Let's talk about sand, baby
- susymcphee0
- Nov 14
- 4 min read
There’s something beautifully simple about sand. It’s soft and unassuming. It gets everywhere. And it’s absolutely brilliant for symbolic ceremonies — especially if you’re looking for a keepsake that doesn’t wilt, need watering, or rely on you remembering where you last put it.
Sand ceremonies have become a lovely feature in both weddings and naming ceremonies. Why? Because they’re visual, meaningful, and very forgiving if one of your party goes rogue with the pouring.
How it works
The idea’s wonderfully straightforward: different colours of sand represent different people — partners, family members, children, sometimes even pets (yes, I’ve seen people assign a stripe to the dog). Each person pours their sand into a single container, layering it up like a colourful geological love story. Once mixed, the grains can’t be separated — a perfect metaphor for the beautiful, complicated, glorious mess of human connection.
It’s also a ceremony that doesn’t involve vows or speeches or anything nerve-inducing. You just pour. Slowly. Gracefully if you can manage it. And if it goes a bit skew-whiff? Even better. That's life, isn’t it?
In weddings, sand ceremonies are often used as a way to symbolise two lives becoming one. Sometimes it’s just the couple pouring. Sometimes children are involved too — it can be a really gentle way to acknowledge and honour a blended family. I've known couples collect sand from special beaches — where they first kissed, got engaged, or accidentally lost a shoe on a windswept dog walk. You can keep it local (West Coast of Scotland, anyone?) or go full rainbow glitter sand. It's your wedding — your rules.
In naming or adoption ceremonies, sand pouring can be a brilliant way to involve family and friends in welcoming a new little person to the world. Parents, grandparents, siblings, or anyone else you want to involve can each pour a layer of sand to represent the love and support they’ll offer the child as they grow.
Bonus: kids love it. It’s colourful, it’s tactile, and it doesn’t involve sitting still and being angelic for long periods of time. Plus, once it’s poured, the child gets a keepsake jar to pop on a shelf — a visual reminder of all the people rooting for them.
(Top tip: just pop a cork or a lid on it before toddler hands get curious.)
A few warnings if you're planning one:
I can't lie. Sand ceremonies can drive celebrants slightly bonkers. Let me explain why.
1. Wind is not your friend.Outdoor ceremony? Light breeze? Say goodbye to your colour-coded symbolism and hello to a faceful of pink sand. (And no, guests don't enjoy gritty confetti.)
2. Sand has a mind of its own. It pours too fast, or too slow, or goes everywhere except the lovely layered jar you picked. And once it’s on your outfit, it’s basically there for life.
3. Wobbly jars = high stress. The gorgeous tall vase you found online? Has a base the width of a Ritz Cracker. One bump from a toddler or stray heel, and there’s a rainbow sand tsunami mid-ceremony.
4. People forget to practise. It looks easy… until someone holds the funnel upside down, pours all their sand in one go, or spills it with the sort of enthusiasm usually reserved for pancake mix. The sand should be poured slowly, not panic-poured like you're decanting flour into a Tupperware.
5. It’s messy. Especially if you’re on grass, gravel, or inside a fancy venue with cream carpets. (Top tip: always bring a dustpan and brush. Just in case.)
6. Transporting it afterwards is… tense. You’ve created a delicate jar of precious, sentimental layers — and now it has to survive a car journey with no lid and a Best Man who's already had three glasses of prosecco.
BUT — all that said — if you’re well prepped (lid, base, funnel, patience, dustpan and brush), a sand ceremony can be a truly moving moment. It gives people something physical to do, especially great for kids or families blending together. And the jar, once safely home and on a shelf, will look stunning — a lovely reminder that even if life gets a little messy, you made something beautiful together.
Where to get your sand
If your love story didn’t begin on a beach, and you’d rather not risk a midnight raid on the cement mixer in your neighbour’s garden from that extension they're having built, fear not — there are plenty of far more respectable (and less dusty) places to source your ceremonial sand:
1. Not On The High Street – notonthehighstreet.com have a range of beautiful personalised sand ceremony kits, from rustic wooden boxes to elegant glass vases with engraved messages. Bonus: you can often choose your own colour combinations.
2. Etsy UK – etsy.com/uk is literally full of handmade, bespoke options from small makers. You’ll find everything from minimalist glass vessels to heart-shaped jars with custom etching. Just search “sand ceremony kit” and go down the rabbit hole.
3. Handcrafted Ceremonies – handcraftedceremonies.co.uk is a lovely celebrant-run business that offers keepsake kits made with care, including sand in all kinds of colours and beautifully shaped glass jars. Very celebrant-friendly and customer-focused.
4. Amazon UK – amazon.co.uk is great if you're short on time or need something simple and affordable. They're especially good for naming ceremonies, where you might want several little bottles for multiple participants.
🎨 Sand Only (for DIYers)
If you already have your jar and want to pick your own sand:
1. Baker Ross – bakerross.co.uk I mean yes, it’s a kids’ craft shop. But they sell brightly coloured sand in bulk — perfect for ceremonies involving little ones (or grown-ups who want neon pink and aren’t sorry).
2. Yellow Moon – yellowmoon.org.uk is another crafty source for coloured sand at decent prices. They also offer packs with a rainbow of colours for group ceremonies.
In the end…
A sand ceremony is all about connection, colour, and creating something lasting together. Whether it’s two people pledging their lives to each other, or a whole gang of loved ones welcoming a brand new human into the fold, the symbolism is rich — and the result is always beautiful. Even if the layers are a bit wobbly.
Besides, who said love had to be tidy?
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