Solving the Challenges of Sand Blending Ceremonies
Seems like Sand Blending is the hip, cool, must do ceremony to include in a wedding today. It has mostly replaced the Unity Candle which has been around forever. Liz and I lit a Unity Candle at our wedding 40 years ago. But why is Sand Blending so popular? Here are some thoughts on why and how you can make your ceremony a little unique from the others you've been to lately.
Sand Blending accomplishes a couple things that Unity Candles do not. A Sand Blending ceremony results in a tangible piece of Art that you can display on the mantle or a prominent shelf in your home. A Sand Blending ceremony can easily be done outside without worrying about the wind. It's easy to include children or other family members in the ceremony. The items for a Sand Blending are easily available and can vary widely in expense but are not on the whole very expensive.
In the time I have been doing weddings, I have noticed a few things that a couple may
not be aware of when planning a sand blending.
Sand Blending Kits do not contain enough sand.
If you buy a prepackaged sand blending kit, you will likely not have enough sand to fill the Unity Container. While this may not bother some couples, others will be disappointed. You can always simply buy more sand but here are a couple other solutions.
Have your parents come forward and pour in some sand as a foundation.
Have your guests pick up a small package of sand and place in the container before they take their seats. (Again foundation.) You will need to instruct your ushers to hand the packets to the guests and tell then what to do with it.
Buy glassware that speaks to you and create your own Sand Blending Kit. No one says it must be a kit.
The way you pour the sand will determine what the final sandscape looks like.
There is no “right” way to join your sand but how you pour it will determine what it looks like.
If you pour it down the middle it will create a fine blend.
If you pour it down each side you will have primary colors on each side and it will blend in the middle. Kind of like a Yin/Yan symbol.
If you alternate pouring you will get color layers.
Use contrasting colors for the Bride and Groom
If you use colors that are too close to each other the final sandscape will look like its mainly one color.
If the Bride and Groom have favorite colors (that are not the same color) consider going with that. And NO your sand colors do not have to mirror your theme colors.
If you are including children or other family members consider having them use white and use bold colors for the couple.
Finally leave some sand in each container
Marriage may be a union and a joining but my belief is that you are still two individuals that choose to be joined into a marriage. This wording I use might help explain what I mean.
“You will notice that not all the sand from each container was poured into the larger one. That is because although you are now a couple, you are also each still individuals. The love you share with each other does not deplete the love you have to share with family and friends.
Contact us for more ideas on how to make your wedding ceremony uniquely yours! Call us at 336-259-7236 or visit us at www.triadweddingofficiant.com.
Photo courtesy of Two Clicks Away Photography twoclicksawayphoto@gmail.com
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