How to Perform a Sand Ceremony Wedding
A sand ceremony wedding is perfect for the beach or outdoor weddings where a breeze might make lighting the candle difficult.
Wedding ceremonies are adaptable; couples can include or exclude certain ceremonies or rituals to fit their personalities.
As cultures and ethnicities have blended, “non-traditional” elements like outdoor venues, personalized vows, a friend or officiant, and unity-candle/sand ceremonies have become the norm. Couples are finding ways to make their weddings unique.
The Origins of the Sand Ceremony
The origins of this tradition are unclear, although most theories point to two different backgrounds.
The first version explains that the sand ceremony has its origin in an ancient Hebrew tradition: the so-called “salt covenant”. In the time of Abraham, the salt covenant was used to seal agreements, friendships, and contracts.
“Salt Covenant Wedding”
In the Salt Covenant Wedding ceremony, both the bride and groom blend their salt. Then, they use blended salt in their daily cooking. When the salt gets low, they repeat the ceremony, refilling the salt container and having a constant reminder of their vows.
Each person involved carried a container of salt, which was mixed on the ground. This meant that, once the salt was mixed, it could never be separated, thereby becoming a pact for a lifetime.
Hawaiian Origins
However, other historians claim that the sand ceremony has its origin in the old Hawaiian weddings that were held on the beach. The bride and groom brought handfuls of sand from their homes and mixed them as a symbol of their union and eternal love.
Unity sand ceremonies have also been practiced traditionally within Christian and Catholic wedding ceremonies. However, any couple is free to include this ceremony in their wedding, regardless of religion, location, or sexuality.
What Is a Wedding Sand Ceremony?
At its simplest, a sand ceremony involves the symbolic blending of two or more different-colored sands into a single vessel, symbolizing the blending of two different beings, the bride and the groom, into a single, inseparable unit by the joining of their lives. As hard as it would be to separate those grains of sand, that’s how difficult it is to separate these two people.
Steps of a Sand Ceremony
- The officiant explains the meaning of the ceremony and how it relates to the couple being married.
- The groom is asked to pour some of his sand (i.e., blue) into the larger vessel.
- The officiant asks the bride to do the same with her sand (i.e., pink).
- The bride and groom then pour their sand together into a single stream.
- The ceremony is then closed with words about the union of two people, by the officiant.
Supplies for a Sand Ceremony
The containers are not just beautiful, but the specific colors of the sand also have meaning. Personal traits of the couple, their families, and friends are represented by the unique shades of sand in the wedding sand ceremony. These different hues of sand also have significant meanings and, therefore, can be used to depict certain characteristics of this bond.
Couples choose the white sand to represent purity, spiritual values, and devotion. On which to build the relationship, white sand is sometimes used as the foundation sand.
Yellow sand is used by couples who think about friendship, balance, and harmony.
Some couples who have been together for quite a time and have a deep understanding of each other would choose the red coral sand to depict love, passion, and romance.
Green sand represents health, luck, and prosperity for the couple.
Those who wish patience, tranquility, and longevity for each other would use blue sand.
Items that will be needed to perform this ceremony:
You may decide to use sand with two different colors, one for each partner. This will make your grains of sand easier to see when they are poured into the larger vessel, making for a lovely visual effect.
Two small vessels: Additional vessels can be used for the children or parents of the couple. Many couples tend to choose glass so that the sand is visible. A family heirloom could also be chosen.
One large vessel, preferably with a stopper to keep it sealed from accidentally spilling and to keep it clean. A glass vessel allows the pouring of the sand to be visible.
You are free to place a table anywhere within your venue. However, you may want to place it so the audience can see the wedding sand ceremony. You can also decorate the table to match your theme.
Wedding Sand Ceremony Options
Sand can be added to the base of the larger container by the parents, signifying the foundation of the family. The couple then each pours their sand into the larger container.
You could also have the children join the ceremony to signify the blending of families. Each has another color to add to the rainbow of sand that signifies the foundation and joining of families together.
The groom pours a layer of sand and then the bride pours a layer of her colored sand. Then a layer is poured by both at the same time to signify the joining of the two.
Leaving a bit of sand in each original vessel, to symbolize that each of you will maintain his or her individuality even as your lives are joined.
Collecting sand from meaningful places—a favorite beach or vacation spot—can add some significance to the ceremony.
Inviting the members of your wedding party to add sand to the container honors the special place they hold in your lives.
Sand colors to match the wedding theme colors
Choose a vase, an urn, or another vessel that has special meaning to you both.
Final Thoughts
The vessel containing your combined sand is a lifelong keepsake of your wedding. It is yours to keep; you can display it in your home or store it somewhere safe. It is a constant reminder that your marriage is a partnership and that your marriage needs your commitment to work.
A sand ceremony, at its most basic level, entails the symbolic blending of two or more different-colored sands into a single vessel, signifying the blending of two separate beings, the bride and groom, into a single, indivisible one via the uniting of their lives.
To learn more about the officiant packages and services available, contact Rev. Victoria.
Rev. Victoria’s information is also available on http://weddingwire.ca.
