10 Unity Sand Designs

Customizing a Sand Design for your Ceremony 

Color Choice

Of course you may pick your Unity Sand colors to  match your Maid of Honor's handpicked dress. Or you may choose a color from the spectrum of your unique Wedding palette.  

However, it is also perfectly acceptable to choose alternative sand colors that match feelings instead of matching ceremony-based colors.  For example, use sand colors that capture emotions, such as white for purity or red for love.  

Let your heart - not necessarily pre-planned colors - be your guide.  By choosing sand colors that resonate with your heart and soul will ultimately hold more meaning in the design of your unity sand vase.

10 Unity Sand Designs - Choosing the Colors

Choosing the colors of your unity sand is a very personal decision.  

One of the most popular designs incorporates sand colors representing the ceremony colors, down to matching the attendant's dress.  

However, it's perfectly acceptable to choose alternative sand colors that match feelings instead of matching ceremony-based colors.  For example, use sand colors that capture emotions, such as white for purity or red for love.  

Let your heart - not necessarily pre-planned colors - be your guide.  By choosing sand colors that resonate with your heart and soul will ultimately hold more meaning in the design of your unity sand vase.

10 Unity Sand Designs - Envisioning the Design

By really getting and feeling a vision for the end result of your unity sand design, you can sort of work backwards from there.  

Try to see a completed design first in your mind and heart.  When you have an idea of what you want the unity sand vase to look like, it makes the planning process go along more smoothly.

First, determine what sort of vase will be used.  Design options may include:

• Shadow Box

• Hourglass

• Vase (wide, narrow, flute, heart, oval, square, rectangular, triangular)

Once the unity sand container has been selected, begin planning the actual sand design.

Here are 10 unity sand designs to get you started: 

1. Freestyle

This is the most natural and simple of designs.  Both partners simply pour the sand into the vase at the same time and let the sand naturally form its own design.

2. Alternative Freestyle

This design allows for each partner to take separate turns pouring their sand into the vase.  This design creates layers, whether thin, thick or separated by a third color (i.e.; white), which may be added by the officiant.

3. Divider

A temporary divider is placed vertically in the middle of the vase, standing slightly higher than top of the vase.  Using a simple divider, such as a sturdy piece of paper or cardboard, each partner pours sand into each side.  The divider is removed and the sand falls into place, merging together.

4. Funneling

One or more funnels are placed into the vase, allowing each partner to pour sand into their own funnel, or taking turns alternating their colors between funnels.  Once the funnels are removed, the sand unites.

5. Flat Vase

The vase remains flat on the table and sand is poured into the vase by each partner resulting in flat, straight layers of sand.

6. Tilted Vase

The vase is slightly tilted on the table.  Each partner pours sand into the vase, resulting in diagonal layers of sand.

7. Alternative Tilted Vase

The vase is slightly tilted on the table for one layer, and then tilted in the opposite direction for the next layer and so on.  This really mixes up the sand for an extremely mixed layer look.  The sand will be on the move as the vase is tilted from one side to the other.

8. Drizzle Design

This design incorporates the use of long bamboo sticks placed in the vase once the first layer of sand is poured.  Once each partner is done pouring sand into the vase, the bamboo sticks are removed for a unique effect.

9. Mold Custom Design

Prior to the ceremony, small molds (think cookie cutters) are incorporated into the design.  Sand is tightly packed into the mold and while each partner is pouring their sand during the ceremony, the molds are dropped into place.  The poured sand will create layers around your mold.  Examples of a mold design may be a heart or star.  There are pretty metal molds that would add a stunning effect to your unity sand design.

10. Decorated Designs

During the ceremony, other small decorations are added in while pouring sand.  Such adornments may include small beads, tiny shells, small starfish, tiny satin ornaments, flower petals, pieces of satin ribbon or charms.

By carefully considering and choosing a design with your partner and/or family, it gives even more of a personal touch to the ceremony.  

By gathering everyone's input, you instantly add more unique sparkle into your unity sand ceremony design.  Every bit as important as choosing the theme colors for your ceremony and designing wedding or promise rings, so is the unity sand design.