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Hand Fasting
Colors and their symbolic meaning
Considered an early Celtic tradition, was traditionally recognized as a binding contract of
the union before marriage became a legal function of the government or responsibility of the church.
The binding of the couple’s hands with colored cords is normally done during or after the vows
and rings are exchanged it signifies the spiritual bond of the Union.
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Unity Candle
Lighting the Unity Candle symbolizes the joining together or blending of separate lives.
It is the coming together of two families and the merging of two individuals into one married couple,
a love that burns jointly.
The Unity Candle is an arrangement of three candles (the center candle normally being larger or
taller).
The side candles are lit either before the wedding ceremony begins or just before the Unity Candle
ceremony and may be lit by the bride and groom, bride and groom's parents, or the children to show a blending
of family.
Lighting the center Unity Candle normally takes place after the bride and groom exchange vows and
rings.
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Blessing Stones or Runes
The ritual of the Blessing Stones is a wonderful way to include everyone in the wedding by way of
offering blessings and good wishes to the newlyweds.
When the guests arrive at the ceremony, they are asked to select a Blessing Stone along with a card.
This is a blank card or one with the beginning of a phrase such as: "My wish for you is..."
or "May you be blessed with..." or "May God bless you with...".
The guest writes their own thought or completes the sentence with a wish for the bride and groom.
The guest places his or her wish for the bride and groom in a receptacle and tosses stone
in a body of water.
The wishes or blessings can be read aloud by the bride and groom during
their ceremony, or during the reception.
An alternate style is to provide permanent markers so guests can write directly on the stones or
on tiles creating unique “runes” for the couple.
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Blending Of The Sands
The Blending of the Sands is a beautiful and meaningful unifying ceremony from Hawaii that
symbolizes the joining of the bride and groom or the blending together of their families.
This tradition is normally performed by the bride and groom, and they can add their children
for a family blending.
Glass containers are used for the bride, groom, and each child represented when children are
included.
Each container is filled with a different colored sand, representing each individual's uniqueness.
During the tradition, each individual will pour sand into the single container at the same time
creating the blending of the sands and symbolizing the blending of their lives as one.
The Blending of the Sands is usually performed after the vows.
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