Sand Ceremony Wording

HOW IT WORKS After the two of you have said your vows to one another and exchanged rings, your minister or wedding officiant will guide you through the Sand Ceremony.  To begin with, he or she will explain the meaning behind the Sand Ceremony and then invite you to pour your sand from an individual container to one larger decanter or vase. MOST COMMONLY USED WORDING BRIDE and GROOM, you have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings and the exchange of a kiss, and this covenant is a relationship pledge between two people who agree that they will commit themselves to one another throughout their lives. The most beautiful example of this partnership is the marriage relationship. You have committed here today to share the rest of your lives with each other. Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand one, representing you, BRIDE and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, GROOM, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be. The following could also be added to the above As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be, united as one for all of your days. WORDING FROM TRISTA AND RYAN'S WEDDING Love is the eternal force of life. Love is the force that allows us to face fear and uncertainty with courage. But although you will be sharing one life, never forget you are two separate people. Cherish and affirm your differences. Love each other. Keep your commitment primary. Together you will laugh and cry, be sick and well, be happy and angry, share and grow. Grow sometimes together, sometimes separately. To symbolize the importance of the individuals within the marriage and the joining of two lives into one entity, 3 colors of sand will now be layered into a base.(Trista is handed a clear jar of Pink Sand, Ryan is handed a clear jar of Blue Sand. The minister has one small clear jar filled with a Neutral color sand and a large empty jar). The Minister speaks again: We begin with a layer of Neutral Sand which symbolizes that the marriage is grounded. (The Minister pours a little of the Neutral Sand into the large jar) Then we layer the individual colors. This symbolizes that the marriage is based on the strength of the individuals. (Ryan poured a little of the Blue Sand in first, followed by a little more of the Neutral Sand from the minister. Trista then added a little of the Pink Sand, followed by some additional Neutral Sand from the minister). And now we combine the color, which symbolizes two lives joined as one together forever. (Ryan and Trista simultaneously pour their remaining sand into the large jar until their jars are empty. The minister caps off the sand with the last of the Neutral Sand. The minister then holds the large jar up as if presenting to the wedding audience and places the jar to the side). ANOTHER WORDING - GREAT FOR BEACH WEDDINGS As you stand beside the ocean tide, may your love always be as constant as these never-ending waves that pour near your feet, flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea;  Your love came softly upon each others heart, just as the foam comes softly upon the sand, and just as there will never be a morning without the ocean's flow, so there will never be a day without love for each other.  You have pledged yourselves on this day your love  will be as dependable as the tide; as these waters nourish the earth and sustain life, may  your constant devotion nourish and sustain you until the end of time. GROOM and BRIDE, you have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings, and this covenant is a relationship agreement between two people who agree that they will commit themselves to one another throughout their lives.  The most beautiful example of this partnership is the marriage relationship.  You have committed here today to share the rest of your lives with each other.  This relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand one representing you, BRIDE and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other representing you, GROOM, and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be.  As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers  of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one.  Just as these grains of sand  can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.  Far more important than your individuality is now the reality that you are no longer two but one, never to be separated one from the other. (The bride and groom then pour their sands into one container) AND ANOTHER WORDING CHOICE BRIDE and GROOM may your love always be as constant as the never-ending waves, flowing endlessly from the depths of the sea. Just as the waters touch and nourish the many shores of the earth, may your love be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Just as there will never be a morning without the ocean's flow, there will never be a day without your love for each other. You have just sealed your relationship by the giving and receiving of rings. This beautiful union is symbolized through the combining of these two individual shells of sand. The first shell represents you BRIDE, in all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be, and the other shell represents you GROOM, in all that you were, all that you are and all that you will ever be. Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character. They can stand on their own and be whole, without need of anything else. However when these two are blended together they create an entirely new and extraordinarily more intricate entity. Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination. Please pour the sand into this common container to symbolize the union of your two lives. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be a molding of two individual personalities, bonded together forming one heart, one love. The life that each of you experienced now, individually, will hereafter be inseparably united, for the two shall become one. ADDING CHILDREN When children are part of the new family, the sand ceremony is a great way to symbolize your new journey together as husband and wife and as a new family.  Each member of the family has a different color of sand.  Something to keep in mind is to be conscious of the color choices of sand.  I prefer more colors than less, but be sure to coordinate the colors that you are pouring to insure that they go together.  And a Sand Ceremony is much safer than having children handling lit candles! ADDING PARENTS/SIBLINGS Having your parents or siblings participate in the Sand Ceremony is another great way to symbolize the coming together of a new extended family.  One or more members from the bride's family and groom's family will pour either a different color of sand then the bride and groom or sometimes they will pour more of the same color of their family member who is getting married.  Either way, it is a wonderful way to include your family. WORDING FOR FAMILY CEREMONY We are all members of one family, God's family. Today as BRIDE and GROOM have sealed their commitment to each other with the exchange of rings they too make a commitment to their children. We recognize the significant role that ______, ______ , _______ and ______ play in this marriage celebrated today. They will now join BRIDE and GROOM in this commitment to each other by contributing a part of each individual person into one blended family. Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these _____ individual shells/containers of sand, each representing a member of the family in all that they were, all that that are, and all that they will ever be. As each individual's sand is poured into the family's one united common container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will become the bond with your family.