A unity ritual is certainly not required by any means. Still, there may be a ceremony option that’s the perfect fit for you and your partner, whether you’re looking for something religious, historical, or secular.

Carissa Woo Photography

What Is a Unity Ceremony?

A unity ceremony is a symbolic ritual woven into the wedding ceremony. Among the most common unity ceremonies are handfasting, circling, and the lighting of a unity candle.

One of the most meaningful choices you’ll make is what will be included in your ceremony! Friends, Family, and Coordinators will all be asking what you’ll do to personalize your wedding ceremony. Unity ceremonies are meaningful rituals performed during your wedding to represent becoming a union. Often, a unity ceremony allows other family members to participate and further its meaning and representation of two families joining together. It may also be the perfect way to celebrate your and your partner’s heritage with tradition.

Lighting a Unity Candle

This is definitely one of the most common unity ceremonies performed. The candle-lighting ceremony usually involves the couple lighting one large candle from two smaller family candles. Traditionally, the smaller candles are lit by each of their mothers, representing the merging of two families.

Michelle Dudley Photography

The Lasso Ceremony

Also called “el Lazo,” this ritual—traditional in Mexican, Filipino, and Spanish cultures—occurs after the vows have been said. At that time, the officiant (or whomever the couple has designated) drapes a floral garland or rosary around the couple, twisting it into an infinity symbol. At the end of the ceremony, the bestower of the lasso removes it, and the couple saves it as a symbol of their love and unity.

Anniversary Time Capsule

The time-capsule ceremony is a reminder of the durability of your love and the lifetime commitment of marriage. During the ceremony, all of these tokens of love are sealed up in a box, and the couple can open it on their five-year, 10-year, or 20th anniversary. The time-capsule ceremony can also include friends or family invited to bring photos, letters, or keepsakes to seal in the time capsule.

Before the ceremony, the couple should gather important mementos from their relationship: ticket stubs, hotel room keys, notes, and cards. In addition, each should write a love letter to each other.

Vee Taylor Photography

Wash Each Other’s Feet

While this ceremony has Christian roots, washing the feet is a symbol of love and humanity–we find that purpose is truly universal. It serves as an act of caregiving to symbolize your devotion to each other.

True Photography

Pouring Sand

This is such a fun ceremony idea for a nautical or beach wedding, but any wedding theme can certainly utilize the concept for any wedding theme. The couple takes turns pouring colored sand from personal vases into another vase, where they blend their sand to make a beautiful display. This is one of the best unity ceremony ideas for blended families, as children can also add sand to the family vase.

Morgan McCanne Photography

Wine or Beer Pouring

If you’ve ever stumbled upon the perfect red blend wine that you couldn’t get enough of, this is definitely the unity ceremony for you. The couple chooses two different yet compatible wines, pour them into a glass to create a perfect blend, and then drinks the blend together. Beer can also do this, or it can be done with tea for a dry wedding.

Korina Moore Photography

Tree Planting

This is such a sweet ceremony option for a woodland-themed or garden-inspired wedding. This creative nature-inspired idea is to plant a tree together, adding soil (perhaps gathered from both of your hometowns) to a pot to symbolize your union. Like the tree, your relationship will need love and care to grow and bloom.

True Photography

Wine Box Ceremony

Some things get better with time, like the perfect bottle of wine. And what better way to plan for your anniversary than to bring a love for wine into your ceremony? For the non-religious wine box ceremony, the couple selects a wine that can age well. During the wedding, the couple places the bottle of wine in a box and closes the lid, sometimes including other notes or objects. Once sealed, the box isn’t opened until a specific date chosen, such as a 10th wedding anniversary.

If you choose this unity ceremony option, be sure to consult a wine steward or another knowledgeable wine expert on the best wine to tuck away. Often, white wines don’t age as well as reds. You’ll want to make sure you choose something that can still be enjoyed when you choose to reopen your box.

Michelle Flores Photography

Religious or Cultural Tradition Blending

Intertwine heritages, cultural backgrounds, and religions through unique blended ceremonies. Many cultures incorporate their good wishes on the happy couple through ancient traditions. Please bring them to your ceremony with pride!

Tayler Ashley Photography

Your imagination is the limit!

We’ve seen glass beads be used instead of sand, which is then sent to a professional to be transformed into a one-of-a-kind glass vase or bowl. From Hand-fasting to releasing floating lanterns, ask your venue or event coordination team what they’d recommend!

Francis Ralph Potograpiya

Thanks to all the proud Dads who have graced our historic halls with their endless support and devotion.

