A Unity Ceremony for Families

I have attended several weddings this year that have included a sand unity ceremony as a featured part of the nuptials. The officiant each time presented it as something that "symbolizes the union of the bride and groom." To me, the wedding vows are the symbol, with the rings being a physical one. Needless to say, I have not been totally sold on the idea. One application that I rather like is using the concept when families are blending.

Children could directly participate in the ceremony if the sand was understood to represent the blending of two families, whether a single child is gaining a stepparent or both the bride and groom have children. It is not, of course, a necessary symbol, but the focus would be more on giving the children a way to participate. The family would have something the children made on that day when everyone became the Brady bunch..or the Miller bunch...or the Rodriquez bunch...or the Warszawski bunch...or...