Unity Sand Ceremonies

Unity Sand
Ceremonies

Table of Contents

Sand Ceremony - Civil I·················································· 3
Sand Ceremony - Civil I-A - Using a Third Neutral Color ········ 4
Sand Ceremony - Civil I-B - Using an Hourglass ··················· 5
Sand Ceremony - Civil II - Children Included······················· 6
Sand Ceremony - Religious I ··········································· 7
Sand Ceremony - Religious I-A - Using a Third Neutral Color ·· 8
Sand Ceremony - Religious II - Children Included ················· 9

Conventions: For simplicity’s sake, the terms Bride and Groom are used to indicate the side on
which the individual stands. Traditionally, from the perspective of the guests, the Bride stands
on the left and the Groom stands on the right.

Unity Sand Ceremony

Civil I

(The Ceremony Table is directly behind Officiant. On the Ceremony Table there is a larger center container with the
individual containers of sand on either side.)

Officiant: ___(Groom)_____ and ___(Bride)_____, will you please step to the Ceremony Table.

(The Officiant steps behind the Ceremony Table. The Couple steps to the sides of the Ceremony Table. A musical
selection may play softly during the following:)

Officiant: Within a marriage each person is both their own and each other’s. Their personal integrity
does not diminish by their union, in fact it is enhanced. Their hopes and dreams remain their own, as
individual as each of these grains of sand. Yet they have a new life ahead with endless possibilities
and new dreams that are theirs together.
Officiant: Will you please pick up your containers of sand.

(The Couple each picks up their own container.)

Officiant: Hold close to your heart the container of sand representing the essence of all that you are
and all that you possess and embody the grains with all your hopes and dreams for the future. As you
join the contents of that which you hold in the palm of your hand, you link your essences, and create
this physical representation of the sacred place in which souls touch.
Officiant: You may now pour your sand.

(The volume of the music may be turned up as the Couple takes turns pouring their sand into the center container.
The music fades and stops as the Officiant and the Couple return to their previous places.)

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Unity Sand Ceremony

Civil I-A - Using a Third Neutral Color

(The Ceremony Table is directly behind Officiant. On the Ceremony Table there is a larger center container with the
individual containers of sand on either side.)

Officiant: ___(Groom)_____ and ___(Bride)_____, will you please step to the Ceremony Table.

(The Officiant steps behind the Ceremony Table. The Couple steps to the sides of the Ceremony Table. A musical se-
lection may play softly during the following:)

Officiant: Within a marriage each person is both their own and each other’s. Their personal integrity
does not diminish by their union, in fact it is enhanced. Their hopes and dreams remain their own, as
individual as each of these grains of sand. Yet they have a new life ahead with endless possibilities
and new dreams that are theirs together.
Officiant: To symbolize the importance of the individuals within a marriage and the joining of two
lives into one, three colors of sand will now be layered into a vase. These two individual containers of
sand contain two colors which represent your individual lives before today; your separate live, your
separate families and your separate sets of friends. This container with the neutral colored sand sym-
bolizes love, the foundation of your marriage.

(Officiant picks up container and pours sand into center vase.)

Officiant: Will you please pick up your containers of sand.

(The Couple each picks up their own container.)

Officiant: As you join the contents of that which you hold in the palm of your hand; you will join
your essences, and create this physical representation of the sacred place in which souls touch.
Officiant: You may now pour your sand.

(The volume of the music may be turned up as the Couple takes turns pouring their sand into the center container. The
music fades and stops as the Officiant and the Couple return to their previous places.)

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Unity Sand Ceremony

Civil I-B - Using an Hourglass

(The Ceremony Table is directly behind Officiant. On the Ceremony Table there is a larger hourglass container with
the individual containers of sand on either side.)

Officiant: ___(Groom)_____ and ___(Bride)_____, will you please step to the Ceremony Table.

(The Officiant steps behind the Ceremony Table. The Couple steps to the sides of the Ceremony Table. A musical se-
lection may play softly during the following:)

Officiant: For centuries, the hourglass has been considered an enduring symbol of the passage of
time, so it is appropriate that it will now become an enduring symbol of your love and marriage and
represent the beginning of your new life together.
Officiant: Within a marriage each person is both their own and each other’s. Their personal integrity
does not diminish by your union, in fact it is enhanced. Your hopes and dreams remain your own, as
individual as each of these grains of sand. Yet you have a new life ahead with endless possibilities
and new dreams that are yours together. Every year you will celebrate your marriage by turning the
hourglass. Each time you turn it, the sands will become more intermingled and even more beautiful
because it will carry with it the special memories of this day.
Officiant: Will you please pick up your containers of sand.

(The Couple each picks up their own container.)

Officiant: Hold close to your heart the container of sand representing the essence of all that you are
and all that you possess and embody the grains with all your hopes and dreams for the future. As you
join the contents of that which you hold in the palm of your hand, you link your essences, and create
this physical representation of the sacred place in which souls touch.
Officiant: You may now pour your sand.

(The volume of the music may be turned up as the Couple takes turns pouring their sand into the hourglass container.
The music fades and stops as the Officiant and the Couple return to their previous places.)