Francis Ralph Potograpiya

We hope you feel appreciated by all of us at Leo Carrillo Ranch, and we wish you all a fantastic Father’s Day!

Our Coordination Team is small but mighty!

Planning and coordinating weddings takes a sharp mind and a whole lot of heart.

Kendra and Darcie know our Ranch inside and out, and with years of experience between them, no event challenge is too big.

Thanks for taking the time to send in this review, Joe!

Our dynamic duo is thrilled that they were able to make your special day come together.

Our Ranch is overflowing with unique and gorgeous locations that are perfect for must-have moments!

Tucked away between the Hacienda Courtyard and the Washhouse Patio, where we have our ceremonies, there’s a quiet garden featuring charming original architecture and an array of natural beauty.

Singler Photography

Perfect for photographers to grab multiple angles and quick-action approach shots, this secret location is ideal for the couple who want as much detail of this must-have moment recorded.

Singler Photography

Just through the gate seen in the pictures before, classic desert foliage unique to our Ranch’s rustic vibe frames the front of our stunning Hacienda.

Madeline Barr Photography

Through the front entry to the Hacienda, the courtyard hosts a spectacular stone arch draped in vibrant burgundy bougainvillea.

A perfect spot for those with lots of pinks and warm tones to their overall event motif!

Singler Photography

Crazy for more wild desert beauty? On the way to the historic Caretaker’s Cottage, check out the enormous Blue Agave plants on the right!

These plants create the most stunning boho backdrop for a First Look.

Joe & Kathrina Photography

It’s nearly impossible to miss our lovely restored Stables.

This space has two sides that are shaded and have lots of space for photographers to find those dramatic angles.

Phil Chester Photography

On the Stable’s side closest to the visitor’s Center, this intimate hall is striking and perfect for an artsy couple with a love of bright colors and a right eye for contrast!

(We like to imagine you could almost pass this off as a private villa on the cliffs of Greece.)

Madeline Barr Photography

There are countless locations around the Ranch for your perfect First Look!

No matter where you turn, gorgeous rustic architecture, natural wild desert beauty, and opportunities for must-have moments are all around!

We’ve been pretty vocal about how much we live for this defining moment during our weddings here at Leo Carrillo Ranch.

Singler Photography

There’s a certain magic that happens at the end of each ceremony that we wish we could bottle and share with the world.

Davin Lindwall Photography

After the happy couple says their vows, a new tension starts to build.

Madeline Barr Photography

They have their Big Kiss, everyone cheers, they turn to the crowd…

Joseph McCalment Photo & Video

And BAM!!

Mike Thezier Photography

Striking everyone in the crowd, that indescribable tidal wave of incandescent bliss pours out of the faces of the newlyweds as they walk back down the aisle, hand in hand.

David Manning Photographer

It’s one of our favorite parts of our Special Events and keeps us doing what we love most: making your dream event come to life.

Madeline Barr Photography

So, Reach Out to us!

See what our talented Coordination Team can do to make “The Glow” happen for you!

Timeless Elegance Meets Rustic Charm!

Among his squad of groomsmen, the stylish surprise of Adam’s white jacket and black bow tie made him stand out as the prominent star of his show!

We love the fun mix of blues in Julie’s Bridesmaid’s dresses; the effect gives depth and personality to her side of the bridal party!

As their guests arrived, everyone stopped at the Welcome Table to drop off cards, gifts, and grab a quick refreshment before finding their ceremony seat.

As a cute activity for the guests, instead of a sign-in book, Julie and Adam asked for well-wishes or advice to be slipped into wine bottles for them to read years later!

Everyone waited excitedly for the ceremony on our patio, while they listened to Nick Weiss Music artfully sing and play his guitar.

Our Pepper Tree had a miniature makeover for the big day, thanks to KO Floral Designs, with a stunning garland of eucalyptus and pops of bright corals, pinks, and peach blooms.

The last to leave the Hacienda, the Bride and her Father get to share a private moment before they make their trip down the aisle.

What a spectacular backdrop this scene makes for The Big Kiss!

You can’t help but catch the excitement coming from The Glow off of these two!

As soon as the ceremony finished, guests moved to the reception area where Personal Touch Dining served craft cocktails and fresh appetizers made on-site!

KO Floral Designs and Ivory + Stone Event Co. worked together to make sure each dining table had the perfect tablescape.

Finally, after some romantic sunset pictures, the love birds made their way back to the party with their Grand Entrance.

