Sand Ceremony

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Scene: Sundance talking to his Dad on the phone.
Sundance's Dad: Uh, I don't think we have time to do both the Wedding Communion and Sand Ceremony.
Duckie: What? Why not?
Sundance: I don't know. I'm just relaying my dad's message.
Duckie: But the Sand Ceremony will take less than a minute. And Holy Communion shouldn't take that long!
Phil explains to dad what the Sand Ceremony is.
Sundance's Dad: Oh! I thought we were going to go out on the beach and collect sand or something. I was worried about what kind of shoe I needed to wear if we were going to do that.

Thus: This post is for my future Father-In-Law *waves* Hi Future FIL!

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Since our venue will not allow flamables, we had to find a different option for the Unity Candle. We (read: I) decided on the Unity Sand Ceremony.

What exactly is the Unity Sand Ceremony? Taken from this site: When the sand from these vases is combined it is never to be separated again, just like the two of you. This sand ceremony is a nice alternative to a unity candle, especially when the wedding is outdoors. The set includes a 10" tall center vase and three 6.75" tall accessory vases. The third vase is meant to be used by your officiant to begin the ceremony, or to include a child or parent. Center vase is personalized for free with your names and wedding date as shown. Sand is available separately.

According to this website: The Unity Sand Ceremony can also be altered in many ways to include family and friends. Besides the bride and groom, various colors of sand are given to wedding members who will add their sand to the couple's sand, all flowing into the container, creating a colorful and one-of-a kind symbol of unity. In an age where couples are planning weddings that are unique to their beliefs and lifestyle, the sand ceremony can be personalized many different ways to fit the occasion. After the ceremony, the couple has a unique keepsake to remember their wedding day.

I like how the Sand Ceremony can be personalized to add in other family members, such as your kids (if you or your spouse already has some).

This is a cute set that you can personalize with you initials and date. But it's rather pricey at $60 + $9 for engraving.

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Basically, you each choose a color and then pour it into some container, usually done a person at a time (ie Groom first, then Bride) and then together at the same time. People opt to choose colors that will make a new color, such as Blue + Red = Purple or Blue + Yellow = Green. Although, I do like the layered look... but I think it takes some skills and coordination to make it look so nice!

Here are some color options. This site also has 70 different color options available.

Pink with White.

Gray with White.

I am going to scour Michael's and other stores for some nice containers and vases. I am thinking of getting something with a bottle cap.... Maybe an olive oil bottle of some sort? And then do some glass etching on them? And find some pretty pretty sand colors? What do you think?

And I am totally falling in love with the idea of using colored sand as part of the centerpiece decorations. Like these:

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I am running wild with ideas and need to show these to my decoration people pronto!!

Anyways, here are some readings/vows that can be read during the Sand Ceremony (found here):

Our bride and groom have chosen An Apache Prayer for their final blessing.
(Name) and (Name),
Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.ows I found that can be used for the Sand Ceremony.

“(Bride) and (Groom) you lives are now joined in the most sacred and joyous of unions. We pray that your life be blessed. In the immortal words of the poet mystic William Blake, together may you...

"See a world in a grain of sand
And heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

“(Bride) and (Groom), you have just committed yourselves to one another through sacred vows. Your lives are no longer two, but one. To symbolize this joining, we ask that you each pour some sand into this bottle. (Each scoops some sand from the beach and pours it into the bottle. )”

Officiant: (Name) and (Name) as you pour your sand into the one container, please repeat after me: “As these grains of sand merge together as one, I merge my life with yours. Please take my love throughout the sands of time. My heart is forever in your keeping.

Officiant: (Name) and (Name) as these grains of sand are joined together, so are your hearts, your bodies and your souls in marriage. Please repeat after me: (Here the nuptial pair may add whatever vows they wish….)

“My beloved (Name) as these grains of sand are joined together, so are our hearts, our bodies and our souls. I offer myself as your husband/wife forever.”

UNITY SAND CEREMONY reading from this site
(after the minister reads the statement below, pour the two containers of sand into the third container simultaneously.
_______________ and ______________, 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.

And for everyone that needs an example to see how it all works:



Did anyone do a Sand Ceremony? What colors did you choose? Did you have any readings/vows during this time?