SAND CEREMONY or BLESSNGS OF THE SANDS
(The Sand Ceremony is a unification ceremony which is often included in the regular wedding ceremony, usually after the exchange of rings.)
Sand ceremonies are perfect for beach weddings, outdoor weddings and casual weddings.
The Sand Ceremony can be a beautiful and meaningful alternative ot the Unity Candle ceremony. Like a Unity Candle the pouring of two different colored sands together is used to symbolize the joining of the bride and groom or the joining of their families. Sand from the desert, a favorite beach or vacation spot also works. This ceremony requires three small vials or vases, one for you and your fiance to pour the sand into and (two) one for each of you to pour the sand from. Each of the two vials of colored sand symbolizes the separate lives of the bride and groom and their families. The two outside vials or vases can be used later to display fresh flowers following the wedding. Some couples pour the sand from two seashells. You can put your vase containing your combined sand on display as a constant reminder of your special day!
If your wedding ceremony is being performed on a beach, have the minister scoop up a little sand from the beach with a sea shell and pour it into the small bottle to symbolize the building of the foundation of the relationship and to give you a momento directly from the beach.
Use two different colored sands which you can find at most arts and crafts stores. Small glass bottles or vials are usually found there as well. A nice touch is to pour the colored sands into a small "heart-shaped" bottle. Later, you can melt some wax to seal it to hold the sand in place, then seal it with a cork or lid. Have your names and your wedding date etched in the glass bottle prior to the ceremony.
After the minister reads the text you choose, the bride and groom pour the two containers of sand into the third container simultaneously. You may wish to leave a small amount of sand in each vial to symbolize that although you are now joined as one, you are still free to express your own individuality.
As alternatives:
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You can each pour all your sand in the container together symbolizing the blending of your individual lives and family into one.
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You can each pour most of your sand into the container and keep a little in each individual container, representing that now you are one, but you still retain some individuality.
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One party can pour some sand, the other party can pour some sand, and then you can both pour at the same time, representing individuality, yet blending into one.
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You can have the Minister pour a base (either beach sand or white sand to represent that God as the foundation of your marriage), and then blend your sands, either completely or keeping a little in your individual containers.
Sand Colors
You can use two colors to symbolize the bride and the groom. You can use three colors to represent the foundation that marriage is built on and the faith that the couple shares, or parents may pour the foundational sand, representing their support and love. If it's a small intimate wedding, each guest could add to the foundation sand. Or you can use a color to represent each child in the family if this is a second marriage for a family unity ceremony.
You may choose colors to coordinate with your wedding colors, colors to coordinate with the decor of your home, pink and blue, or whatever colors have meaning for you. You may also use natural colored sand.
Idea: If you are having a beach wedding, you can personalize your sand ceremony even more by placing some sand from the beach in the bottom of your large container before the ceremony. A great keepsake for your home!
If you are including children in the ceremony, obtain several extra vials with different colored sand for each child.
The combined sand makes a wonderful wedding keepsake for the bride and groom and a constant reminder of their promises on their wedding day.
Here are some example wordings for this lovely, symbolic portion of the wedding ceremony:
"Here we have two separate vessels of sand, but as they are joined together, they may never again be separated, just as this man and this woman are joined together today, their lives will be joined forever. Bride and Groom, please pour the two small vessels into the larger."
"Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two indiviual containers of sand. One, representing you Bride, and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. And the other representing you, Groom, all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be."
"Bride and Groom, today you join your separate lives together. The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. They represent all that you are and all that you'll ever be as an individual. They also represent your lives before today. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be."
"Today, Bride and Groom have chosen to commemorate their marriage through the celebration of the Sand Ceremony. This ceremony symbolized the inseparable union of Bride and Groom into a new and eternal marital relationship. Bride and Groom will simultaneously pour separate containers of sand into a common vessel. Each grain of sand in their separate containers represents a unique and separate moment, decision, feeling or event that helped shape Bride and Groom into the separate and unique individuals that they are today. As they pour their separate containers of sand into a common vessel, those separate and independent individuals will cease to exist. Instead they will merge into a loving and supportive marital community. Bride and Groom, just as the grains of sand can never be separated into their individual containers again, so will your marriage be."
