Ideas for a unity candle ceremony

It's interesting:
"Today we have all gathered together to celebrate Paul’s success. We lads are greatly fond of Paul, and now that he is departing from our bachelor midst we must try to comfort ourselves with the thought that we are not losing a friend, but gaining a Linda. Looking at it like that, what a bargain we’ve got."

The unity candle ceremony is a popular wedding tradition that symbolizes the bride and groom blending into one family. Although this ceremony stems from years of tradition, you can customize it to become a unique and creative part of your wedding. Whether you choose to include your parents, your children or all of your wedding guests in the unity candle ceremony, there are several different ideas for personalizing the tradition.

1. Family Involvement

   • Consider asking the parents of the bride to light one taper candle, while the parents of the groom light another taper candle. The parents can then hand the taper candles to the bride and groom, who will light the unity candle together. The involvement of the parents symbolizes the blending of the two families. If the bride and groom have children (either together or separately), have the children participate in the ceremony. If the bride and groom both have children separately, consider letting them do their own unity candle ceremony. The bride's children will light one taper candle, while the groom's children light another taper candle. Both sets of children then light a unity candle together.

   Candle Alternatives

   • Consider purchasing a unity candle that has three wicks instead of the traditional one wick. The bride's parents will use taper candles to light one of the wicks on the unity candle, while the groom's parents use taper candles to light another wick. Then, the bride and groom will light their taper candles from these two wicks and then light the last remaining wick on the unity candle together. For a more creative and fun unity candle idea, consider using sparklers instead of candles. The bride and groom will each light a sparkler to represent themselves- then, they will use both sparklers to light another sparkler together. This variation to the unity candle ceremony will be especially stunning if you hold your wedding ceremony outside during dusk, as the sun is fading from the sky.

   Guest Involvement

   • If you have a limited number of guests at your wedding ceremony, have them all participate in the unity candle ceremony. Give each guests a taper candle as they enter the ceremony site, and ask them to light their candles once the unity candle has been lit. Or, have guests line up around the church- place the bride's friends and family on one side and the groom's friends and family on the other side. The guests at the back of the line will light their candles first and then pass the flame along the line of guests. The bride and groom should be at the other end of the line, so they will be the last people to receive the flames. They will then use their candles to light the unity candle.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: unity candle, bride groom, candle ceremony, unity candle ceremony, taper candle