Wedding sand ceremonies have become a new American tradition.
In a wedding sand ceremony the couple and their chosen participants recite vows or prose in a two to three minute ceremony. The bride and groom then pour their individual vessels of sand to into a new vessel that holds the blended sand. Once the bride and groom combine the sands, they can no longer separate them. The sands symbolize the couple's lifetime commitment and the enduring nature of marriage.
Details
The vase from the sand ceremony can be a keepsake.
The wedding sand ceremony is very flexible. The ceremony's vows or readings can follow the traditional wedding vows, or they can serve in the place of traditional wedding vows. The bride and groom decide who participates in the sand ceremony. They select or compose readings and decide who will speak them; they choose the colors and origin of the sand and who pours it; and they select the vessels to pour from and to. The speakers usually go first, speaking the vows or readings that hold meaning for the bride and groom. Participants then pour the individual vessels of sand into the larger vessel that holds the blended sand. Once blended in one vessel, the sands cannot return to their original state, symbolizing how families blend and become one when two people marry.
Who Participates and How
Southern California is a perfect place for a wedding.
While the wedding sand ceremony can be just between the bride and groom, it can also include any number of participants. The wedding sand ceremony accommodates blended families and is an excellent way for children and other relatives to feel a part of the wedding ceremony. Couples can ask their minister or officiant to read parts of the ceremony or they can read or recite the parts themselves. They may opt to assign parts to those participating in the ceremony with them.
Southern California
In Southern California, there is an abundance of venues for weddings. The Wedding Celebrations website says Southern California weddings are popular because of "the fabulous year-round weather, the calming ocean breezes, the awesome natural beauty of the local beaches and the beauty and charm of the surrounding mountains." Most ministers and officiants in Southern California have experience with the wedding sand ceremony and can help couples make important decisions about it. The wedding sand ceremony is easy to include in a service, whether you marry at the beach, a private home, a garden or indoors.
Creative Freedom
The ceremony gives couples creative license to write their own vows or reading. The Southern California Wedding website says of the wedding sand ceremony, "... there are many ways to make it your own. Some couples choose to leave a small amount of sand in their original containers to show that even though they are coming together, they still function as individuals." Another advantage of the wedding sand ceremony is that the bride and groom can customize the words and readings for their religious or cultural preferences.
Considerations
It is smart to decide early what type of readings you want to use for the ceremony and who you would like to say the various parts. Take the wedding as a whole into consideration. Make sure the vows or prose you select fits in with the overall theme of your wedding. Ministers and wedding officiants are excellent resources for what you are looking for and are usually happy to help. Make sure to select sand vessels carefully, and practice pouring sand with them so you know everything fits and works well. If you and your spouse-to-be plan to memorize the vows for the sand ceremony, begin to practice early and keep practicing until it becomes second nature to you.
Tags: sand ceremony, Southern California, wedding sand ceremony, bride groom, wedding sand, blended sand