Symbolic Use of Sand Crystals
Lynne & Keith Langille & Christiane Bristow
Exceptional Ceremonies in Ottawa & Toronto/Markham

Symbology and imagery are far more effective in dramatizing the joining of your lives before guests than words and concepts.  For this reason, in planning their weddings, couples of all faiths have been using Unity Candles for the last couple of decades to do this dramatizing.  Another option gaining popularity with some couples is Wine Sharing.  A third and equally beautiful sentiment or dramatization is the Symbolic Use of Crystals.

Parents and other VIPsor all gusts will each have a small vile of some crystalline element such as salt, sand, coloured sand, or some other attractive material that you've come up with.  Michael's and other hobby and craft stores are full of them.

After the empowerment of the exchange of the vows and rings the bride and groom approach the front row VIPs who will contribute this element to the couple with soft music playing. Parents could contribute to their son or daughter, or to both.  Contributors could include others such as grand parents or close friends but the number of contributors should not exceed six (three per side) unless the sand crystals are colected from all guests prior to the start of the ceremony.

The bride and groom join their respective vases of sand crystals to a common vase.  This implies - once joined, never separated.  Photographers capture both the contribution by VIPS and subsequent joining of these sand crystals by the bride and groom.

Using the Symbology of Sand Crystals has it own advantages over the other two (Unity Candle/Wine Sharing).  Unlike the Unity Candle, sand crystals are never affected by wind.   Wine sharing, though very elegant, doesn't provide an opportunity for parents or other VIPS to contribute to the couple ceremonially as does either the Unity Candle or the use of Sand Crystals.  So each has it advantages and all are elegant and should play a central role in the symbolic joining of your lives before your guests.