Janet & Joel Luzmoor

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Marrying for the second time can introduce new family dynamics.

Janet and Joel Luzmoor didn't tie the knot on a beach or in an exotic locale but the couple still found a role for sand in their ceremony.

They began their relationship two years ago, each with children from a previous marriage. Planning for their wedding had always reflected a desire to include the kids in some fashion.

Just before exchanging vows Aug. 7, 2009, the couple and their children stood before six vases. Each contained sand of a different color — coral, light blue, mahogany, cocoa, tan and white.

 With the minister presiding, each member of the family — Joel's children, John, 21, and Emily, 18, and Janet's kids, Hayston, 15, and Chandler, 11 — joined their parents in simultaneously pouring sand into one large vase, creating a vivid mixture of hues and shades. The ceremony offered a symbolic blending of the two families into one.

“A friend had used sand instead of candles in her wedding to symbolize her union with her new husband, and I thought it was a really interesting concept,” said Janet, a speech pathologist from Mound City, Mo., who married Joel at Wildwood Victorian Garden in Nebraska City, Neb. “I researched the ceremony, and it made sense for us because we were bringing together more than just the two of us into this relationship.”

The couple met online in early 2008, and despite living more than an hour's drive from one another, decided to meet in person after several conversations. Each was recently divorced and wary of a new commitment.

It didn't take long for them to realize their relationship made sense. They were engaged within three months. Joel moved from College Springs, Iowa, to Mound City after their marriage and continues to commute to Shenandoah, Iowa, where he manages a Pella Windows plant.

The Luzmoors display the sand-filled vase on a table in their home as a happy symbol of their wedding day and a reminder that new beginnings and combined families are possible.

“It's difficult to say if it was love at first sight, but it happened pretty quickly for both of us. We knew we were meant to be together,” Janet said.

“I think the kids really enjoyed being part of the ceremony. It made all of them feel a part of a much bigger family. This was about honoring them as much as it was about us honoring each other.”