Sand ceremony at a wedding: where did the wedding tradition come from, when and who performs the ceremony, script and photo

Meaning and history

So, what is this ritual ? Everything is very simple - the bride and groom take turns or at the same time pour sand of 2 different shades into a specially prepared vessel. The custom in question came to us from the West , where it is widespread among newlyweds.

The meaning of this symbolic event is the following - the unification of two souls who were able to find each other among millions. Like handfuls of sand, spouses unite their destinies into a single marriage bond.

By the way, this ceremony can be performed not only by a couple in love, but also by their relatives, then this will mean that the families have become one.

The sand ritual was first carried out on the Hawaiian Islands, because there you can easily find multi-colored sand: golden, white, reddish, and even pale blue. To this day, in Hawaii, such a touching ritual remains one of the main ones when concluding a marriage.

In the United States of America, this ceremony gained popularity in the early 90s of the last century, when it became fashionable to hold wedding events on the beaches. It has especially taken root in the Western part of the country, but in the Eastern part it is less in demand.

The combination of multi-colored grains of sand is also loved by Russian couples, especially if the wedding is planned abroad, on the seashore.

What is a sand ceremony

Technically, this action involves pouring multi-colored sand from several containers into one. In this case, in a common vessel, a beautiful pattern is obtained from different layers of sand. The ceremony involves the bride and groom, but the host can invite close relatives of the newlyweds to participate, which will ultimately express the overall harmony of the whole family.

This ritual is reminiscent of the rite of lighting a family hearth, in which the bride and groom use two candles to start a common fire, symbolizing the hearth.

It is convenient to conduct a sand ceremony both indoors and outdoors. And if the flame of candles can go out due to a suddenly rising wind, then the ritual with sand and vessels will be convenient in any weather , regardless of climatic conditions.

The wedding ceremony can be held either at the beginning or towards the end of the celebration. Either way, be sure to prepare ahead and plan ahead when planning your big day. about how to organize a wedding step by step in this article.

How to perform a ritual with sand

The ceremony is conducted by the host or one of the guests. First, she talks about the meaning of the ceremony and shows a common vessel into which the newlyweds will pour sand.
Then he hands the bride and groom their personal glasses or other glass containers.
The first portion of sand is poured by the newly-made husband , followed by the bride's turn .
And so, in turn, they fill the vessel ¾ full. The result is a beautiful pattern of colored stripes of different volumes.

Newlyweds can pour sand at the same time . The resulting background will look even more interesting. If other people are involved in the ceremony: parents, children, witnesses, then each of them receives their own sand of a certain tone.

The resulting striped multi-colored pattern symbolizes the unity and strength of the new large family.

Necessary supplies for a sand ceremony

The presenters, and the newlyweds themselves, can add something new to this ceremony or supplement it with beautiful music, narrated by a legend, or a slide show . The purchase of vessels and sand is discussed in advance according to the number of participants in the sand ceremony.

Meeting of young people from the registry office: how the ceremony is carried out and what to say

For a young couple, two narrow containers are intended , from which sand is poured into a common vessel. This could be a beautiful bottle of some branded drink, decorated with ribbons or sparkles . Or a specially ordered vessel of an original shape, for example, in the shape of a heart.

You can order a vase with an engraving, where the initials or surname of the newlyweds, a monogram or some other selected symbols will be written. Some newlyweds prefer to use a special photo frame into which sand is poured through a hole in the top.

In the ceremony they use purchased multi-colored material , or you can also take sand from those memorable places where young people spent their holidays. The vessel is filled ¾ full and closed with a beautiful stopper. Later he will be carefully transported to the home of a young family.

The host offers to accompany the ceremony with words of an oath or a declaration of love for each other by the newlyweds. Perhaps these will be the beautiful words of the presenter herself, sounding against the background of an unobtrusive gentle melody.

Principle of implementation

The main attribute of the ritual is sand of two different colors. Before the ceremony in question, the guy and girl choose the colors they like.