"Please note this empty glass. Glass, itself, is made from sand and the sands of time have come together, melting into one piece to make this vessel. The sands of time should remind us all of our eternal love and our mortality. Today Bride and Groom have chosen to represent their love to each other in a special sand ceremony. Please Bride and Groom, take your separate glass of sand and alternate the pouring of sand into this joining vessel and united, repeat after me: "You are my love for eternity. I blend with you. My heart is like these grains of snadsm, merging with yours. I am yours. You are mine. We are together forever like the sand, like the wind. We are one."
"Bride and Groom, even though you come to this ceremony as unique individuals, today you blend yourselves in spirit and personality to bond and strengthen the future that you will build together. It is to symbolize this blending that you now take these containers of sand and mingle them together - as though pouring your separate selves inseparably into each other and becoming one. (Couple slowly pour their sand together) "As you now pour your sand together, your lives also are th is vividly joined as one. And just as each grain of this sand maintains its own space, never losing itself and yet ever losing itself amid the goodness of the whole sand - so will your marriage and your family be."
"Groom and Bride, you have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings and this covenant is a relationship pledge between two people who agree that they will commit themselves to one another throughout their lives. The most beautiful example of this partnership is the marriage relationship. You have committed here today to share the rest of your lives with each other. Today this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two containers of sand. One represents you Groom, all that you were, all that you are and all that you will ever be. The other represents you, Bride, all that you were, all that you are and all that you will ever be. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.
"These two individual vessels of sand symbolize your separated selves, one vessel representing you Bride, all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be; and the other vessel representing you Groom, all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. Please pour the sand from your individual vessels into this heart-shaped bottle, to symbolize the union of your two lives. This bottle of sand now represents your new life together. Although you were two separate people, your lives will now be joined as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated or poured again into their individual containers, so will your marriage be, for two shall become one."
This one is for Bride, Groom, and Children Bride and Groom, today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other and honor your children as well. Your family relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these individual containers of sand; one, representing you, Bride, and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, one representing you, Groom, and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be. (Have another container for each child). There are children who will share in this marriage. (Child/Children names) will now come forward to help us with the Blending of the Sands. You may now blend the sand together symbolizing the uniting of the children and bride and groom into one. Just as these grains of sand can neve be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage and family be."
(Although there are no set guidelines for the above sand ceremony, generally the sand is poured into the central vase in the following order: father, mother, children, father & mother together)
This one is for Bride, Groom, and Children We are all members of one family, God's family. Today as Groom and Bride have sealed their commitment to each other with the exchange of rings they too make a commitment to their children. We recognize the significant role that (child), (child), (child), and (child) play in this marriage celebrated today. They will now join Groom and Bride in this commitment to each other by contributing a part of each individual person into one blended family. Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these (# of) individual containers of sand, each representing a member of the family in all that they were, all that they are, and all that they will ever be. As each individual's sand is poured into the family's one united common container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as the grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will become the bond with your family.
This one is for Bride, Groom, and Parents Groom and Bride, today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other. Your relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these individual containers of sand; One represents you Groom, all that you were, all that you are and all that you will ever be. The other represents you, Bride, all that you were, all that you are and all that you will ever be. You each hold your separate containers of sand that represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique. As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join together as one family. At this time, I would like to invite the parents of Groom and Bride to come forward. These four containers of sand represent the bride and groom and each family. You may now blend the sands together symbolizing the uniting of the two families into one. Just as the grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into their individual containers, so will your marriage and families be."
If your ceremony is on the beach, provide another vessel for the minister. Your minister will say, "I will now pour some sand from this beautiful beach into this bottle to represent the foundation of your love relationship and to provide a momento of the sandy beach where your wedding vows were spoken.
