Unity Candle Ceremony

(If the Rose Ceremony is used, it is placed after the Unity Candle ceremony or in place of it.)

____________________ and _____________________, the two separate candles symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. I ask that each of you take on of the lit candles and that together you light the center candle.

The individual candles represent your lives before today. Lighting the center Unity 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.

MUSIC
(For couples who are adding music to the ceremony, it is usually placed either here or after the vows are repeated earlier.)

INVOLVING CHILDREN IN THE LIGHTING OF THE UNITY CANDLE

(This is added to the Family Unity Candle lighting. There is an additional smaller candle for each child. The Bride and Groom light these candles, and then all together light the center Unity Candle. This is added to the Unity Candle ceremony:)

"The lighting of the center candle represents not only the union of ____________ and ___________ in marriage, but the unity formed in this new family in which your lives will now shine as one family."

INVOLVING THE MOTHERS OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM:
Sometimes couples which a special recognition to their mothers - such as giving them a rose each on the exit. They also may read something special, light the unity candles at the beginning - or at the time of the unity candles. In some ceremonies with step-parents this may not be appropriate.

UNITY CANDLES - Mothers of Bride and Groom:
If the outer unity candles are first lit by the mother of the Bride and of the Groom (when each is first escorted forward), it may be appropriate to add:

"The outer candles represent the light of your separate lives before today. It is appropriate that the mother of the Bride and the mother of the Groom each lit these candles as it is from these from which the light of your life first shown forth..." Unity Candle