The Sand Ceremony

Sand Ceremony. . . often with instrumental background accompaniment

After the bride and groom have exchanged vows, the presider says:

Now we celebrate your union as it is symbolized through the pouring of two separate containers of sand. I invite [the Mother, or parents, of Bride] and [the Mother, or parents, of Groom] to come forward and present their child with the vase to which each of us added a small portion of of distinctly colored sand as we entered today.

These two vials of colored sand represent your individual families and carry blessings from all in attendance today. The separate colors serve as a beautiful reminder that, just as your lives will be forever intermixed, so too will the lives of your families be connected.

As [Bride] and [Groom] combine their sand, we are reminded that, while each of us is unique, our individuality adds brilliant color to our life’s canvas.

For you, [Bride and Groom], the grains of sand represent all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will be. Just as the design these grains of sand make can never be separated, and poured again into individual vases, so the love you proclaim and the bond you share renders you now and forever inseparable.

[All observe in silence the Bride and Groom combining the sand from their individual vials into the large vase.]