sand ceremony

[futurefuchsy]

I was looking online for alternatives to the unity candle, and I came upon the sand ceremony.However, the ideas say that it is usually done for beach weddings,but I wanted something to include my daughter from a previous relationship.
My idea was to do 3 different colors of sand and have all three of us pour them in.Has anyone seen this done at a "non-beach" themed wedding?
What do you guys think?

[RevMatty]

Here's a few samples from my ceremonies file for Sand Ceremony with children;
OPTION 1
Minister: _________ and _________, today you are making a life-long commitment to share the
rest of your lives with each other and honor your children as well. Your family relationship is
symbolized through the pouring of these individual containers of sand; one, representing you,
_________ and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, one representing
you, _________, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be and
another container for each child.
There are children who will share in this marriage. The gathering of this new family will have a
deep influence upon them. We realize that in order for the home to be a happy one, it is essential
that there be love and understanding between the children and the adults being married.
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 family.
You may now blend the sand together symbolizing the uniting of the children and bride and
groom into one.
Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual
containers, so will your marriage and your family be.

OPTION 2
Officiant: Just as we have now bound (Bride/Groom) and (Groom/Bride) to one another, we will
now celebrate the unification of (other family/child/children) into this covenant. The couple will first
pour their sands into the vase, showing that their marriage is the foundation of this family. Their
sands mix together and symbolize their bond of love and respect that can never be separated. As
(family member/child/children) now add their sands, we are reminded that though we are all
different people, it is our individuality which adds a unique color to the tapestry of the family. Like
the sands poured before it, so these sands will also mix and be unable to be separated.

OPTION 3
Officiant: Now we will celebrate the creation of a family. The (three/four/etc.) vials of sand here
represent (Bride/Groom), (Groom/Bride), and (child/children/family members). As each pours in
the sands, they show how the individual colors create a beautiful masterpiece of love and mutual
respect. Just as the sands are forever intermixed, so are the lives of the people being celebrated
today. As we join this couple in marriage, we are also reminded of the significant role that
(child/children/family members) play in this marriage. Today, a new unified life is shared within
this family.

Hope this helps:D

[Jacobs_Girl]

I used the sand ceremony for my garden ceremony. For additional people just order another vase with another color sand.

Our sand ceremony is right in the middle

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z303/b3m3rchic/wedding/l_29a0ec35841e9064d2fc54b62536606e.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z303/b3m3rchic/wedding/wedding18.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z303/b3m3rchic/wedding/wedding19.jpg

[luckythirteen05]

i love the photo frame! that is something you can always keep in your house without looking like its just sitting there! where did you get it.

and i don't think it needs to be beach themed to have a sand ceremony. i was planning on it.

[amunet]

I plan on doing this too and am not having a beach wedding, but a wedding in a garden. I haven't found what I want us to pour the sand into yet.

[futurefuchsy]

i love the photo frame! that is something you can always keep in your house without looking like its just sitting there! where did you get it.

and i don't think it needs to be beach themed to have a sand ceremony. i was planning on it.

Yes where did u get a frame like that?I think that would be a great idea,then you can keep it out even at the reception.Thanks for the idea.

[Jacobs_Girl]

i love the photo frame! that is something you can always keep in your house without looking like its just sitting there! where did you get it.

and i don't think it needs to be beach themed to have a sand ceremony. i was planning on it.

I ordered my sand ceremony set through http://www.sandframes.com (http://www.sandframes.com/)

But there are more inexpensive versions that work just the same. I even saw a few shadow boxes you could buy from Kohls or tarket with some modifications it would work the same. I had only 2 weeks to get mines so I just ordered it online.

Another set I liked with the Heirloom Hourglass set. I couldnt get this in time since they didnt have any in stock at the time.
http://www.heirloomhourglass.com/catalog/i2.html

http://www.heirloomhourglass.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/unitydemo4.jpg

[ger]

We did a sand ceremony...and ours was held in a church. A lot of people commented on how neat it was. We were supposed to be married on a boat, but the weather didn't cooperate.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/gerrc21/wedding%20day/100_0204.jpg

[WBandMe]

We're doing a sand ceremony too, also with a sandframe. I know Gwen (Rainbowtreat) did a sand ceremony with her children involved. I don't think it really has to be a beachy thing anymore. If you want it, do it :)

[FFC]

We did the sand ceremony and it was beautiful! We had our wedding on the lawn in front of a barn, and the reception was 4x4/country themed and no beach for 200 miles :) It turned out great!

[Nekochanpurr]

I did a sand ceremony as well.. And i was no where near a beach!

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c204/ChibiAiChan/Stacy%20Steve%20Wedding%20Stuff/ceremony/Professional%20Pics/IMG270.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c204/ChibiAiChan/Stacy%20Steve%20Wedding%20Stuff/ceremony/Professional%20Pics/IMG089.jpg

Cheap Ikea vases. YES.

[Ninedays9]

We're also doing a sand ceremony and not on the beach. We will have an outdoor wedding, though (unless it's storming out, knock on wood). I've heard sand ceremonies are better for outdoors than candles because of the wind. Plus I like that idea better than the idea of the unity candle because it's not so religion-oriented. (We will have some religion involved, but the candle seemed like it'd be adding too much.)

I still need to find some vases that I like for it. I found awesome sand at Michael's, which hopefully they'll still have when it gets closer to the day.

[FFC]

Oh yeah, I can't view the pics from work cuz photobucket is now blocked, but if you go to my wedding pictures thread, you may see the sand ceremony vases. They were a whopping $0.98 each :happy:

[Jenna5366]

I'm doing a sand ceremony too, with my stepson involved, and we're nowhere near a beach! I think it's a wonderful keepsake from the day with wonderful memories. I never did like the unity candle. :)

I need to find some vases too... I really like the hourglass one that was posted on the first page. I should go see how affordable it is!

[SarahPearl]

The Sand Ceremony is growing more and more common so it's not unusual to see it even in traditional church weddings. One of my friends did a sand ceremony and they got married in a pretty fancy church. I don't think anyone thought it was odd that they decided to do that instead of the candles.:grinhappy:

[BarceloMayaPalaceBride]

I love the idea! I would just use 3 different colors of sand. It doesn't have to be a beach wedding to have a sand ceremony. We're having a sand ceremony for our beach wedding as well! :)