The First Dance as Husband and Wife is such a heartwarming moment for the newlyweds to have, especially surrounded by their family and friends!

For dinner, Personal Touch Dining offered guests a delicious and well-balanced buffet full of Julie and Adam’s favorite dishes, all made fresh on-site!

A champagne toast after dinner brought laughter and happy tears right before opening the dance floor for the rest of the evening.

KO Floral Designs decorated the adorable Couple’s Cake and Dessert Bar shelves for the cake cutting later in the night.

Personal Touch Dining made sure to gather a wide variety of sweet treats for guests to grab on their way back to the dance floor!

Nick Weiss Music kept the dance floor rocking the rest of the night, much to the delight of the groovy guests!

We are so proud to be part of this beautiful couple’s love story!

Thanks to Ivory + Stone Event Co., Mike Thezier Photography,  and the rest of the incredible vendors for working with us to make this day so special!

Special thanks to Personal Touch Dining for their Venue Management, Special Event Coordination, and fabulous Event Catering!

Vendors

Mike Thezier Photography

Ryan Films SD Videography

KO Floral Designs

Nick Weiss Music

Personal Touch Dining

Ivory + Stone Event Co.

Bohemian Bold!

This resourceful pair combined stunning desert scene photographs, a wild romantic ceremony arch, and minimalist table centerpieces to convey their love of adventure and modern bohemian spirit.

This gorgeous bride thought of every detail, using the accent colors in her bouquet to inspire her fabulous accessories!

Ginny paired her elegant lace bodice wedding gown with fun pale salmon fringe statement earrings and a set of gorgeous burnt orange satin heels.

To add a deep contrast to all the warm color tones, Michael and his groomsmen looked sharp in their navy suits.

In the privacy of the Hacienda’s side garden, the love birds snuck in their First Look.

Guests made sure to drop off gifts, cards, and any other wedding “responsibilities” at the Welcome Table before finding their ceremony seat.

Michael and Ginny fell in love with our Washouse’s rustic charm and chose to use it as the base of their incredible ceremony arch.

Rebecca Eichten Floral Art and Design blew us away with her spectacular array of dried desert flowers!

After the heartfelt vows, everyone cheered for The Big Kiss!

Glowing with excitement, the newlyweds made their way back down the aisle together as Husband and Wife.

We were so impressed by the statement this bar sign makes with its mesmerizing background!

As Singler Photography stole the happy couple and some choice family away for formal pictures, the rest of the guests helped themselves to the bar from Personal Touch Dining.

The theme continued to the seating chart as well!

Guests enjoyed the Pixster Photo Booth, and fresh appetizers made on-site from Personal Touch Dining before finding their tables.

The custom table markers explained the significance of each name to the Bride and Groom.

We love the ingenious use of cement pots to add modern flair to the rustic desert foliage in the centerpieces.

Every place setting showed an incredible amount of heartfelt attention to detail by Michael and Ginny!

It included a custom menu card, a bundle of sage as a wedding favor, and thank-you-note escort cards.

After an incredible dinner from Personal Touch Dining, the guests took to the dance floor with Sound Illusions and rocked the night away!

We’re so happy for this beautiful couple, and are beyond grateful for the chance to be part of their special day!

Thanks to the fantastic team of vendors who helped us make the magic happen!

Special thanks to Personal Touch Dining for the Special Event Coordination, Catering, and Venue Management!

Vendors

Singler Photography

Sound Illusions DJ services

Rebecca Eichten Floral Art and Design

Personal Touch Dining

Pixster Photo Booth

Boho-Sweet!

Chris and Brittany brought their romantic boho dreams to our Ranch for their special day, and we couldn’t have been happier to have them!

We were head-over-heels for Brittany’s vintage-inspired croche lace gown!

For a lively group of Bridesmaids, we always recommend a free choice on bodice style.

Now everyone can look and feel their best on your big day!

Chris went with a light gray, almost linen suit, which is perfect for our sunny San Diego Summers!

His troop of Groomsmen sported a slightly darker suit to help Chris stand out.

Florist Lily Benjamin wound a lush garland around our Pepper Tree for the ceremony, and we love to see it all dressed up!

As guests arrived, our Coordination team helped them find the card box and encouraged everyone to sign in before finding their seats.

Full of laughter, tears, and infectious smiles, the ceremony made everyone present feel included.

After a quick ring exchange, it was officially time to seal the deal with The Big Kiss!

The newlyweds made their way back to the Hacienda, guided by one of our feathered friends, who are always ready for their closeup!