Shades usually symbolize something special or reflect the inner world of future spouses.

Also, before the wedding, you will need to prepare three special containers for grains of sand, preferably narrow, tall and elongated. One of them should be larger, where two types of sand will be poured. Its shape can be square or round.

First, each color is poured separately, and then at the ceremony, the bride and groom take turns or simultaneously, pour “their shade” into a common bottle.

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During the Sand Ceremony, the newlyweds pour sand of two colors into a beautiful vessel, which symbolizes the union of two lives into one. Host: Now the union will be sealed, which is a symbol of the unification of two personalities, two vessels with colored sand. One vessel symbolizes the groom, and all that he was, who he is now, and who he will become in the future. The second vessel represents the bride and all that she was, who she is now, and who she will become in the future. And let, just as sands from two different vessels are united in one, the newlyweds will cease to exist separately, becoming a single whole. Then the final moment of the ceremony occurs: the young people begin to simultaneously pour sand from their vessels into a common vessel under the flashes of cameras and the applause of the assembled guests.

After the single vessel is filled, the presenter will say the final remark: May the connection and love between you be indestructible, just as it is impossible for these individual grains of sand to separate and return to their vessels!

Not only newlyweds can participate in this romantic ceremony. Parents, children invited to the wedding, witnesses, and friends can be involved. To do this, each participant needs to distribute vases with sand of various colors.

The sand ceremony is also valuable because the memory of it remains for many years. This symbolism is suitable not only for a wedding evening, but also for any significant life events where it is necessary to emphasize the unity of a family or people who love each other. You can give a gift to your loved one in honor of the birth of a child, on an anniversary, on February 14, or when proposing marriage! Gift to parents for their wedding anniversary! It can even be used at graduation, as a gift for a teacher, and also at corporate parties.

For example, at the anniversary, the presenter says: Now the guests will create for your luck a talisman that will always protect YOU... I offer you a unique opportunity to combine all your wishes into one whole and make sure that they stay with our dear birthday girl and remind her of this wonderful day, and that she has such wonderful friends, and a friendly, beloved family. Take any color that you like and with which your wish is associated: (each person pours one color of sand into one container, different colors, each color symbolizes something different) The presenter talks about the meaning of the colors: Blue - A symbol of fidelity. Promotes inspiration and fulfillment of desires. Green - Symbol of hope. It is a fresh, natural color that symbolizes life and harmony. Yellow - Symbol of sun and joy. Yellow is the color of creation. The color of optimism, freedom and motivation to action. Red is the color of vital energy. Stimulating and exciting color. Red is associated with the color of life. “How beautifully the sand flows... Look, it’s like you’re giving a part of yourself to the birthday girl!” Just as these individual grains of sand cannot separate and return to their vessels again, so may your love, friendship and connection with the birthday girl be unbreakable! Let this beautiful vessel with bright multi-colored sand remain in memory of your anniversary. Keep it as a talisman. May he leave bright memories for many years to come. We wish you many more long and happy years!

And here’s another thing I found: against the background of Papetti’s “Little Flower” music, you can read Zelvin Horn’s poem “How good it is to be someone’s forever.” How good is it to be someone's forever? And know that these are not empty words. Like bread, share the soul and the years, Look into the eyes of immeasurably dear ones. How good is it to be someone's forever? And to know that he will not leave, will not deceive, And will pull you out from under any ice, And will never stop loving. Hugging your own body at night? And to know that it will be like this forever, Merge together like streams in the spring, Drown in your own breath and laughter. And refresh like a summer thunderstorm, And feel how you warm and warm, And know that in these dear eyes You will never grow old. And Lyudmila Sibiryakova composed the last quatrain. Let your destinies merge together like these grains of sand forever. Carrying your love through the years you will be forever inseparable!

These are the bottles prepared for the sand ceremony. The sand was not found, but the beads turned up. It was decided to take him. The bottles, of course, could have been decorated, but there was no time; we found them at the last moment. The presenter didn’t know anything about this ceremony, but she read it and performed it, the guests really liked it, everyone ran to take pictures with their cameras.

