Unification Ceremony in the Sand

Anna Maria Island Style Sand Ceremony...

An Anna Maria Island Style Wedding Sand Ceremony adds a 'Gulf Coast' twist to the traditional unity candle tradition.

An Anna Maria Island Unity Sand Ceremony is ideal for anyone planning on getting married on a beach, boat, back yard or a windy location that unity candles will not stay lit or are unsafe.

Just like the unity candle, the sand is used to symbolize the joining of the bride and groom or the joining of their families.

A Unique and Traditional Unification Celebration

The Unity Sand Ceremony is a unique unification celebration that became hugely more popular with the marriage of Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter of the TV series, "The Bachelorette."

Rather than the time-honored ritual of the Unity Candle Ceremony, the popular TV couple chose the alternative, Unity Sand Ceremony.

Usually taking no more than two to three minutes to perform, this timeless ritual of marriage is a meaningful joining of two lives. As described in our previous Wedding Sand Ceremony posts, your typical Anna Maria Island sand unity ceremony uses two vessels of sand and a third vessel or small bowl to combine the sand in. Each of the two individual vials or vessels of sand symbolizes the separate lives of the bride and groom and families. 

If the wedding is being held on a beach then the sand ideally could be collected from below the bride and grooms feet at the time the ceremony takes place.

The combined sands serve as a wonderful wedding keepsake and constant reminder of the bride and grooms love and commitment for one another.

If the wedding ceremony is not being performed near a beach, then a local craft store is perhaps your best source for sand as well as your sand ceremony vessels.

Sand Ceremony Origins

The origins of the Sand Unification Ceremony are believed by some to be with the Native Americans. Others insist the ritual was first performed in Hawaii and that the Hawaiians were the ancestors of the legend. Whatever it's origins, the Unity Sand Ceremony is fast becoming a nationwide wedding ceremony trend.

The flowing sand and blending of the colors (when different colored sands are used) symbolize the coming together of two separate lives into one, although it is true that some couples may choose to leave a small amount of sand in their respective containers to show that although they now function as one family unit, they also remain individuals.

The Unity Candle Ceremony

The Unity Candle Ceremony is a staple in marriages everywhere.  It has beem a long standing tradition for marriages both elaborate and simple. In a typical unity candle ceremony, there is a single candle that is lit by both bride and groom using the flames of their own individual candles. Like the sand unity ceremony, parents, children and other significant members of the wedding party often join in the candle lighting ceremony.

Personalized Sand Ceremony

In a time when there are many couples planning weddings that are unique to their personal beliefs and lifestyle, the sand ceremony can be easy configured in ways to fit the occasion... and when completed, the newly married couple has a unique keepsake to remember their wedding day.

Destination Beach Wedding Locations

It may be true that when looking to tie the knot barefoot in the sand, places such as Hawaii and California have traditionally been the most popular wedding destination locations, but today with it's mild weather and sugar whit sandy beaches... Anna Maria Island just may be the perfect place for you and your wedding party to get barefoot in the sand while witnessing (or joining in)...

Your Very Own Unity Sand Ceremony... a tradition as old and exceptional as Anna Maria Island itself!

Learn more about Getting Married on Anna Maria Island and the Sand Ceremony as an alternative to the more traditional Candle Unification Ceremony:

• Wedding Sand Ceremony Kits - Lois Finley Shook, wife of Charles Shook (Reverend Charlie), has put together the perfect Anna Maria Island Wedding Sand Kits.
• Standard Wedding Sand Ceremony as Performed on the Beaches of Anna Maria Island - The Wedding Sand Ceremony can be used to replace the unity candle portion of the wedding ceremony and provides the couple with a keepsake that will last a lifetime.
• Planning a Wedding Unification Ceremonies in Sand - The Unification ceremony is a key element of most weddings and acts as a symbol of togetherness.

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