The Sand Ceremony

One of my favorite parts of the beach wedding is the sand ceremony. The sand ceremony is a celebration that is usually three to five minutes in length and is a meaningful joining of two lives and often two families. In this timeless ritual of marriage, the couple pour various colors of sand from a container, such as a seashell, into one special container symbolizing their coming together as one. The sand usually matches the color scheme of the wedding colors.

This unique celebration was recently brought into the public eye with the marriage of Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter of the TV series, “The Bachelorette.” Rather than the time-honored ritual of the unity candle ceremony, the famous couple chose the sand ceremony. Their decision has sparked a craze in wedding ceremonies across the country.


Pouring Vessels
My favorite pouring vessels for the sand ceremony is the pearlized nautilus shell. They can be purchased at a really reasonable price on eBay. Or you can also use uniquely shaped bottles. There are many options. Whatever your choice, be sure to make it your own.

Special Containers
Be sure to pick a container that you really love and want to look at for many many years to come to remember your special day. Lead crystal is a wonderful option if your budget allows. Even a simple glass vase will look beautiful with the colored sand from your wedding. If the bride and groom have children from another marriage, they can have the children participate in the sand ceremony by having separate colors for the children. This adds to the special meaning of the moment and adds additional beauty to the sand.