Sand Ceremony ... An Alternative to the Unity Candle

A very popular alternative to the Unity Candle during a wedding is the Sand Ceremony. While no one is quite certain whether this tradition began with the Native Hawaiians or the Native Americans, the symbolism of the ceremony is identical to that of the Unity Candle. It symbolizes the joining of two lives into one.

The way the ceremony works is this: there are 3 glass vases, the outer two containing two different colors of sand, one representing the bride and the other representing the groom. When the officiant comes to the part of the wedding ceremony where he talks about the joining of lives, the bride and groom pour their sand into the middle vase. The groom traditionally pours a little of his first to represent the fact that the man builds a strong foundation for the marriage. The bride then pours a little of hers to represent her commitment to the support of the marriage. The two of them then pour the remainder of their sand together to show the blending of their lives and their equality in the marriage. Sometimes a bride & groom will choose to leave some sand in the original vases to represent the fact that, while joined as husband & wife, they are still individuals.

The outcome is a beautiful, lasting reminder of the couple's commitment to one another. It is something that can be saved and displayed forever in their home. There are many Sand Ceremony vases that come with some kind of lid or cork so that there are no issues with the sand ever spilling out. And almost all of these special vases can be engraved.

While the Sand Ceremony is a beautiful alternative in any setting, it is especially fitting for outdoor weddings (where wind could extinguish a Unity Candle) and in venues where candles are prohibited. Because this tradition is gaining so much popularity, it is easy to find sand in almost any color you can imagine.

The Sand Ceremony is also great when there are children from a previous marriage or relationship. It is easy to create a Family Sand Ceremony where each member of the new family has their own vase of colored sand they can pour into the blended family vase.

The Making of a Great Reception

According to a survey conducted by Modern Bride Magazine, what your guests are likely to remember most from your wedding is not your dress or the food or the cake or the decorations. What they are most likely to remember is the entertainment! Yes, there will be tender and touching moments that they savor along with you; and yes, there are likely to be some funny moments that live on as stories long after your wedding is over. But what your guests may remember most is whether or not they had fun.

Think of it this way: while the wedding ceremony is the joining of two lives, the reception is technically the first party the two of you host as husband & wife. While the ceremony is all about you, the reception is just as much about your guests as it is about you.

Your choice of entertainment has the power to make or break your reception. Whether you hire a band or a DJ or have Uncle Pete stand in as the Master of Ceremonies, your reception can be a great success if you choose wisely. The person or band you choose needs to be able to direct the pace and flow of the reception, they need to be able to creatively involve your guests, they need to have an entertaining personality and be skilled in public speaking, and they need to take the time to get to know you on a personal level beforehand. It's important that they make this event unique to the two of you and that they carry out your vision for the day.

Keep in mind that you often get what you pay for. If someone's prices are far below average, you need to ask yourself why. Get referrals from people you know; see the DJ or band perform live at another event, if possible; or contact a local Wedding Planner for some great referrals.

How A Wedding Planner Can Help

In our world where the economy is tight, gas prices are soaring, and everyone is trying to save money, many of you brides wonder why you would need a Wedding Planner, or just how you could ever afford to pay for one. Am I right?

Let me put your mind at ease... not only can a good Wedding Planner help you, they can also save you both time and money.

All brides go into planning with the thought they get only one shot at having the perfect wedding. Right off the bat there is that pressure to get everything right, to live out the dream wedding and to impress the guests. For some brides that pressure becomes overwhelming right from the start. It takes about 250 hours to plan an average wedding ("Plan Your Wedding in No Time" by Leah Ingram). Trying to fit an extra 250 hours worth of work into your already busy schedule can be difficult, to say the least. A Wedding Planner can alleviate much of that stress and pressure and can allow you to enjoy your engagement with your new fiance.

By bringing a Wedding Planner in right from the beginning, you have someone who can take your vision and turn it into a reality. The Wedding Planner can either work with you from start to finish, or they can simply head you in the right direction by referring you to the best vendors for your budget. The Wedding Planner is able to keep your budget on track and is often able to get you vendor discounts that you could not get on your own.

If, however, you love the planning & organization parts of a wedding (as I do!), you may not think about bringing in a Wedding Planner until a month or so before the wedding. This is usually the time that most brides really feel the stress of the last-minute details; the handling of the guest list and seating; the coordination of the vendors and the decorating; the organization of the rehearsal, ceremony and reception; etc. The Wedding Planner can take all of that responsibility off your shoulders.

Perhaps, though, it is simply the actual wedding day that causes your stomach to go in knots. You wonder who will make sure that the cake knife is at the table, that your family is in the right place at the right time for the pictures, that the florist delivers the right flowers, that the photographer isn't AWOL at a critical moment, that the reception schedule flows smoothly and your guests enjoy themselves. The Wedding Planner will confirm with all of your vendors, will have detailed itineraries for both the wedding party and the wedding vendors, will coordinate the rehearsal, will handle the tiny details, and will troubleshoot any last-minute problems that arise. This allows you, your family and your guests to enjoy the wedding celebration that you have worked so hard to put together.

So is a Wedding Planner a luxury or a necessity? Why don't you take advantage of a free consultation with one in your area and then decide for yourself...