There are many symbolic ceremonies that you and your fiancee' can include in your big day to show the new togetherness and joining of families. The Unity Candle ceremony, the sand ceremony, the wine ceremony, and the rose ceremony. Here is a breakdown of each ceremony and what takes place during them.

The Unity Candle Ceremony: This ceremony represents the joining of two families. Both the bride and groom's mothers come forward to light a single candle. Later in the ceremony the bride and groom use these candles, and together, light a single candle representing the two becoming one.

The Sand Ceremony: In the sand ceremony, the bride and groom simultaneously fill one vessel with the sand from two separate vessels. The separate sands once poured into the unity vase can never be put back into their separate vases. They are forever entwined just as the lives and loves of the bride and groom.

The Wine Ceremony: The wine ceremony involves both the bride and groom mixing two different wines and then drinking from the glass. One wine is sweet, to symbolize happiness, joy, hope, peace, and love. The other, a more bitter wine is symbolic of life’s trials and tribulations. Together the sweet and the bitter represent the fullness of life’s experiences.

The Rose Ceremony: In this ceremony, the bride and groom exchange two red roses, symbolizing the giving and receiving of their love for each other throughout their entire married life. Another variation of this ceremony is both the bride and the groom present their new mother-in-law with a rose. This represents the opening of a new relationship.