Things You'll Need:
- Sand in three or four different colors (white and your wedding colors)
- Small to medium glass vase with narrow mouth
- Smaller vase for each color of sand you will use
- Clear wax or candle gel
- Small circle of cloth in complementing color
- Ribbon in complementing color
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Step 1
Before the wedding ceremony, set a small table near the alter. Place the main sand vase in the center. These vases may be ordered with a wedding monogram and date engraved in silver, black or gold script. Place the smaller vases, each containing a different color of sand around the main vase. You can also use rose petals and small tea light candles for more decoration.
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Step 2
The sand ceremony may be altered many ways. One version is to have a base of neutral or white sand already in the main vase. It should fill about 1/3 of the main vase and be ready before the wedding ceremony begins. This sand is used to represent God as the foundation for the marriage.
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Step 3
To include parents in the ceremony, like in a unity candle ceremony, assign each family a color of sand or both families the same color. For a simpler color scheme, the parents can also use the neutral or white sand from Step 2. The parents will go first, as two couples, and pour a small amount of their colored sand from the small vase into the large vase. Instruct them to move the smaller vase around as they pour so it will help create a layered design. It is simpler if the parents can pour one vase together as a couple.
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Step 4
Finally, the bride and groom step to the sand ceremony alter. They may pour identical colors of sand or two separate ones (depending on how many total colors you want incorporated into the final vase). The bride and groom should have their own separate small vase but pour them into the main vase at the same time. This way their sand mixes with each other, symbolizing unity and eternity, since these sand grains can never be separated.
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Step 5
Complete the rest of the wedding ceremony and reception. After the festivities, fill the rest of the main sand ceremony vase with the remaining sand, layering colors to create a design. Leave 1/2 inch from the top of the vase.
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Step 6
Melt clear wax or candle gel using a double boiler or microwave. Gently, pour the wax or gel on the top of the sand, leveling it even with the vase.
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Step 7
When the wax dries, you may leave the sand ceremony vase as it is for a keepsake. If you do not want to see the wax, place a circle of coordinating cloth around the top of the vase and secure it with a rubber band. Then place a ribbon around the rubber band. Use a scrap of cloth leftover from the veil, bridesmaid dresses or groomsmen handkerchiefs and ribbons from the bridal bouquet for a special keepsake vase.
