The wedding season is in full swing, with one bachelorette party down and a weekend of rehearsals & weddings ahead, so I haven't been making much this week. Instead I thought I'd showcase another DIY project from my own wedding a few years back - Unity Candles.
Actually, this isn't really about the Unity candles themselves, which I can't even seem to find a photo of, but rather the candles every one of our friends and family held and lit during the ceremony as well.
In a traditional Unity Candle ceremony, two pre-lit tapers are used to then light a single pillar together.
In our ceremony, the ushers distributed candles (with protective drip cups) to every single person in attendance, while a reader explained our thoughts - a wedding is a joining not only of two people, but of two families, two circles of friends. These people are now united in the new group, and figure importantly into the relationship of the couple.
The best man and maid of honor lit their candles from pre-lit candles on either side of the Unity candle. They then turned and lit the candle of the bridesmaid/groomsman next to them, and so on until the entire "audience" was holding lighted candles. The ushers lit their candles from the last guests, and brought their candles forward for the bride & groom to light their own. From that flame, which had essentially been passed throughout each of our guests and loved ones, we lit the single candle representing our new life together.
During this time a friend played a viola solo...several times over. My one change if I were to do this again would be to have the wedding party light the candle of each aisle-seated person, so that more candles are being lit at once and it goes exponentially quicker. Technically this means that the same flame isn't passed throughout the group, but would greatly expedite things, which is a valid trade off.
There was some trepidation about whether we would set off the fire alarms blowing out 100 candles at once, but we were in a cement aquarium lobby with a huge waterfall behind us and 3 story ceilings, so we took our chances - and were fine. I don't even remember it being smokey at the end of this part.
Here's what (I think) we used for the "passing candles"
blue and white candles from IKEA
these say they don't drip, but I wasn't taking chances having to peel wax off clothing or venues, so I also bought cups similar to these, though not at this store - at the time I was looking, I couldn't find them very many places so I ended up getting them from some gospel mission in the south west - a quick google search now shows a lot more options.
Prior to the wedding I put all the cups on the candles, and split them into two big baskets for the ushers to distribute easily.
Here was the reading, complete with "stage directions":
(Reader begins reading, as ushers begin passing out candles. Start with Wedding Party FIRST. )
“At this time we will symbolize the joining of Bride and Groom's lives with the Unity candle ceremony.
Bride and Groom believe that a marriage not only unites their two lives, but those of their unique circles of friends and family as well. While you may have arrived here today as friends or family of one, you will undoubtedly leave with ties to them both.
There are three candles on the unity stand. The two lower candles represent each Bride and Groom individually. Their light is bright and distinct and unique. These candles will continue to burn just as Bride and Groom will continue to retain their diverse qualities.
These flames will now be passed throughout this gathering of friends and family. Please rise, accept the flame from your neighbor, and continue to pass it along until it has traveled throughout the room. Then, from the flame each of you has played a part in lighting, Bride and Groom will together light a new flame to symbolize their new unity. This flame will be the tallest, the brightest, and longest burning, as it has been supported by so many.”
Violist START SOLO
(Best man and the maid of honor light their candles from candles on the unity candle stand.
Maid of Honor passes to Bridesmaid, Bridesmaid passes to front row, etc.
Ushers get from back row and bring forward to Bride and Groom
Bride and Groom light new flame together.
When soloist is finished, and the new candles are lit, reader continues)
“As you extinguish your flame, please take a moment to make a wish for the bride and groom. You may be seated.”
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