What will you need?

Two tall vessels for the spouses’ sand and one larger one, with a narrow neck and a tight-fitting lid;
2 types of multi-colored sand;
a funnel or watering can to make it convenient to pour grains of sand into a common container;
the table where everything will happen;
optional decorative elements, these can be satin ribbons, candles, flowers.

The listed paraphernalia can be purchased at a wedding salon or ordered a special sand set on the Internet.

What paraphernalia is needed for a sand ceremony?

For the ritual, you will need to prepare in advance sand of two or more shades (for other participants), tall vessels from which it is planned to be poured, and one common large vessel. It is difficult to find multi-colored sand, especially if there are other participants in addition to the spouses. Each will need a different color of sand. It is recommended to use the international trading platform eBay and order sand in the desired color. It is advisable to place your order as early as possible as the product may be temporarily out of stock and may take several days to arrive.

Buried vessels will need to be transported. It is recommended to provide containers with a lid. Narrow tall vessels, closed with a cork made from elite alcohol, look fashionable and elegant. Accessories for every taste can now be purchased online.

Special vessels, photo frames and other paraphernalia for the sand ceremony can be ordered online. Decorate one of the most important days of your life with a sand ceremony!

Who conducts it?

To carry out this touching ritual, you will probably need the help of a professional. If it is planned during an off-site registration, then it is most likely appropriate to find a registrar, but if during a banquet, then the wedding host will completely cope with the task.

But it also happens that the bride and groom are creative people themselves and want to carry out the ceremony on their own, and sometimes these responsibilities are taken on by friends or relatives of the couple. The main thing is that everything goes according to a certain scenario.

Where to spend it?

The sand ritual is very simple, so it can be implemented regardless of the location of the wedding: at least during off-site registration, at least during a festive banquet in a restaurant or cafe, in the fresh air, basically anywhere.

If you want to do this at an outdoor ceremony, then plan the ceremony after the lovers are declared husband and wife, which will be an excellent finale to the solemn part of the event.

If it is held at a banquet, do not wait too long, because this is a touching and romantic event, so it will not be so appropriate to look when all the guests are already tipsy.

Example Scenario

The presenter/recorder makes a beautiful speech to the lyrical composition.
Each of the couple in love receives their own vessel with the previously chosen color.
After the solemn speech, to the applause of those present, the young people pour multi-colored grains of sand from their bottles into a common container.
This can be done in one of the following ways: one at a time, with a short interval. The result is a unique pattern, alternating two different sand stripes. Or at the same time, then in the end you will see a random pattern. If the wedding is taking place outdoors, then the newlyweds can pour sand directly from their palms, which will look more natural and natural.
In conclusion, the presenter once again says the final words.
At the end, the resulting vessel is sealed and given to the heroes of the occasion.

How to make colored sand with your own hands from salt: step-by-step instructions

You can make multi-colored sand at home with minimal cost. This product is quite simple to manufacture and does not require any knowledge of chemistry, biology and other subjects. All you need is these instructions.

You can probably find the ingredients for this product at home, and if not, you can buy them without spending much. You only need salt, ordinary table salt, which every housewife has on hand, and semi-liquid gouache, paints that can be purchased at any office or asked from friends whose family already has small children, will do.

The manufacturing process will be described step by step. Strictly adhere to the sequence!

1) It will be better if you cover your work surface with a sheet of plain paper. Take a faceted glass and fill it 1/3 of the entire volume with salt; if the salt has hard lumps, crumble them thoroughly.

2) Add about 1/3 teaspoon of gouache of the color you like to a glass of salt. You can experiment with the amount of dye added to the salt to achieve the desired shade of a particular color.

3)Add one spoon of water to the existing mixture.

4) Gently stir the mixture until it acquires a uniform color.

