The Sand Ceremony

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If for whatever reason you choose not to use a Unity Candle during your ceremony, the sand ceremony can be a beautiful and meaningful addition to your vows. Simply find three containers, one for you and your fiancé to pour the sand into, two for each of you to pour the sand from. You can find colored or plain sand at most craft stores. After the Officiant reads the text below (or any text you choose) pour the two containers of sand into the third container simultaneously. You may wish to leave a small amount of sand in each container to symbolize that although you are now joined as one, you each remain individuals.

_______ and _______, you have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings and the exchange of a kiss, 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 individual containers of sand one, representing you, _______ and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, _______, and all that you were and 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.

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This is a ceremony we did in the summer of 2004

“Love is the eternal force of life.

Love is the force that allows us to face fear and uncertainty with courage.

But although you will be sharing one life, never forget you are two separate people.

Cherish and affirm your differences.

Love each other.

Keep your commitment primary.

Together you will laugh and cry, be sick and well, be happy and angry, share and grow.

Grow sometimes together, sometimes separately.”

 “To symbolize the importance of the individuals within the marriage and the joining of 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 which symbolizes that the marriage is grounded.”

(Officiant pours a little of the neutral sand into the jar)

“Then we layer the individual colours.  This symbolizes that the 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, which symbolizes two lives joined as one together 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 then holds the large jar up as if presenting to the wedding audience and places the jar to the side).

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Hawaiian Style Ceremony

The Hawaiian Style Sand Ceremony adds a Hawaii twist to the traditional unity candle tradition. Like a unity candle the sand is used to symbolize the joining of the bride and groom or the joining of their families.  The sand unity ceremony uses two small vials of sand and small bowl to combine the sand. Each of the two vials of sand symbolizes the separate lives of the bride and groom and their families.  If the wedding is being held on a beach the sand would be collected at the time of the ceremony and taken from below the bride and grooms feet (make sure it is dry though). The combined sand makes a wonderful wedding keepsake for the bride and groom and a constant reminder of their Aloha for one another. Craft stores are the best source for natural and colored sand as well as small glass bottles. Another good resource for small bottles is Pier 1 Imports or IKEA. Below are a few examples of what the wedding Officiant can use for the sand unity ceremony:

Non-Denominational Unity Ceremony for Bride & Groom
Today, [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name], you are making a commitment of your eternal aloha for one another. As you each hold your sand the separate containers of sand represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique. As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join together as one. 

Non-Denominational Unity Ceremony for the Parents to Join Their Families
[Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name] you come here today from two different families. From these two families a new family will be created today. At this time, I would invite the parents of [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name]  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. 

Here is a photo of a sand ceremony we did summer, 2005 that included two children (blended family). Four colours of sand were used, one for each family member.

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