Unity Candle Ceremony
The unity candle ceremony is an integral part of the wedding ceremony to many but others may wish to incorporate this age old lovely tradition into their own wedding ceremonies, to provide a new twist. By tradition, three candles are used, with the bride and groom having one lighted candle each and together lighting a third candle, representing their union. Some families involve close family members like mothers of the couple and even other close family members in the candle lighting. In this, the couple and each family member involved have one lighted candle each and together they light a large unity candle, symbolizing the joining of the two families.
There are other twists to this traditional ceremony and here are a few suggestions.
In smaller weddings all the guests can be included in the candle lighting ceremony. Each guest can be given a candle on arrival. After the couple has lit the unity candle, the guests can come forward and light their own candles from the flame of the unity candle, thus involving the guests in the ceremony and symbolizing the joining of friends and family with the union of the married couple.
Involving family and friends in a candle lighting ceremony for a large guest list is not prudent. However, the candle lighting can be done at the reception. The tables can have votive candle holders and guests are given votive candles as they file into the reception. The large votive candle from the church is placed at the entrance of the reception area and guests light the candle, take it to their tables and place them on the votive candle holder. The votive candle holder can be coordinated to the wedding theme and colors. A pretty votive candle could also double as a wedding favor.
Some couples tend to cut short on lengthy wedding ceremonies and often cut out the unity candle lighting ceremony. The unity candle in this case could be lit at the reception instead, right at the beginning or with a prayer prior to the main meal or even before cutting the cake. In fact the unity candle could be made a part of the cake table decoration. The candle can be a reminder of the new bond between the couple as the cake is cut and served to the guests. In fact as the guests partake of the cake with the unity candle nearby, it sort of includes the wedding guests into this newly forged unity.
Lighting a unity candle is not a must but can make the wedding ceremony or the reception interactive and interesting adding a little twist to connect the couple and guests in a nice way. So much planning and programming is involved in making a wedding go well that having a touch of something unique as a part of the ceremony or reception can make it extra special for the couple getting married, to be remembered down the years.