5

Unity Sand Ceremony

Civil II - Children Included

(The Ceremony Table is directly behind Officiant. On the Ceremony Table there is a larger center container with the
individual containers of sand on either side.)

Officiant: ___(Groom)_____ and ___(Bride)_____ will you and ___(Child or Children)_____,
please step to the Ceremony Table.

(The Officiant steps behind the Ceremony Table. The Couple and Child (or Children) step to the sides of the
Ceremony Table. A musical selection may play softly during the following:)

Officiant: The individual containers of sand represent your individual lives before today. They
symbolize your separate lives, your separate families and your separate sets of friends. The center
container represents not only your union in marriage, but the unity formed by this new family.
Officiant: Each of you will soon join the contents of your individual containers into the center
container. This symbolizes that your separate lives and your two families are now joined together into
one family.
Officiant: You may now pick up your containers and pour your sand.

(The volume of the music may be turned up as the Couple and Child (or Children) each take their designated
container of sand from the table and take turns pouring their sand in the center vase. The music fades and stops as
the Officiant, Couple, and Child (or Children) then return to their previous places.)

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Unity Sand Ceremony

Religious I

(The Ceremony Table is directly behind Officiant. On the Ceremony Table there is a larger center container with the
individual containers of sand on either side.)

Officiant: ___(Groom)_____ and ___(Bride)_____, will you please step to the Ceremony Table.

(The Officiant steps behind the Ceremony Table. The Couple steps to the sides of the Ceremony Table. A musical
selection may play softly during the following:)

Officiant: There are three containers on the table, two are filled with sand, symbolizing your separate
lives up to this time. The third container is empty and symbolizes the future, which God has ordained
for you..
Officiant: Will you please pick up your containers of sand.

(The Couple each picks up their own container.)

Officiant: Hold close to your heart the container of sand and contemplate how, through God's love,
your paths have come together. Soon you will join the contents of that which you hold in the palm of
your hand, which represents your previous separate pathways. As you do so, you create this physical
representation of the sacred place in which souls touch and your willingness to walk life's pathways
together as one.
Officiant: You may now pour your sand.

(The volume of the music may be turned up as the Couple takes turns pouring their sand into the center container. The
music fades and stops as the Officiant and the Couple return to their previous places.)

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Unity Sand Ceremony

Religious I-A - Using a Third Neutral Color

(The Ceremony Table is directly behind Officiant. On the Ceremony Table there is a larger center container with the
individual containers of sand on either side.)

Officiant: ___(Groom)_____ and ___(Bride)_____, will you please step to the Ceremony Table.

(The Officiant steps behind the Ceremony Table. The Couple steps to the sides of the Ceremony Table. A musical
selection may play softly during the following:)

Officiant: You will observe that there are four containers on the table. To symbolize the importance
of the individuals within a marriage and the joining of two lives into one, three colors of sand will be
layered into the third container which symbolizes the future God has ordained for you. This container
with the neutral colored sand symbolizes the foundation of your marriage, which is God.

(Officiant picks up container and pours sand into center vase.)

Officiant: These other two individual containers of sand contain two colors which symbolize your
separate lives up to this time. They symbolize your separate lives, your separate families and your
separate sets of friends.
Officiant: Through the love and illumination of God, your paths have come together, and in this
symbolic ceremony, you will each take your container of sand and together you will soon the center
vase, symbolizing your willingness to walk life's pathways together as one.
Officiant: Will you please pick up your containers of sand.

(The Couple each picks up their own container.)

Officiant: May a kind God forever bless this marriage. You may now pour your sand.

(The volume of the music may be turned up as the Couple takes turns pouring their sand into the center container. The
music fades and stops as the Officiant and the Couple return to their previous places.)

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Unity Sand Ceremony

Religious II - Children Included

(The Ceremony Table is directly behind Officiant. On the Ceremony Table there is a larger center container with the
individual containers of sand on either side.)

Officiant: ___(Groom)_____ and ___(Bride)_____ will you and ___(Child or Children)_____,
please step to the Ceremony Table.

(The Officiant steps behind the Ceremony Table. The Couple steps to the sides of the Ceremony Table. A musical
selection may play softly during the following:)

Officiant: On this your wedding day, you make this loving commitment to merge two devoted lives
into one and to join with this child (these children) into one family. The distinct grains of sand in the
individual containers represent your lives up to this moment; individual and unique. The center con-
tainer represents not only your union in marriage, but the unity formed by this new family.
Officiant: From now on your thoughts shall be for each other and for this family rather than for your
individual selves. This is what God meant when He said: ". . . and the two shall become one." May
this one container of sand be a reminder of your faith in God, for it is He who enriches your marriage
and strengthens your family in every possible way.
Officiant: As you empty your sand into the center container, you create a symbol of your two fami-
lies now joined together into one; forever united in the radiant oneness of God's love.
Officiant: You may now pick up your containers and pour your sand.

(The volume of the music may be turned up as the Couple and Child (or Children) each take their designated
container of sand from the table and take turns pouring their sand in the center vase. The music fades and stops as
the Officiant, Couple, and Child (or Children) then return to their previous places.)

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