Unity ceremonies have been around in various ways for years. It’s a way for couples to display the joining of two lives into one...a meaningful ceremony that joins existing families into a single bond of love.  Unity ceremonies can be done using candles or sand, but the meaning is the same.For a beach wedding, what could be more appropriate than the Unity Sand Ceremony, also known as the Blending of Sands Ceremony.  The "Blending of the Sands" ceremony can be a beautiful and meaningful alternative to the " Unity Candle" ceremony.  Like a Unity candle the pouring of two different colored sands together is used to symbolize the joining of the bride and groom or the joining of their families. Sand from the desert, a favorite beach or vacation spot also works. And the sand pouring into a unity vase can’t be blown out by the breeze during an outdoor or beach wedding. The Unity Sand Ceremony, a celebration that is usually two to three minutes in length, is a meaningful symbolic joining of two lives or two families. In this timeless ritual of marriage, the couple ceremoniously pours various colors of sand from separate containers, such as seashells, into one special container, the unity vase symbolizing their coming together as one. The Unity Sand Ceremony can take place immediately after the exchange of rings and saying of the vows of marriage. Our marriage joined two families, and the Blending of Sand ceremony included the children from both previous marriages.   Our Unity Sand Vows were as follows:    "(Groom's Name) and Bride's Name, today you are making a life-long commitment to share the rest of your lives with each other and honor your children as well.     As you each hold your sand, the sand represents your lives to this moment; individual and unique. As you now combine your sand together, your lives also join together as one family.   Your family relationship is symbolized through the pouring of the sand; representing, (Groom's name), (Bride's name) and children (list children’s names) and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be.   The children will share in this marriage. The gathering of this new family will have a deep influence upon them. They realize that in order for the home to be a happy one, it is essential that there be love and understanding between the children and the adults being married.   You may now blend the sand together symbolizing the uniting of the children and bride and groom into one." The combined sand makes a wonderful wedding keepsake for the bride and groom and a constant reminder of their promises on their wedding day.