What is a Sand Ceremony?

You've seen plenty of pictures on Pinterest, but you're still not 100% certain what a sand ceremony is, how it works and why you should consider incorporating it into your ceremony. Let's break this down... 

There is much speculation about where the roots of the sand ceremony derive. Some say that sand ceremony use in weddings stems from Hawaii, and others state that it comes from Native American origin. 

If you're familiar with the Unity Candle (uniting two people with one flame) you'll see a similarity in the Sand Ceremony. The sand ceremony (technically "blending of the sands") represents a blending of individual lives into one partnership. When used in a wedding, you'll see it set up where the couple takes their individual glasses filled with sand and pours them into one vase.

 In the case of the photograph above, the bride and groom that I worked with here in the Philadelphia suburbs opted to use beakers (bringing a bit of their personality into the wedding ceremony!) and poured the different colors of sand into an engraved vessel. 

In some cases, second marriages lend the sand ceremony to represent the blending of two families and have their children participate in the occasion. 

Where does a sand ceremony fit into the wedding ceremony?

Usually, the sand ceremony takes place after a couple recites their vows. It is not in place of vows themselves. It's important to talk to your place of worship to make sure that a sand ceremony is a permitted addition to your ceremony script. 

Beach weddings are some of the more popular locations for a sand ceremony, not only because of the setting, but because it adds even more meaning to what you're doing. You are able to take sand from the spots where you stood on your wedding day and keep it for the rest of your lives in the vessel that you utilize for the ceremony.