One of the most popular rituals performed in wedding ceremonies today is the ‘Unity Sand Ritual’. The rite can be performed by the couple alone, but is more often used when there are children from previous relationships or when the couple already have children of their own. The Unity Sand Ritual is a wonderfully unifying ritual; simple yet meaningful.
Requirements: A sand kit including - clear glass vase or goblet and different coloured sand in ornamental bottle for each person involved.
The glass vase is
placed in the centre of a small table at the ceremony’s location. To add a
personal touch it can be accessorised, or engraved with the couple’s initials
or names and the wedding date.
Two of the smaller
vases, containing different coloured sands, are placed either side of the
central vase, one for the bride and one for the groom. These sands can be in
the wedding colours.
During the sand
ceremony, the celebrant will verbally direct the couple to take turns to pour
the sand from their individual vases into the central vase, creating a layered
effect. If children are participating, they will then be invited to pour their
own colours, to mark their inclusion as part of a loving family.
Finally the couple will
pour the remainder of the sand into the vase at the same time so that the two
colours combine and can’t be separated, symbolising the unassailable strength
of their union. A poem or reading can be recited at the same time as the sand
is poured.
Tip: If the ceremony takes place
at a beach the celebrant may take some sand from the ground and pour it as the
final layer to represent the location where the couple solemnised their
family’s unity and commitment.
Example:
‘Jane and Daniel have
chosen to include a symbolic ritual in their ceremony today called the Unity
Sand Ritual. Could I ask Rebecca and Shane to bring Brayden and Sarah forward.
Jane, Daniel, Brayden
and Sarah, today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of
your lives with each other as a family. The relationship that you each have
with the other members of this family is symbolized through the pouring of
these four individual containers of sand; One, representing you Jane and one
representing you Daniel and all that you were, all that you are and all that
you will ever be. The other two representing your two beautiful children
Brayden and Sarah and all that they have been and have meant to you and the
unlimited potential for what they may become.
As each of you hold
your sand, the separate containers represent your individual and unique lives
up to this point. As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join
together as one. I ask you now to individually pour half of your sand into the
container. We will start with you Daniel.
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.
I now ask that you all
pour your remaining sand into the container together. May this togetherness
never be broken and may your lives always be blended and intertwined with each
other’s in happiness, hope and prosperity.’
Here is a little video of what this might look like:
