so long (five years). Maybe the fact that the components look like they were picked up at Michael's (with a 40% off coupon, bien sur) bothers me. Maybe despite the personalized engraving, the fact that they seem so generic gets to me. It just doesn't feel like our kind of thing.
A few months ago, I started hearing about alternatives to these unity gestures. Having only seen these unity rituals, I first thought the alternatives were weird, but one started to grow on me. I'm not 100% on it, but it's sort of like a wedding time capsule (there is where the DIY comes in, if you've been waiting). The couple writes letters to themselves (or each other) about their relationship and marriage. The couple seals the letters in a box with a bottle of wine during the ceremony. Some say that the box is opened on a major anniversary.
Some say the box gets opened if the couple ever has a rough spot (kind of a sad thing to think about at ones wedding, but I realize that it happens). Regardless, the box is meant to remind the couple of where they were when they married and what their hopes were for their marriage.
I'm curious. Did you have a unity ritual at your wedding? Did you do it because it's tradition? Did you consider any alternatives? Do you think the wine box idea is silly?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Don't be shy! Leave a comment!