Sand Ceremony

The Hawaiian Style Sand Ceremony adds a Hawaii twist to the traditional unity candle tradition. Like a unity candle the sand is used to symbolize the joining of the bride and groom or the joining of their families. The sand ceremony uses two small vials of sand and small bowl to combine the sand. Each of the two vials of sand symbolizes the separate lives of the bride and groom and their families. If the wedding is being held on a beach the sand would be collected at the time of the ceremony and taken from below the bride and grooms feet. The combined sand makes a wonderful wedding keepsake for the bride and groom and a constant reminder of their Aloha/Love for one another. Craft stores are the best source for natural and colored sand as well as small glass bottles. Below are a few examples of what the wedding officiant can use for the sand ceremony.

NOTE: Please make sure you can pour the sand out of the individual containers so that it pours gracefully (practice). And, please make sure there isn’t too much sand in them, because if there is you’ll have extra sand in one or both of your containers and it may become awkward. Lastly, please have a lid for the bowl/container, so that it doesn’t spill on the way home or to the reception.

Non-Denominational Unity Ceremony for Bride & Groom

Today, ____________ and ___________, you are making a commitment of your eternal aloha/love for one another. 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.

Non-Denominational Unity Ceremony for the Parents to Join Their Families

____________ and ___________, you come here today from two different families. From these two families a new family will be created today. At this time, I would invite the parents of ____________ and ___________, to come forward. These two vials of sand represent each family. Now the parents will take their sand and simultaneously pour the sand into the unity bowl symbolizing the uniting of the two families into one.

Savannah Georgia Wedding Officiant, Rev. Steven Schulte E-mail (912) 354-6815