Personal Touch Dining served guests tray-passed appetizers to pair with their specialty crafted cocktails after the ceremony.

We loved the look of the engraved charger plates on the Sweetheart Table!

This style of charger is unique, elegant, and a beautifully sweet way to accent their tablescape.

Happy Camper Photo Bus entertained everyone for hours with their multitudes of fun photo props and instant-print photos to take home as a memory of the night’s festivities.

Bill Calhoun Mobile Music brought the happy couple back to the party with the Grand Entrance and First Dance!

Personal Touch Dining then opened the buffet for hungry guests to get their fill of the hearty dishes they provided.

The Tri-Tip is always a crowd favorite of the many fresh dishes made on-site!

A hilarious family heirloom cake topper decorated the Couple’s Cake from Flour Power Custom Cakery.

Personal Touch Dining served slices of cake and added extra sweets for guests to grab and go, perfect for on their way back to the dance floor.

We’re so thankful to Madeline Barr Photography, and the newlyweds, for allowing us to share such a fun and loving day with our readers!

We absolutely loved having Chris and Brittany’s special day here at the Ranch!

We wish them all the best in their bright future together.

Thanks to all the wonderful vendors who helped make this day so flawless.

Especially the staff at Personal Touch Dining for their Event Coordination, Catering, and Venue Management!

Vendors

Personal Touch Dining

Bill Calhoun Mobile Music

Lily Benjamin: Florals

Happy Camper Photo Bus

Madeline Barr Photography

Flour Power Custom Cakery

Their romantic white wedding and spirited families lit up the night. Thanks, Chris Ellis Photography, for these stunning pictures that we can’t wait to share!

Jimmie and his half of the Bridal Party were the first to have their photos taken after getting ready in our repurposed Carriage House.

The front entrance of our Stables is a photographer favorite for its rustic whitewashed brick walls that add a fun juxtaposition to the sharp lines of a well-tailored suit.

Abby and her Bride Tribe started the wedding day prep in their hotel room before putting the final touches on at our Ranch.

Her dress was an exquisite blend of vintage elegance beading and a boho-chic cut with delicate flower details.

With loose waves and a crystal flower crown, Abby looked every inch a dream Bride.

Like a Queen in her castle, She glowed with excitement sitting in our vintage chairs as the final touches to her ensemble were added.

We always recommend a First Look over at The Stables.

It gave the love birds a private moment to see each other before the craziness of the Ceremony and Reception began.

A First Look is often the last private moment a happy couple got before they became Husband and Wife.

With the First Looks finished, the whole Bridal Party got together at our Cabana before the ceremony.

Large Bridal Parties like this are always the life of the party!

The ceremony on our Washhouse Patio beneath the shade of our majestic Pepper Tree was for Jimmie and Abby’s closest family and friends.

Small ceremonies like this sometimes offer that sense of intimacy a Bride and Groom want to reflect throughout their relationship.

Abby’s Father, Bill, officiated the ceremony.

Jimmie’s excitement is contagious in this picture, and we can’t get enough!

Finally, The Big Kiss!

This moment here is why we love what we do.

The “I Do” Glow is one of the best parts of these special events.

As the newlyweds went to take family pictures, the rest of the guests made their way down to the reception area.

There, Personal Touch Dining served fresh appetizers, made on-site, and craft cocktails to kick off the party!

 Chris Ellis Photography took the love birds all over our event site for the perfect couple’s portraits.

The stunning floral arrangements, from the bouquets to the table centerpieces, were from The Flower Shop Encinitas!

We love the natural hints of pale blue in Abby’s romantic bridal bouquet.

After all the formal pictures finished, Abby changed into her party dress!

This Grecian-inspired gown looks comfy while still exuding classic elegance meant for a Bride.

For dinner, Personal Touch Dining served a hearty buffet, with food made fresh on-site!

They always make sure to include substitutions for anyone with potential dietary restrictions; all they need is a little heads up.

After dinner, guests enjoyed chocolate-covered strawberries from Personal Touch Dining for dessert and then danced the night away with Sound Prodigy!

We loved working with this incredible couple, and we wish them all the best in their bright future together.

Thanks to all the fantastic vendors who helped us make the magic happen for Jimmie and Abby! Special thanks go to Personal Touch Dining for the Special Event Catering, Coordination, and Venue Management.

Vendors

Personal Touch Dining

Photography: Jessica Wardwell and Chris Ellis Photography

Florist: The Flower Shop Encinitas

DJ: Sound Prodigy