5) Dry the resulting mass thoroughly. One of the fastest ways can be called a microwave oven. You can also dry it by leaving it in the sun, or near the heating system (radiators or radiators) in a house or apartment, stirring the mixture all the time.

6) Everything is ready. You can find a bride or groom (if you don’t have one yet) and go straight to your own wedding.

Meaning of colors

Most often, future spouses, when choosing colors, focus on the overall style of the wedding, so that all accessories are in harmony with each other. For example, white and blue colors are ideal for a nautical-themed celebration, natural muted shades for “Rustic,” and green or mint for “Eco.”

Some families focus on the interior of their apartment, because after the wedding, the vessel with sand will remain with them and will delight them at home. But other lovers are guided by personal tastes and simply choose the colors they like for their sand ritual.

Below we list the meanings of the most common shades that newlyweds choose for the ceremony in question:

blue - carries the divine principle, symbolizes air, tranquility and spirituality;
pink - personifies tenderness, naivety and kindness, which is probably why girls often choose it;
green is a symbol of hope and life, because it is not without reason that the wedding day itself is called “green”;
red has long been called the color of love; it is also associated with passion, fire, power and strength. It will undoubtedly be chosen by bright, passionate, strong, powerful and self-confident people;
orange is a shade of happiness, sun, positivity, joy and warmth;
yellow – similar to the previous tone, it also carries positive emotions, happiness, sun and warmth;
blue is a royal color;
purple – the personification of wisdom and freedom;
white means purity of feelings, innocence and the beginning of a new life.

What to do with the vessels after the ceremony?

At the end of this touching event, lovers must take with them the so-called “cup of love” and keep it at home. After all, it is a symbol of the union of the newlyweds’ destinies and a reminder of that wonderful day when a man and woman started a family.

Remember that the container with your sand should not be shaken, otherwise the entire design will be ruined.

If you want to fill your celebration with modern, spectacular traditions, then do not ignore the sand wedding ceremony. After all, it will not require a lot of expenses, but it will remain in the memory of the young people for the rest of their lives, and a vessel with a beautiful pattern, made with your own hands, will decorate your family nest and please the eye.

How to organize a ceremony?

The sand ceremony is usually organized by the wedding officiant. The newlyweds can purchase the necessary materials or agree on their purchase with the organizer. It is important to think through and discuss all the details of the ceremony in advance and make a list of necessary things.

The first thing you will need is a sand ceremony kit. Mainly it includes:

Sand of various colors (one for each participant). Of course, its quantity will depend on the size of the vase, but you need to count about 500 g per person.
Long glass tubes or vases for each participant, which are supposed to be filled with sand before the ceremony. But before buying, make sure that such vessels have a narrow enough neck so that the sand flows cleanly and beautifully.
An empty central vase or jar where participants will pour sand. Choose such a vase with the expectation that it will later become the central decoration of the holiday and your home. But don't go overboard with the sizes. A vase with dimensions of 25 cm in height and 5-7 cm in diameter is suitable.
A small table in the center of the hall or in the place where the wedding ceremony is taking place. Don't forget to decorate the altar with ribbons, flowers and balloons.

In addition, you can also add personal touches to the sand ceremony, for example:

Order a vase with a symbolic engraving, a common surname in the center, or a monogram.
Use sand from places that evoke pleasant memories. For example, where you vacationed together or spent your childhood and youth.
While the sand is pouring into the vase, you can say an oath or words of loyalty and love for each other.

The second thing you need to conduct a sand ceremony at a wedding is music. The melody should be unobtrusive and non-rhythmic. It’s better if the music flows smoothly from the speakers without words and inspires good thoughts. The following compositions are ideal for a sand ceremony:

Ludwig Beethoven "Fur Elise";
Sounds of the sea with guitar;
Evening by the sea;
Ennio Morricone - music from the film "The Professional" (romantic violin);
Jim Brickman is a melody without words.

You can choose musical compositions that are in some way related to the day you met, marriage proposal, and other general pleasant life moments.