|
Essentially the Sand Ceremony works along almost the same lines as the Wine Ceremony and is a wonderful alternative to the
Unity Candle. There is the symbolic combining of two colors to represent unity just as with the wine. The primary difference
is, that with the Sand Ceremony you get something to take home and treasure for life!
The bride and the groom each will have in front of them a small vial, vase, or other such container filled with sand that
is the color of their own choosing and should be representative of their individual personality types. On the Altar will be
a decorative bottle of some variety with a tight fitting lid. The bride and groom each pick up their vials and take turns
alternately pouring their sand into the bottle until it is full. This will make a kind of sand art that is totally unique
to each couple. The bottle of two colored sand represents the unity of the couple. Since the two colors of sand can never
be separated, this is representative of eternity.
Minister to bride and groom:
_____ and _____ you have just sealed your bond by the giving and receiving of rings. This covenant is a marital 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 union. Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual
vials 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 vials
of sand are poured into the one, the individual vials of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just
as these grains of sand can never be separated, our prayer for you today is that your lives together will be far longer than
the time it would take to separate the individual grains of these two colors of sand.
Minister addresses family and guests:
Let it be known to all that to try and sepparate these grains of sand is a hopeless task. To pour the sands from this
bottle will only combine them further, thereby making the task a fools erand. As with this sand, let no one attempt to sepparate
this man and this woman from the unity which they have pledged one to another.
The Sand Ceremony is Native American in origin, and has only recently been rekindled here in the Uninted States as alternative
religoins and cultures take their rightful place along side Christianity. As per the Wine Ceremony, I will perform the Sand
Ceremony with you at no additional cost.
|
