If you’re curious about when do you do sand ceremony in wedding, it can be after the ring exchange. However, couples are free to decide when they’d want to do the wedding sand ceremony, whenever they find it more symbolic.
And for people who are requested to officiate the wedding ceremony, you may be interested to know how to perform a wedding. You can read a script you can use for the sand ceremony as well.
Exactly When Do You Do Sand Ceremony In Wedding
The timing for the sand ceremony is usually after the ring exchange. However, there is no wrong or right placement for this symbolic practice during the wedding ceremony.
The reason you do the sand ceremony after the ring exchange is that the energy and excitement of the couple would be already high, and they would find the sand ceremony more meaningful and sentimental. The sand ceremony can also conclude the unity of the couple.
In some weddings, you can also do the sand ceremony as part of the vow exchange or before the couple exchange their vows. But ultimately, decide the placement of this ritual according to what works for the flow of your wedding or discuss it with the officiant to make an effective ceremony schedule.
How to set up the wedding sand ceremony
For this marriage ceremony ritual, you will need two vessels that the couple will hold for their share of sand, a larger vessel where the couple’s sand will be poured, two colors of sand, and a table. Whoever will decorate and prepare the venue should prepare the sand ceremony setup beforehand on the table near the wedding altar or close to the audience to make it more immersive to the guests.
You should also fill the bride and groom’s sand container with different colors of sand up to the brim. And if needed, dress up the sand ceremony table to make it fit with the rest of the venue elements.
Where does the sand ceremony go at a wedding?
The table for the sand ceremony should be close to the guests but at the side of the altar. However, there should still be enough space for the couple to do the first part of the ceremony at the front.
How To Perform The Wedding Sand Ceremony
Besides knowing when you have to do the sand ceremony at the wedding, officiants should also understand how to perform this unity ceremony. Discuss with the couple the things they’ll do and ask them the colors of sand they want for the ceremony.
It can be sentimental colors or shades inspired by the wedding theme. You can also incorporate your twists into this sentimental wedding ceremony ritual.
How to personalize a sand ceremony
- Pour white sand after the two grains of sand from the couple to symbolize God for a religious sand ceremony
- Do not pour everything into your containers to represent the individuality of each person even after being united by marriage
- Add another color of sand into the largest vessel to signify your family
- Have a few words to discuss the meaning of the sand ceremony to the audience
- Add other items into the sand to honor those who may have passed
- Add a message or photo on the sand’s vessel
If you’re wondering if it’s possible to have a fully-customized ceremony, read what is a secular wedding.
Meaning Of Sand Ceremony In Wedding
The sand ceremony in a wedding represents the unity and joining of the married individuals. The bride and groom will pour different colored sands that combine into a large vessel.
It’s also a representation of their families joining together. At some weddings, family members can join to feel more involved in the unity ceremony.
What Do You Say During A Sand Ceremony?
The officiant can share a few words before or during the sand wedding ceremony ritual and remember to provide a transition from the ring exchange to the sand ceremony. You can discuss what the sand represents and why the couple holds each one individually.
Mention what combining their sands means and how their unity will be in a single vessel. You can also talk about how like the sand grains, it will be impossible to separate the couple’s lives as they’d be forever intertwined in marriage.
Use this opportunity to direct the couple and help them know what to do during the sand ceremony. Instruct them on when they’ll pour their container’s contents into the vessel.
What Do The Colors Of A Sand Ceremony Mean?
The sand ceremony should represent the couple best. Therefore, they can choose what color sands to combine, each with different meanings:
- Red: love, passion
- Yellow: harmony, balance
- White: devotion, purity
- Green: prosperity, luck
- Blue: patience, peace
- Purple: strength, wisdom
How Long Is A Sand Ceremony?
A sand ceremony is usually two minutes long, depending on the wording and how you customize it.
Conclusion
And that’s it! We just learned when do you do sand ceremony in wedding, usually after the rings.
You can also do it at any time or as part of the vow exchange. Overall, there is no right or wrong timing when you can do the wedding sand ceremony.