Wedding Unity Candle Ceremonies

Wedding unity candle ceremonies are a beautiful symbol of your new life together as a married couple. Two taper candles, lit prior to the start of the wedding are placed on either side of a large pillar candle. The pillar is to be lit by the bride and groom.

This pillar can be a plain white candle or it can be decorated in many ways. The pillar I used was white with a scripture reference painted on it in gold. A ring of pink flowers surrounded it.

You can purchase it decorated in a candle store on in a Christian bookstore. If you are crafty, you can decorate the candle the way you want it to look.

The tapers can be lit by an usher. Some couples have their mothers light the tapers as they are brought in to the church, before they are seated, with piano music playing, while the wedding guests watch.

After the rings are exchanged but before they are pronounced husband and wife, the bride and groom walk over to the table where the candles are displayed. Since the bride is on the left, she will pick up the left taper. The groom will pick up the candle on the right.

Together they will light the candle during wedding unity candle ceremonies. Then they can blow out the tapers to symbolize their separate lives being over as they form a new life together.

Or they can leave all three candles burning to symbolize that the bride and groom are still individuals and Christ is at the center of their union.

Lighting the candle can be done during a special song or with the minister (or someone that you choose) reading about the symbolism of the candles.

At my wedding, I chose to light the candle during a special song so there were no words explaining it. The beauty of wedding unity candle ceremonies is that no words are needed. The ceremony is so simple and self-explanatory, yet deeply meaningful to everyone.

A friend of mine sang "There Is Love", which, to us, was better than a symbolic reading about the candles.

A piano, harp or guitar solo softly played in the background would also be beautiful at this time during your ceremony.

The lighting of the wedding candle is optional in your wedding ceremony. If you choose to include it, afterward, you can display the pillar in your home as a beautiful reminder of your wedding day.

In lieu of this, some couples opt for a sand ceremony.