Sand Ceremony

I love honoring old traditions in an updated fashion. With outdoor weddings, a beautiful ceremony to perform after exchanging rings is the sand ceremony. It comes from the unity candle tradition, in which mother of the bride and groom both light two separate candles during the pre-service. After the exchange of vows, the bride and groom each use the candle their mother lit to light one center candle and then extinguish the mother's candles to symbolize the unity of two people into one shared commitment.

Sand Ceremonies are ideal in outdoor settings where wind may be a factor. It creates a beautiful visual effect for memorable photographs as well as the commemorative keepsake you take home with you. If you'd like to honor both mother of the bride and mother of the groom, you can have them walk down the aisle before the ceremony with a small vessel of sand to place beside a larger empty vessel for the ceremony. You may also wish to coordinate the color of sand with your wedding colors. Or think of a room in your house you will wish to display your unity sand sculpture in and then coordinate with the style and decor of that room.

I like the example displayed here. This couple chose to fill an hour glass to signify the beginning of a new time in both their lives. Long after their wedding day is over, the hourglass remains in their home office as a discreet keepsake.

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Sky Lanterns

 Looking for a fresh idea to add a "wow" factor to your ceremony or reception? Try sky lanterns! Safer than sparklers and so much more affordable than fireworks (appx $4/lantern), sky lanterns are the mini hot air balloons that are taking the european wedding market by storm. I predict we'll be seeing them as the hot new trend in America very soon...
Sky lanterns are made of non flammable bio degradable rice paper and have a special designed wick for burning. Once lit, the lantern rises into the sky until the wick burns out at which time the lantern floats harmlessly back to earth.


With the sun setting so early during the late-autumn and winter seasons, why not take advantage of early twilight with an unexpected and extraordinary sky lantern display. For lots of drama, outsource a professional company to release a display of sky lanterns in the distance, mimicking a fireworks show. For a more personal experience, provide each guest with a sky lantern of their own to release. You could do this at the close of an outdoor ceremony at sunset or invite your guests to step outside during an evening reception.

To be symbolic, I would suggest a bride and groom release just two during a private moment alone. What a wonderful memory and tribute to your future together as newlywed husband and wife.

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