WR: DIY Unity Sand Ceremony...

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I don't have pictures but I am doing this for my wedding as I can't have any type of flame at my ceremony (candles...) Our theme is like a rustic beachy feel so we found 2 clear glass bottles (resemble something from a ship) at the dollar store and for the actual unity jar we are useing a light blue mason jar. I took sand from 2 different beaches to fill each of the seperate jars but if you're not near free sand you can buy it at a craft store or even the craft section in wal-mart. don't waste your money on the kits just shop around for bottles that go with your theme

I could have sworn someone posted a link in a previouis post but can't find it

Anyway, alot of people have been buying bottles, jars or vases from places like Michaels or Hobby Lobby or even the dollar store. Then they decorate to match the theme (or some leave the bottles as is).

As for sealing, if the container comes with a cork or something, that should work, but I have also heard of melting a thin layer of wax over the top. I plan to do that with mine this weekend as my Hubby is always nervous it will spill.

I got my set on Amazon.com. it was fairly inexpensive, if a bit small, but perfect for our needs. It was just us, so no additional participants in the ceremony (ie. no kids), so the smaller bottle worked for us. It is about 6 inches tall and has a tea-light in the top of it.

Oh! An I forgot to mention...It was $25 including shipping when I bought this about 3 months ago. It included the side jars and free engraving

I am doing a DIY-ish. I bought a vase with a topper that holds a tea light from Michaels and then bought two smaller vases. Bought the sand for about 3$ a bottle from Arnes Warehouse. I will probably just tie a ribbon around it for decoration.

We are doing a DIY sand ceremony to incorporate the kids to. Haven't found the vases or jars yet but still working on it. We will add our own engraving and probably some charmes and ribbon

You can make a container from a shadow box. They sell them for around @20 at the craft stores, but you can use a 40% off coupon. You can also buy the sand in craft stores with coupons. That's what I did. My individual containers where from the dollar store.

I hope that helps

Here is mine: http://genevieveswedding.blogspot.com/2010/08/unity-sand-ceremony.html

You could also find containers used on ebay, craigslist, freecycle or freemarket sites, thrift stores, ...

I bought the Krafty Blok from Hobby Lobby using a 40% off coupon. It was around $7 and it's nice and sturdy but also pretty. It is currently sitting on top of our entertainment system along with some pictures. It looks really nice up there. We used vases from the Dollar Tree for holding the sand in individual containers. I attached a picture from our actual ceremony.

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=177477

You can really use any containers; I've had couples use vases and gravy boats from their respective grandmothers, which i thought was adorable; I had two scientists use beakers and and I've had plenty of dollar store vessels which were just fine. I like the glass block too, but I don't think I've ever seen a funnel. Just wing it!

Shoot, I can't find the post Chelsea did, but she found a tutorial on how to make your own colored sand! You just pour sand onto a piece of paper and then rub colored chalk back and forth until the "sand" is the color you want. When you're done you just pour it into a bottle with a cork. You could make your own "sand" for cheap (get the Costco size salt, you should have plenty!) and then get a nice vase from Michael's or something using one of their coupons.

I remember that post, Jen! But I think it was salt, not sand. The white salt takes the color well. Basically that was the whole tutorial. Just spread some salt on a sheet of paper and rub the chalk over it until it is the desired saturation of color and voila!

Lol I meant to say salt, I promise.. hence, I put quotations around the word "sand" the second time I wrote it out, but I was too dumb to notice I had said sand instead of salt. Oh well. Human errors happen.

I really want to do a sand ceremony, but was reading the venue contract and no candles or sand. I might try and fudge it though.

Sandey, you can do the salt covenant instead.

I made a post a month or so ago (I think it was) about how to make your own sand, all you need is salt and some colored chalk. Here's the link to the post, and the how to link is included in the post
https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/for-those-of-you-doing-the-unity-sand-this-could-help-possibly-even-for-you-mommies-out-there/c8f7dbc007a6d276.html

You can also just find any container and use so you don't have to spend a whole bunch of money.

The sand really isn't the expensive part; probably by the time you buy everything and make it, it's easier and cheaper to buy it at Michaels or your local dollar store; mine has lots of colors....

I can't imagine a venue not allowing sand! It's so, so, clean-up-after-able!