Sand Ceremony
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.
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.