THE SAND CEREMONY
The Sand Ceremony is very flexible and adaptable to outdoor settings where breezes blow out candles.It involves two or three small containers, a large decorative vase or bottle and different colored sand – all of which may be purchased from stores like craft or dollar stores, Pier 1 Imports or IKEA.
The sand ceremony offers the benefit of a lasting keepsake of the wedding event. At the end of the ceremony, the couple may take the vase home to be placed in a significant location to beautifully symbolize the start of their new life together.
The ceremony may be positioned in the ceremony after or before the vows to symbolize the union that the vows express. It may also be part of the vows, with the bride and groom each taking turns filling a Unity Vase with different colored sands, as they recite their chosen vows.
The sand colors may be coordinated with personal meanings or even home décor.
Smooth implementation of this ceremony may require the assistance of chosen attendants ready the sand and container, placing the individual sand containers in the hands of the bride and groom at the appropriate time and receiving them from them as the ceremony concludes.
HOW THE SAND CEREMONY WORKS:
1) The Groom pours a portion of his sand into the central glass vase.
2) The Bride follows by pouring a portion of her sand also into the central vase creating a layered effect.
3) To complete the ceremony, the Groom and Bride simultaneously pour the balance of their sand into the central container.
4) Following the wedding, the outside vases can be used to display fresh flowers while the central vase will remain a cherished keepsake of your wedding day.
In true symbolic form a ceremony may be performed without commentary, leaving the congregation to muse about its meaning in hushed silence, or commentary may explain the meaning.
SAND CEREMONY #1
_(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_, you have vowed to share the rest of your lives with each other.
Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of two individual containers into one…
One, representing you, ….. and all you were, all you are, and all you ever will be.
(Maid of Honor presents one container of sand to Bride)
The other representing you, _(Bride)_, and all you were, all you are and all you ever will be.
(Best Man presents one container of sand to Groom.)
As these two containers are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one.
(At this point the couple pours their individual sand simultaneously into the mutual container.)
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.
(Best Man and Maids of Honor place containers at the side.)
SAND CEREMONY #2
The Bible says perfect love casts out fear.
It does this by blending of individuality into a coordinated unity so aptly central to the marriage commitment.
Yet, although married couples share one life, never forget you are two separate people.
This means cherishing and affirming your differences–
loving each other for who you are with no effort to destroy personal uniqueness.
To symbolize the intricacy of individuals within marriage joining two lives into one entity, three colours of sand will now be layered into a vase.
(Give Bride clear jar of pink sand, then Groom a clear jar of blue sand.)
(The Officiant has one small clear jar filled with a neutral colour sand and a large empty jar)
We begin with a layer of neutral sand symbolizing that the marriage is grounded.
(Officiant pours a little of the neutral sand into the jar)
Then we layer the individual colours symbolizing that marriage is based on the strength of the individuals.
(Groom pours a little of the blue sand in first, followed by a little more of the neutral sand from the Officiant.)
(Bride then adds a little pink sand, followed by some additional neutral sand from the Officiant)
And now we combine the colours, symbolizing two lives joined as one forever.
(Groom and Bride simultaneously pour their remaining sand into the large jar until their jars are empty.)
(The Officiant caps off the sand with the last of the neutral sand.)
The Officiant might then hold up the large jar as if presenting it to the wedding audience and places the jar to the side).
SAND CEREMONY #3
_(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_, you have just sealed your vows by the giving and receiving of rings and the exchange of a kiss.
This covenant is a relationship pledge between two people who agree that they will commit themselves to one another throughout their lives.
Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring out of these individual containers of sand.
One represents you, _(Groom)_ and all you were, all you are and all you will ever be.
The other represents you, _(Bride)_, and all you were, all you are and all you will ever be.
As these two containers are poured into the central container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined as one.
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.
CHILDREN SAND CEREMONY #1
As they each pour in their sand they symbolize their participation in the loving union of their parents.
_(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_, 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.
One represents you, _(Groom)_ and all you were, all you are and all you will ever be.
The other represents you, _(Bride)_, and all you were, all you are and all you will ever be,
The container that each child holds represents their portion in this marriage and the home life it establishes.
_(Children) will now come forward to help us with the Blending of the Sands.
The gathering of this new family will have a deep influence upon _(Groom)_, and _(Bride)_.
In order for the home to be a happy one, it is essential that there be love and understanding among the children and the adults being married.
As you each hold your sand the separate containers represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique.
As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join as one family.
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will be your marriage and your family.
CHILDREN SAND CEREMONY #2
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 _(Children)_ 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 individual containers/shells of sand, each representing a member of the family in all that they were, all they are and all 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 these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will become the bond with your family.
CHILDREN SAND CEREMONY #3
With this marriage a new family is officially born.
With this is mind, _(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ will now invite their daughters/sons _(Children Names)_ to join them to take part in a Unity Sand Ceremony which will symbolize the birth of their new family.
With this marriage, _(Bride)_, _(Groom)_ and _(Children)_ are confirming the bond that has grown and deepened over the past several years.
Today, as you each hold your sand, the separate containers represent your lives to this moment, individual and unique.
As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join together as one family.
(Pour their sand together as one family.)
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will be your marriage and family life.
EXTENDED FAMILY SAND CEREMONY
This ceremony may be customized to include not only the children but also other extended family members in consideration of family concerns and the need for family participation in symbol of support for your union that you hope to receive from family members and to create a treasured representation of their commitment to the family blending this new marriage creates. Family members can also recite special vows as part of the ceremony.
Family members may be encouraged to bring along their own colored sand. They can then take turns pouring their sands into the unity jar. This represents their lives being included into the new life that is being created.
_(Bride)_ and _(Groom)_ you come here today from two different families.
Today, from these two families a new family is being created.
At this time, I would invite the parents of _(Bride)_ and _(Groom)_ to come forward.
These two vials of sand represent each family.
Now the parents will take their sand and simultaneously pour the sand into the unity bowl symbolizing the uniting of the two families into one.
Other members of the family may likewise participate if desired.
BEACH FRONT SAND CEREMONY
In beach weddings, the Sand Ceremony may prove an exceptionally appropriate way to enhance the rhythmic wave environment. For this, rather than using purchased coloured sands, you might use dry sand from that beach or from the sand at the feet of the bride and groom. (But realize that the Department of Agriculture will not permit the import of this sand.)
_(Groom)_ and _(Bride)_ may your love be as deep as the ocean depths, as expansive as the ocean’s breadth.
No matter what the waves of life might bring, may your love continue to flow and grow.
As you have sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings, so now you symbolized this dynamic union by combining of these two individual shells of sand.
The first shell represents you _(Groom)_ , and all you were, all you are and all you will ever be.
The other represents you _(Bride)_, and all you were, all you are and all you will ever be.
Each one holds its own unique beauty and strength of character.
They can stand on their own and be whole, without need of anything else.
However when these two are blended together they create an entirely new and extraordinary new entity.
OR
Each one holds its own unique beauty and strength of character, yet as they hinge to make the whole they grow stronger and protective.
So this day have you chosen to join to make a new and more powerful entity—the profoundly new reality of marriage.
Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination.
Please pour the sand into this common container to symbolize the union of your two lives.
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be a molding of two individual personalities, bonded together into one heart, one love.
The life that each of you experienced until now, individually, will hereafter be inseparably united, for, in marriage, two become one.