UNITY CANDLE CEREMONY
The unity candle symbolizes the very essence of the wedding ceremony.
Two taper candles, representing you as individuals, are used to light a single center candle as a visible symbol of your commitment to each other.
Here are two examples of the wording:
BRIDE and GROOM, throughout this service there have been two lit candles, which represent you as individuals. These candles, represent the faith, wisdom, and love which you bring to this relationship, they are distinct, each burning alone. I now invite you to join the flames of those candles and light the center one. (Couple invited to light the candle)
As this one light burns undivided, so shall your love be. From now on, your thoughts shall be for each other rather than for your individual selves. May it light the path before you that you may live in Peace, Harmony and Abundance. Truly, what God has joined together man must not divide.
BRIDE and GROOM the two lighted candies symbolize your separate lives, your separate families and your separate sets of friends. I ask that you each take one candle and that together you light the center candle. The individual candies represent your individual lives before today. Lighting the center candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one light, and represents the joining together of your two families and sets of friends to one. (Couple invited to light the candle)
As this one light burns undivided, so shall your love be, it will light the path before you that you may live in Peace, Harmony and Abundance.
When Children Are Involved...
The lighting of the center candle represents not only the union of BRIDEand GROOM in marriage, but the unity formed in this new family in which your lives will now shine as one family.