Your wedding day should be a reflection of you and your partner and what makes your love story unique. For that reason, I highly encourage the idea of incorporating something truly personal into your wedding ceremony. A great way to do that is through a unity ceremony. The traditional unity candle lighting ceremony at weddings has deep roots, but for those of you who are looking for something a little different and more personal, I’ve got the perfect unity ceremony idea for you: a love letter lockbox.
My husband and I did this at our wedding, and it was such a special detail that I still cherish. Let’s dive into what it is and how it works.
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The Search For a Unique Unity Ceremony Idea
First, some quick background on how I got the idea.
When I was planning our wedding, I really wanted to find a way to incorporate a meaningful moment into our ceremony. We were planning a non-denominational backyard wedding, so the whole ceremony was going to be super short and sweet.
And though I loved the idea of not having to stand up in front of my guests sweating it for longer than I needed to, something didn’t sit right about it being over in the blink of an eye.
After all, this was THE MOMENT. The moment we were officially committing to each other forever in front of our favorite people. I wanted it to feel… well…MOMENTOUS!
So, after deep diving Pinterest and coming up short with anything that felt like “us,” I had the idea to write each other letters. I love to write (which I guess shouldn’t be a surprise since you are currently reading a blog I wrote…). And though my husband isn’t an overly emotional guy, anytime he writes me a card, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read.
Now that I had my big idea of what, the question then became, how? Simply exchanging letters at the altar felt a bit anticlimactic. After considering how the traditional candle lighting ceremony is done, I knew there had to be something that “united” our letter exchange.
And that is where the lockbox unity ceremony idea came in.
Recreate Our Lockbox Unity Ceremony Idea
Let me break down how we created our lockbox unity ceremony idea into easy to follow steps, and share my tips and tricks so you can recreate this for your own wedding
1. The Box
First, we searched high and low for a plain wooden box. You’d be surprised at how hard this was. Either the boxes we found already had hardware (which didn’t work because it either didn’t lock or there was only one box closure), or they didn’t have enough space to add our own hardware.
We FINALLY found the perfect box on Etsy, which was a little pricey, but we loved it and splurged. I’ve included below both our Etsy find and a cheaper wooden box found on Amazon so you have options and don’t have to go through the angst that we did.
Wood Box with Inlaid Top
Wooden Box
2. The Locks
Next, we found lock and key sets that we added to the box. Don’t worry, these were super simple to install! Here are the lock and key sets we used, available on Amazon.
Lock and Key Sets
3. The Love Letters
Then, we wrote each other letters the night before our wedding. Of course… we were both frantic trying to wrap up last-minute details, so I would HIGHLY recommend doing this a few days ahead of time and not the night before, but such was our life. We ended up writing ours on the back of extra wedding invitations we had.
4. The Hand-Off
We gave our letters to our best man to hand us during the ceremony. You could also give these right to your officiant. One extra tip is to make sure you’re informing your officiant of your unity ceremony plans ahead of time so they can work this in to their ceremony script.
5. The Unity Ceremony
After we exchanged our vows, before the rings, we scooted on over to a little unity ceremony station we set-up next to the altar. We added our letters to the box and took turns locking it up.
6. The Reveal
Then… we waited. We had decided beforehand that our plan would be to keep the box locked up until our one-year anniversary. Which is perfect if you plan to follow the traditional anniversary gifts – because, guess what? It’s paper! So, on our 1-year anniversary, we opened them and finally got to read what each other wrote the night before we said “I do.”
7. The Feels
I was beyond glad we did this. It was a small little detail in the grand scheme of our wedding day, but it really added that personal touch to our ceremony that I think would have been missing. Plus, reading those letters on our 1-year anniversary was such a meaningful way to remember the day and how we felt before we said our I dos. 💌✨
Looking for more DIY wedding ideas?
Check out these Real Savvy Weddings from former DIY brides for more inspiration.
Wedding Unity Ceremony FAQs
If you’re unsure what a wedding unity ceremony is, don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging! The following questions address what the traditional unity wedding ceremony looks like, where this tradition came from, what it means, and alternative options you might consider for your big day.
If you still have more questions, just drop me a comment below and I’d be happy to answer that for you!
When does the unity ceremony take place?
The unity candle ceremony typically takes place after the exchange of vows and rings, often towards the end of the wedding ceremony. It serves as a poignant moment of symbolism before the couple is officially pronounced as married.
What is the unity candle wedding ceremony?
The unity candle ceremony is a beautiful tradition where two individual candles, representing the bride and groom’s families, are used to light a larger, central candle together. It symbolizes the joining of two families and the unity of the couple in marriage.
What does the unity candle ceremony symbolize?
The unity candle ceremony symbolizes the merging of two families into one, as well as the unity and strength of the couple’s bond in marriage. The lighting of the central candle represents the coming together of their lives and the creation of a new family unit.
What religion is the unity candle ceremony?
The unity candle ceremony is not specific to any particular religion. It is a popular choice in Christian, Catholic, and non-religious weddings alike, offering a meaningful symbol of unity and love for couples of all backgrounds.
Are there alternatives to a unity candle ceremony?
Yes, there are several alternatives to the unity candle ceremony for couples looking for unique ways to symbolize their unity. Some popular alternatives include the sand ceremony, where different colored sands are blended together, or the wine box ceremony, a slightly different take on the lockbox unity ceremony, where the couple seals love letters in a wine box to be opened on a future anniversary. Each alternative offers its own special meaning and can be tailored to suit the couple’s preferences and style.
Time to Create Your Own Unity Ceremony
Well friends, I think that just about covers it for unity ceremony ideas. I hope this gave you some things to ponder as you bring your vision to life for your own wedding ceremony.
And remember, whether you’re planning a more traditional religious wedding ceremony, or something more non-traditional, there are so many ways you can make it more meaningful and incorporate a bit of you into it. What are some unique ways you’re adding meaning to your wedding ceremony?
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