Grains of Sand: the New Unity Ceremony
Sometimes called the Wedding Sand Ceremony or the Unity Sand Ceremony, the purpose is the same as the Unity Candle. The bride and groom each have a special vase or vial, from which they pour sand into a larger see-through container. During the ceremony, the officiant talks about how the pouring of the sand symbolizes the unifying of two people joined in marriage, the individual grains intermingling to become one new inseparable body of sand. Afterward, the newlyweds get to take home a special keepsake--the vase filled with the sand they poured on their wedding day becomes a beautiful and sentimental center of attention in their new home's decor.
The history of the Sand Ceremony seems to be tied to the West Coast--California or Hawaii. It may have first been used as a way to s
olve the wind-blown candle problem during a beach wedding. Apparently the procedure initially involved simple beach sand but quickly evolved to include brightly colored sands that are now easily found at many wedding supply companies, along with the special containers for pouring. The containers come in all shapes and sizes, some are the nesting variety (at right), some are shaped like hearts and some come complete with a stand for dispIaying the container.
I'm told the Sand Ceremony trend really caught on after one of the couples who met on TV's "The "Bachelorette" incorporated one in their wedding. Interestingly enough, the Sand Ceremony has become extremely popular at weddings that involve blended families. It's an ideal way to include the bride and groom's children, whether they're youngsters or grown adults. Unless the vase has a large enough mouth to allow everyone to pour at once, the participants take a turn pouring their sand--usually starting and ending with the bride and groom. When each person has a unique color of sand to contribute, the end result can be quite intricate and pretty.
In most of the Sand ceremonies I've photographed, the event only takes two or three minutes and it usually happens right after the vows. Sometimes, though, the bride and groom say their vows while they're pouring the sand--w
hich certainly takes a bit more concentration! Since I've never seen a "spill" during a Sand Ceremony, I have to think many couples are practicing their pouring skills ahead of time. I think that would be especially important if children are involved, or if more than one person will be pouring sand at the same time. To help out, some wedding
supply companies offer Sand Ceremony funnels--which can be as simple as
a rolled piece of paper. I've seen them in the wedding colors, as you might expect, and
embellished with the couple's monogram. 
Some people don't believe the Sand Ceremony has a place in a religious wedding ceremony, but I haven't found that to be true. Some ministers have a special prayer they use for the occasion and some even "bless" the sand. Also, some couples include a spiritual aspect by starting with a container that already has a base layer of white sand, to symbolize God or Christ. Then as they pour in their own colored sand, the bride and groom acknowledge their union is built on a spiritual foundation. The minister may be asked to "top off" the container with a final layer of white sand.
Available sand colors range from subtle to bold and can reflect everything from the wedding colors, to the bride and groom's personal favorites, to the color scheme of their home. If you want your guests to know the significance of the colors, the minister can offer an explanation during the ceremony, or the bride and groom can make mention of it during their vows. Whether you're getting married indoor or out, the pouring of sand can be the highlight of your wedding ceremony, even more so if you think of creative ways to personalize it and make it special.
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