The Sand Ceremony--a modern alternative to the Unity Candle Ceremony--symbolizes the separate lives of the Bride and Groom coming together to become a family. It is a modern twist on the traditional phrase "and the two shall become one."

Below are some options for the Sand Ceremony wording.

1. Bride and groom, you have sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings and this covenant is a pledge between you as you commit to one another for the rest of your lives. Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand one, representing you, Groom and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, bride 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 together, they will no longer be separate, but will be joined together as one.

Bride and Groom will pour sand into the center container. Sometimes a song is played at this time.


2. Groom and Bride today you join your lives together. The two bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families, and separate set of friends. They are all that you were, all that you are, and all you will ever be as an individual. As these two containers of sand are poured together, they will no longer be separate, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and joined again into individual containers, so will your marriage be. You each will remain individual, with your own uniqueness, but you will face the world united.

Bride and Groom will pour sand into the center container. Sometimes a song is played at this time.

3. Groom and Bride, you have proclaimed your love and commitment before all of us and now your lives are joined in the most sacred and joyous of unions. I ask that you each take your container of sand which represent your individuality and separateness-and combine them into the center container to symbolize the merging of your two hearts and lives into one.

Bride and Groom will pour sand into the center container. Sometimes a song is played at this time.

Officiant: We pray that your life be blessed. In the immortal words of the poet mystic William Blake, together may you...
"See a world in a grain of sand. And heaven in a wild flower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand. And eternity in an hour."

4. Today, Groom and Bride have chosen to commemorate their marriage through the celebration of the Sand Ceremony. This ceremony symbolizes the inseparable union of Groom and Bride into a new and eternal marital relationship. Bride and Groom will simultaneously pour separate containers of sand into a common vessel. Each grain of sand in their separate containers represents a unique and separate moment, decision, feeling or event that helped shaped Bride and Groom into the separate and unique individuals that they are today. As they pour their separate containers of sand into a common vessel, those separate and independent individuals will cease to exist. Instead they will merge into a loving and supportive marital community. Groom and Bride just as the grains of sand can never be separated into their individual containers again, so will your marriage be.

Bride and Groom will pour sand into the center container. Sometimes a song is played at this time.

As with the Unity Candle, the Sand ceremony can be used to depict not only the union of the couple, but the formation of their new family should there be children involved. (This can also be used if the children of the bride and groom are adults.)

Officiant: There are (insert number here) containers of sand behind me. One, representing you,  Groom and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, Bride and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be. And thirdly, there is a container of sand representing each of your children (insert children's names here).

I ask that you take your vials of sand and combine them into one in the center vessel of the dish before us, representing the permanent intertwining of your lives from this day forward. Just as these grains of sand cannot be separated once combined, so shall your lives be forever interwoven.

Everyone pours their sand. Often a song will be played at this time.

After the pouring:

Officiant: Bride and Groom and (insert children's names here), as family members, you will bring both happiness and sorrow to one another, you will be each other's strength and on occasion, you will be each other's trial! Remember, that even if you are far apart, you will always belong to one another, for the (insert number here) of you are irrevocably bound together on this wonderful, yet challenging journey that we call life. On this special day, as these containers of sand have been poured together, it is our wish that the light of love will always guide the path of your family's journey.

The Sand Ceremony is sometimes used in conjunction to the Bowl of Blessings, which is a creative way to symbolize the newly married couple being surrounded by the love and support of everyone present. The container of sand is placed in the center of a dish or basket and surrounded by the blessing stones of the guests. See the Bowl of Blessings attachment for details.

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