Joining That Which Cannot be Separated
Symbolism and imagery are far
more effective in dramatizing the joining of your lives before
guests than words and concepts. For this reason, in the performance
of their ceremonies, couples have been using Unity Candles
for the last several decades. Another option gaining
popularity with couples is Wine Sharing. Yet another equally
beautiful sentiment or dramatization is the Symbolic Use of
Crystals also known as a Sand Ceremony or Unity Sand.
 Parents and other VIPs will each
have a small vile of some crystalline element such as salt,
sand, colored sand, or some other attractive material
that you've come up with. Michael's and other hobby and craft
stores are full of them. Use the colors of your bridal theme,
or get some sand from the beaches of southern California where
you grew up.
After the empowerment of the exchange
of the vows and rings, the bride and groom approach the front
row VIPs who will contribute this element to the couple with
soft music playing. Parents could contribute to their son or
daughter, or to both the bride and groom. Contributors could
include others such as grand parents or close friends but the
number of contributors should not exceed six (three per side).
The bride and groom return to
center stage and join their respective crystals or sand to
a common vase. This implies- once joined, never separated.
Photographers
capture both the contribution by VIPS and subsequent joining
of these crystals by the bride and groom.
Using the Symbolism of Crystals
has it own advantages. Unlike the Unity Candle, crystals are
never affected by wind. Wine sharing, though very elegant,
doesn't provide an opportunity for parents or other VIPS to
contribute to the couple ceremonially as does either the Unity
Candle or the use of Sand. So each has it advantages and
all bring an elegance to your ceremony.
In choosing your accessories for
a sand ceremony you will need a small Vile for
each contributing parent/VIP. Each of you will hold a Receiver which
is what your parents/VIPs will pour their content into. Finally,
you will need a beautiful Vase to which the
two of you will pour and thereby join the elements to one.
The wedding industry has caught on to this and is making all
kinds of Sand Ceremony Sets available for sale. The best arrangements
I've seen, are when a bride and groom go out and find their
own. Maybe at a glassware store, maybe at a back yard sale.
It's far more a function of style then cost.
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