3 Wedding Rituals That Aren’t Boring: Sand, Coins, and Handfasting

When it comes to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, the little moments of symbolism are what stick. While some rituals can feel outdated or impersonal, others add meaning, personality, and emotion to your ceremony in a way your guests—and you—will never forget.

At Harbor View Weddings, we love helping couples bring their own traditions or new rituals to life. Here are three that always resonate with couples in Los Angeles and beyond:

1. The Sand Ceremony: A Symbol of Unity

The sand ceremony is a beautiful and visual way to symbolize two lives becoming one.

Each partner pours sand from their own container into a single vessel, representing the blending of your lives. You can even involve children or family members to make it a unity ritual for blended families.

Pro Tip: Choose sand colors that reflect your wedding theme or even the colors of your birthstones!

Want to see it in action? Check out this sand ceremony example on YouTube.

Perfect for: Beach weddings, backyard ceremonies, and intimate elopements.

2. The Coins (Las Arras) Ritual: A Nod to Tradition

Rooted in Latinx and Spanish culture, the Las Arras ritual involves the exchange of 13 coins symbolizing prosperity, trust, and mutual support.

The officiant blesses the coins, which are given from one partner to the other as a promise to care for and support one another.

At Harbor View Weddings, we love including this in bilingual and multicultural ceremonies—it’s a gorgeous moment of intention and tradition.

Learn more about arras wedding coins and their meaning (via Brides).

3. The Handfasting Ritual: Ancient + Meaningful

This Celtic-inspired tradition is romantic and symbolic. The couple’s hands are gently bound together with ribbon, cloth, or rope—literally “tying the knot.”

We’ve seen couples use:

A scarf passed down from a loved one
Ribbons with handwritten vows
Velvet cords in their wedding colors

You can personalize the script for this ritual or let your officiant craft something deeply meaningful.

Want to see how it looks? Here’s a simple handfasting video example.

Add a Ritual to Your Ceremony

Whether you’re blending traditions, celebrating culture, or adding something uniquely you, these wedding rituals can bring depth and heart to your ceremony.

At Harbor View Weddings, we specialize in creating ceremonies that reflect your story. We offer Spanish, bilingual, and customized wedding packages for all types of couples throughout Los Angeles.

3 Wedding Rituals That Aren’t Boring: Sand, Coins, and Handfasting