Unity candle or sand

It's all just symbolism A physical display of joining together in unity. Some people choose sand because they can keep the blended sand as a keepsake, some people have family members light their candles to symbolize the two families coming together. Just like the marriage ceremony itself, you can personalize everything!

Ask your officiant for samples of the verbiage they use for both ceremonies. Seeing it in black and white will help you decide which symbolism better suits your relationship and your vision of what you want your marriage to be. Best wishes!

There really isn't a significant difference...if you do sand (or glass) you can pick colors that represent the characteristics you bring to the partnership. If you have kids, they can also have sand in "their" colors; some people have their parents pour white sand as a foundation, others include sand from beaches that are relevant to your history.

And of course, there is the wind factor......

There isnt a difference. I am doing the sand to keep it.

Nothing really different, each is a unity ceremony. I went with candles, since they're easier to clean up than sand when my cats inevitably knock them over.

I never recommend candles for outdoor ceremonies -- they won't stay lit.

Instead we do sand, salt, water a potted tree or plant, etc.

I recently officiated a wedding where they decided to do glass. I thought they would have the glass frit which looks like colored sand. Instead, it was small glass crystals in various colors. I overheard someone say that a glass blower would blow a clear glass vase and then roll it in the colored crystals so they melt into the sides of it.

I really want to blend wines, but could be messy if it's windy or if it's red wine...

I love the idea of blending sand. You can then use it as a decoration in your house, a keepsake!

I love the idea of blending sand. You can then use it as a decoration in your house, a keepsake!

I'm doing sand because our ceremony is outdoors, I'm also very klutzy so I figured me and flame don't get along well enough to do a candle

I saw an hourglass for sand. Each anniversary you can tip it over...over the years the colored sand mixes together.

We're doing the sand so we can keep it and so we can incorporate the kids. We both have 2 kids of our own.

We're doing a lot of glass ceremonies with the couples going to blow or fuse their own art object on their anniversary. The workshop takes about an hour or so, and the cost for everything (vessels) glass frits and the workshop usually is around 100 bucks.