Unity ceremonies have been a special part of wedding ceremonies for many centuries. It is believed  that the sand ceremony had its origins in Native American culture, either with Hawaiian ancestors or indigenous groups from the Mainland. Regardless of whether the tradition comes from the exotic islands of the Pacific or the fertile soils of North America, the sand ceremony is mystical and romantic as well as timeless.

Couples from around the world have used the unity ceremony as a significant way to symbolize their love and commitment in marriage. Until recent times,  it was the Unity Candle Ceremony that received the most attention.  In this ceremony, there is a single candle, the unity candle, that both the bride and groom light from a flame of their own single candles.  As you can imagine, the Unity Candle Celebration cannot be used in our beach weddings because the wind blows out the candles in short order!  This is where the sand ceremony has so much to offer. In this timeless ritual of marriage, the couple ceremoniously pours sand from their individual shell into one big beautiful shell, symbolizing their coming together as one.  Even if the ceremony is indoors, many couples choose the sand ceremony instead of the unity candle. I bring the crystal, white and very lovely Siesta Key sand anywhere there is not sand available.

The Unity Sand Celebration is offered to all of my couples and I give them the big, beautiful shell as a gift. When they arrived home from their destination wedding or local wedding, the shell may be displayed privately or for all to see in the years to come, reminding them of their love, which is always present, and their togetherness. The separate sand once poured into the big shell can never be put back into separate shells.

Shells have been brought back to homes all over the world. As a  non-denominational all-faiths wedding minister, I officiate at many international weddings as well as those couples who come here from out of state for destination weddings as well as those who are fortunate enough to live in our paradise.

The combining of the sand is a reminder of  my couple’s togetherness but their friends and familes, also, who are forever joined in the lives of the bride and groom.

I especially love a sand ceremony that includes the children  from former marriages.  The children’s participation in the ceremony with their parents serves as a beautiful symbol of blending two families into one.

I would love to share a Unity Sand Celebration with you!