How a Sand Ceremony Works

Key Takeaways

Sand ceremony is a popular and customizable wedding ritual symbolizing the blending of two lives into one inseparable unit.
The ceremony involves pouring different-colored sands into a single vessel, creating a unique and meaningful keepsake.
Personalize the ceremony by involving children, using sand from special locations, or choosing a meaningful vessel, and consider using a sand ceremony kit for convenience.

Weddings were once rather pre-prescribed affairs. In most cases that meant a bride, a groom, an officiant, some witnesses, and vows that were passed down through generations. You could, married or not, probably recite the ceremony by heart.

As cultures and ethnicities have blended, though, the realm of the mainstream has expanded. Additions of "non-traditional" elements like beach locales, personalized vows, Web-certified friend-officiants, and unity-candle ceremonies have become, if not the norm, then at least very normal, and many betrothed couples are looking for ever-newer, ever-more-surprising ways to make their weddings unique.

One that has rather recently entered the engaged public's consciousness is the sand ceremony, more formally known as the unity sand ceremony. Much like the unity candle with which many of us are familiar, the sand version offers a symbolic, visually poignant moment that can add not only a personalized feel but also a bit of whimsy to an otherwise formal affair.

While the unity sand ceremony has a lot in common with the unity candle ceremony, it differs in some important ways. In this article, we'll find out what the sand version means, what it entails, how to pull one off seamlessly, and about some time-savers available to make it even easier to incorporate this ritual into a wedding.

First, what the ceremony is, what it symbolizes and how to make it happen…

Sand Ceremony Steps

As far as wedding-ceremony extras go, this one has quickly gained in popularity for good reason. It's a rather simple, visually appealing and highly customizable ritual that not only contributes a bit of worldliness but also leaves the newlyweds with a meaningful souvenir of the big day.

Plus, unlike the unity candle, this ceremony isn't complicated by a light breeze. Sand ceremonies can move outdoors with no problem at all.

At its simplest, a sand ceremony involves a symbolic blending of two different-colored sands into a single vessel. The meaning is clear: The blending of two different beings, the bride and the groom, into a single, inseparable unit that is their marriage -- the joining of their lives. Hard as it would be to separate out those grains of sand, that's how difficult it is to separate these two people. It usually takes place after the exchange of rings and vows (although it can go before or even during), and lasts just a couple of minutes.

A basic sand ceremony involves three (typically glass) vessels -- one holding the bride's sand, one holding the groom's sand, and an empty one that will soon hold both, all sitting on a small table or stand. It goes something like this:

The officiant explains the meaning of the ceremony and how it relates to the two people getting married.
The officiant invites the groom to pour a bit of his sand (let's call it blue sand) into the empty vessel.
The officiant invites the bride to do the same with her sand (let's say it's pink).
The bride and groom then pour their sands at the same time, in a single stream, into the vessel.
The officiant closes the ceremony with some words about the inextricable joining of their lives.

The end result is a glass container holding one of blue sand (the groom), one layer of pink sand (the bride), and a top layer of purple sand, showing how the joining of the two have created a new, equally beautiful entity.

And, it's an entity that's easy to make entirely your own…

Sand Ceremony Customizations

One of the greatest benefits to the sand ceremony is how easily it is to personalize. It lends itself especially well to blended families, when the bride and/or groom already have children. Having each child (or special relative or friend or parents) pour his or her own colored sand into the vessel along with the couple involves them in the ceremony -- and in the finished product -- in a seamless, natural way.

Other ways to personalize the ceremony include:

Leaving a bit of sand in each original vessel, symbolizing that each person involved in the union will maintain his or her individuality even as their lives are joined
Collecting sand from meaningful sources -- using sand from favorite beaches or from vacation spots can add some extra poignancy to the ceremony.
Inviting each member of the wedding party to add sand to the container, commemorating the special place they hold in your new life together
Coordinating the sand colors to the wedding colors
Choosing a vase, urn or other vessel with that has special meaning to the couple

However you decide to make the ceremony yours, you're going to need a few supplies to make it work. They're not tough to come by -- just colored sand and a few glass vases. But with the increased popularity of this ceremonial interlude, gathering everything you need is even easier…

Sand Ceremony Kits

It's not difficult to find colored sand. You'll come across it in craft stores, toy stores and art-supply stores, and you can easily buy it online. Glass vases are even easier to come by. Any shape will do, and you may even have the perfect vessels lying around the house. A container with special meaning, such as an engagement gift, vacation souvenir or a crystal vase passed down through generations, can make the ceremony and the finished product even more special.

Still, with all that goes into planning a wedding, you may prefer an all-in-one solution -- a sand-ceremony kit. These kits range in price from about $30 to $100. They can be basic, with three glass vessels (vases or urns) and two colors of sand; customized with extra vases for family members or friends; and engraved with the names of the bride and groom to create a more personal memoir of the wedding. You can also find a sand vessel that also serves as a picture frame.

The simplicity of the sand ceremony is part of its appeal, so there's no need to complicate it with elaborate vows. The spiritual symbolism speaks for itself, so a few words from an officiant and the betrothed are plenty.

The unity sand ceremony is an excellent alternative to the unity candle and is perfect for outdoor settings. But it does come with a warning: Sand can be messy. If all must be pristine, consider a glass funnel. It'll help the bride and groom combine their lives with more precision.

For more information on unity sand ceremonies, including sample ceremonies and vows, check out the links on the next page.

Lots More Information

Sources

How it works. UnitySandCeremony. (July 25, 2011) http://www.unitysandceremony.net/how-it-works/
Planning a Sand Ceremony. MySpiritualWedding. (July 25, 2011) http://www.myspiritualwedding.com/content/005397.shtml
Sand Ceremony Kits. MySpiritualWedding. (July 25, 2011) http://www.myspiritualwedding.com/category/009023.shtml
The Unity Sand Ceremony. Beach Wedding Guide. (July 25, 2011) http://www.beachwedding-guide.com/sandceremony.html
Vaz, Sharon. "Unity Sand Ceremony – A Hot, New Wedding Trend." WedAlert. (July 25, 2011) http://www.wedalert.com/content/articles/Unity_Sand_Ceremony.asp
What it is. UnitySandCeremony. (July 25, 2011) http://www.unitysandceremony.net/unity-sand-ceremony/

FAQs

Can we use different types of sand for the sand ceremony?

Yes, you can use different colors or types of sand to personalize the ceremony and make it more meaningful.

Is it possible to involve children or other family members in the sand ceremony?

Absolutely! Involving children or other family members by having them pour their own colored sand into the vessel can add a special touch to the ceremony.