Unity Sand Ceremony

The "Blending of the Sands" ceremony can be a beautiful and meaningful alternative to 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 fiancé to pour the sand into and two 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 sea shells. 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 below (or any 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.