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Husky and I were looking for a different spin on the unity candle. Our ceremony site is in the middle of a field in an area that is perpetually in a state of drought. Fire seems like a bad call. We had heard about the Sand Ceremony, but they make me think of the sand creatures that you could pay to create at the local street festival. Inevitably, mine would tip over and the colors of the sand would bleed together…
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I started hearing murmurs of a Wooden Box ceremony, and I was intrigued.
You can read the full explanation here, but I’ll summarize. You need one box, large enough to hold one bottle of wine and two wine glasses, which you will also need. In the months/weeks/days/hours? leading up to the ceremony, you and your beloved pen love letters to one another. Meanwhile, the box and its contents are placed at the altar – in the spot usually reserved for the Unity Candle. During the ceremony, the officiant will introduce the wine box and its contents, and ask the couple to put the unread letters to one another inside. The box is then sealed, with the bottle of wine, glasses, and love letters inside. The box is to be opened, the letters shared and the wine enjoyed in celebration of your [insert pre-determined number of years] anniversary, or if there is a time before that which calls for drastic measures.
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We both like wine, so we were both sold on the idea pretty easily. Now we just have to figure out a nice wine to put inside.
Have you seen this unity ceremony in action? What kind of unity ceremony are you planning? Any sand ceremony brides have problems with the sand colors bleeding together? Or is that the entire point?
We did this and got so many cool compliments on it! Best part was my uncle made the box, he did an incredible job crafting a beautiful piece of our ceremony.
We’re doing the wine box thing, too! I’m trying to come up with a nice box to put them in.. any ideas? Also, are you nailing the box shut up on the altar? Do you think it’s going to seem too noisy? Ahhhh!
I plan on doing this also!! I was thinking of perhaps putting a lock on it at the ceremony, and do something fun and special with the key? I can’t wait to hear ideas!
I think we’ll definitely be doing the wine box thing. We both love wine, and I have a thing for antique wooden boxes and crates so I’m hoping to find a good one.
I just mentioned this to FI last night and he was sold in a second…even before I was! How many years are all of you planning to wait? I think we’re going to do it every year on our anniversary.
that is such a cool idea! however we aren’t big wine drinkers here, any ideas on what else to put in there? maybe we’ll toss in a bottle of champagne..
We’re still on the fence about this. But our newest plan is to do a variation of the sand ceremony but with salt and pepper, because we love to cook (and to eat!), and he’s a salt fiend and I love spices and spicy food.
I do a lot of sand ceremonies, and I don’t find that they get shaken up or anything like that - I recommend people add some melted wax on top, if it doesn’t get filled all the way to the top, to seal it and protect it and keep it from, you know, getting all shaken up.
I think we are going the sand route! I love the wine box, but Mr. L doesn’t drink alcohol so I would be sipping on the wine by my lonesome..perhaps if we added a sparking cider instead? Hmmm…or welch’s grape juice?
Totally agree about the sand ceremony. It reminds me of hokey-looking children’s crafts and never anything as nice as the blending of two lives making a lifelong commitment to each other really should be.
I’ve always liked the realism of the wine box ceremony– you can use it in celebration or in an emergency to remember why you got hitched in the first place.
As the daughter of divorced parents (my mom has married three times, divorced twice, and my dad has married and divorced three times), I’m quite familiar with the realities of marriage and that it’s not all sunshine, unicorns and epic double rainbows. Approaching a lifelong commitment while acknowledging that it’s going to have weak points is an incredibly important thing, IMHO.
Also, I’d just like to get my drank on. 
I’m not a fan of the typical unity ceremony, but I loved this idea the first time I heard it. My honey loves the idea too. I’ve been looking for an awesome box for quite a while.
@DecemberBride11: LOVE that idea!
Umm this is the best idea ever! I have never heard of this but I just HATE the idea of a unity candle and the sand. I mean what am I going to do with a bottle of sand for years. This is much more useful and romantic to me!!!! Thank you soooo much for sharing!!!
I love this idea. My only thing about a unity candle, sand ceremony, wine box, etc. is that isn’t that what the entire wedding ceremony is about-Two families coming together? I don’t know. This is by far my favorite idea the ritual.
Handfasting. We’ll also be out in an open field - I hear you on the fire hazard, girl!
My Hubby2Be and I read about this a few months ago and Loved the idea because of how different it is. This is what we plan on doing for our wedding and I’m very much looking forward to it!!!
Love this tradition…we almost did it during our ceremony but it got cut in lieu of handfasting. However, I did buy a box and a bottle of wine…and Mr. B and I wrote letters. I guess we just did this ritual in private so to say!
Make sure you do your research on a great wine that will age well! My dad and I found an awesome and rare one that will be ridiculously amazing in 10 years….
I am not a fan of the sand/candle unity ceremony, so this is a really cool alternative.
We are doing this too. I was explaining it to my FFIL and he pointed out that if you intend for the wine to stay in the box for more than 5 years, you need to use red, and don’t forget not to store it so the bottle is placing up, two things I would have totally forgotten about.
we are doing this too! i’m ordering a box from etsy with our names and wedding date on it next week
@twocatcupcake: We’ll be using a wine crate, but Mr. H will modify it so it’s not so large and clunky. I’ve thought about the noise factor, but I haven’t come up with a great solution yet. Maybe instead of nailing it shut, we could tie it with some kind ribbon or twine? We’re still thinking about it - but let me know if you come up with a great solution!
@DecemberBride11: A lock is a great idea! Especially if you could get a really cool old vintage padlock or something.
@sarahsd: Since writing this post, we found the wine we’ll be using (more about that in a future post). Due to a lack of preservatives in the wine we chose, we can’t let it sit for more than 5 years….
@nmeyer01: Champagne is a great idea! Do you like whiskey or scotch? Not that you necessarily have to drink the entire bottle in one sitting (!), but I was just thinking of what will get better with age.
@Gilneas: That is such a clever idea! Will you use the spice blend, or have it displayed in the kitchen?@Miss Locket: Mmm, I love welch’s grape juice!
@galaxiepi: agreed on all fronts - particularly your last line 
@tetorger: I think it started as a way to symbolize the union of two families, but as more couples are older, and hosting the wedding themselves, it’s grown to represent the joining of two individuals.
@tweds: and @Mrs. Buttons: I LOVE the handfasting ritual - especially when the guests are involved. I tried to convince Mr. H on it, but he thought it would be too difficult to organize.
@MissMichele: Thanks for the tips! I’ve never heard that you shouldn’t store it with the bottle facing up - do you know the reason for it?
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Mrs. Husky, Denver Age and Occupation: 26, Systems Administrator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Mechanical Engineer, recently laid off Engagement Date: August 14, 2009 Wedding Date: October 2010 Venue: Rancho San Carlos About Me: I am planning a quirky-crafty wedding with my recently out-of-work fiancé for a (fingers crossed!) warm October afternoon. We are two self-professed nerds with an affinity for all things outdoors---be it rain, snow or shine. Recently relocated from the drizzly Northwest, we're enjoying the many sun-soaked days in the mile high city. Our day will be filled with both of our large families and friends, a self-served Cajun feast, and a Zydeco-style jazz band rocking beneath the beams of a historic red barn.
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