Guide to a Growing Trend : The "Green" or Ecological Marriage.

Unification rites are not simply a symbol of oneness, they are also flexible components of a wedding. These rites can be "opened up" to incorporate critical family members , for example the bridal couple's oldsters. The timing of unification rites varies by marriage, but they most frequently occur directly before or after the exchange of promises. These rites could be particularly critical in non-religious marriages, that might end too fast otherwise. Let us take a look at some alternative choices to the Unity Candle rite : * Rose Rite The rose rite is a flexible, informal rite particularly suited to an interfaith or non-religious marriage, not to mention a garden marriage. In the rose rite, bride-to-be and groom exchange a single rose as their first married present to one another. "The groom then takes the bride's hands, palm side up. The officiant announces, "They are the hands that may fervently love you and respect you thru the years, for a life of contentment, as she guarantees her love and commitment to you all the times of her life. Even on her marriage day, her fresh face forms a contrast with the heavily made-up cover girls of bridal magazines. Likewise , beeswax candles are evaded, as is the employment of plastic or soft plastics at the reception -- glass and porcelain are substituted. "* Knot Rite In the knot rite, the mas of the bridal couple are given a twine, that the officiant later asks them to give to the bridal couple. The sand rite is claimed to arise from Apache customs, and is popular in beach marriages. You can then serve ros at the reception to remind everyone of the event. * The Salt Covenant The salt covenant is a traditional practice, well-described in the Bible, and appearing frequently in Indian-national and Jewish marriages.

Like the Jewish Huppah, the salt covenant ( a mixing rite with traditional connotations of loyalty, protection and hospitality ) starts to turn up in non-Jewish marriages also. This short piece has not covered all of the unification rites : there are bread-sharing rites, circling rites, brush jumping rites, and doubtless more rites that are being invented at the moment.

Unusual wedding favors