Sand Ceremony

 

The Sand Ceremony is based in Native American tradition, is similar to the
Unity Candle but offers a beautiful and meaningful alternative for an outdoor wedding. At the appropriate point in the ceremony, the couple each takes a vial of colored sand and pours their sand into the central container.

“To symbolize the importance of the individuals within the marriage

and the joining of two lives into one entity,

 three colors 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 colors.  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 colors, which symbolizes
two lives joined asone 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).

•·         Children can be included in the sand ceremony by giving them their own colored sand to pour in the central container.

NOTE: This ceremony is used most often in an outdoor ceremony when a unity candle is less likely to stay lit.