Unity Candle Ceremony
Examples of unity candle wording
Remember any wording can be changed to fit your desires. They can be combined as well.See Option 8 for including children.
Option 1: Sample Short Ceremony (tapers can be lit by moms or couple )
The taper candles represent not only _______and __________, but also their families; for it is their families who, through love and support, helped shaped who they are. The center candle represents their marriage- the joining of two friends with the added roles of husband/wife/partner. It is the light of love and the light of new beginnings. From this day onward, may you bask in the beauty of the light of your love, May its light shine bright and steady upon your path together and may its heat keep you warm through all the days of your lives and beyond.
Option 2: Tapers are lit by Moms
Now we shall celebrate this union as it is symbolized through the lighting of the unity candle.
_____and ___ come from two different families, two different heritages. We are especially grateful for the values which have flowed into them from those who have loved and nurtured them along life's way.
The heritage each brings to this marriage will continue to be an important element in their lives, but now will be shared between them. Out of these two families, a new family will be created.
At this time I'd like the mothers to come forward to assist us in starting the Unity Candle ceremony, a ceremony of spiritual symbolism. The candles the moms are lighting represent not only _______and __________, but also their families, for it is their families who, through love and support, helped shape who they are (mothers light the tapered candles and then take their seats)
The center candle represents their marriage-the joining of two friends with the added roles of husband and wife. It is the light of love and the light of new beginnings. Its fire is magical because it represents the light of two people in love. This candle before you is a candle of commitment because it takes two people working together to keep it aflame. This candle is also a candle of unity because both must come together, giving spark of themselves to create the new light.
Please take the two taper candles, representing your individual selves and light the center candle representing your marriage. (together bride and groom take their tapered candles and light the center unity/marriage candle) As you light this candle today, may the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives. May it give you courage and reassurance in darkness, warmth and safety in the cold, and strength and joy in your bodies, minds and spirits. May your union be forever blessed.
Option 3: Tapers are lit by the Bride and Groom
Now we shall celebrate this union as it is symbolized through the lighting of the unity candle.
______and ________ please light the two taper candles. These candles represent your individual spirits, your individual connections with God, all that you are and, all that you have been, and all that you will become.
The center candle represents your relationship. It is the symbol of your marriage, the symbol of the joining of 2 spirits, 2 lives, 2 souls. Now you will take the tapers and light the center candle. As you do so, keep in mind the pledge you made to each other today. It is the pledge of the truth and purity of your every breath. The constant friendship of your hearts. The passion and fire of your spirits and the deepest love your souls have to give. It is the pledge of all that is within you. The only true pledge that one heart can offer to another.
You are now as husband/wife/spouse and husband/wife/spouse offering yourselves, and all that has come to pass unto each other, towards the creation of your future, and to all that is yet to come. The candle of your marriage shall burn brightly, but the 2 tapers of yourselves are not diminished. You do not disappear in marriage. You remain you. But in joining, both lights are brighter, each supports the other and miracles can happen. True Love shines brightly and today is but a beautiful beginning of the miracles to come.
Option 4-Couple only-Short and Sweet
The Unity Candle ceremony is a beautiful symbolic representation of your joining in marriage. Please take the two taper candles, representing your individual selves and light the center candle representing your marriage. Notice that the flames burns brightest when both candles are participating, cooperating and present. A marriage is like that. Be forever present for one another, shining light and beauty.
From this day onward, may you bask in the beauty of the light of your love, may its light shine bright and steady upon your path together and may its heat keep you warm through all the days of your lives and beyond.
Option 5-Combination of 1 and 4
The Unity Candle ceremony is a beautiful symbolic representation of a couple’s joining in marriage.
The taper candles represent not only ________ and ________, but also their families; for it is their families who, through love and support, helped shaped who they are. The center candle represents their marriage- the joining of two friends with the added roles of husband and wife. It is the light of love and the light of new beginnings.
Please take the two taper candles, representing your individual selves and light the center candle representing your marriage. Notice that the flames burns brightest when both candles are participating, cooperating and present. A marriage is like that. Be forever present for one another, shining light and beauty.
______and _________, each time you light a candle from this point forward, in whatever traditions you create, remember this day, this moment in time.
Option 6-Non Religious
Officiant:
This candle you are about to light is a candle of Marriage. Its fire is magical because it represents the light of two people in love. This candle before you is a candle of Commitment because it takes two people working together to keep it aflame. This candle is also a candle of Unity because both must come together, giving a spark of themselves, to create the new light. As you light this candle today, may the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives. May it give you courage and reassurance in darkness, warmth and safety in the cold, and strength and joy in your bodies, minds, and spirits. May your union be forever blessed.
The Unity Candle ceremony is a beautiful symbolic representation of your joining in marriage. Please take the two taper candles, representing your individual selves and light the center candle representing your marriage. Notice that the flames burns brightest when both candles are participating, cooperating and present. A marriage is like that. Be forever present for one another, shining light and beauty.
From this day onward, may you bask in the beauty of the light of your love, may its light shine bright and steady upon your path together and may its heat keep you warm through all the days of your lives and beyond.
Option 5-Combination of 1 and 4
The Unity Candle ceremony is a beautiful symbolic representation of a couple’s joining in marriage.
The taper candles represent not only ________ and ________, but also their families; for it is their families who, through love and support, helped shaped who they are. The center candle represents their marriage- the joining of two friends with the added roles of husband and wife. It is the light of love and the light of new beginnings.
Please take the two taper candles, representing your individual selves and light the center candle representing your marriage. Notice that the flames burns brightest when both candles are participating, cooperating and present. A marriage is like that. Be forever present for one another, shining light and beauty.
______and _________, each time you light a candle from this point forward, in whatever traditions you create, remember this day, this moment in time.
Option 6-Non Religious
Officiant:
This candle you are about to light is a candle of Marriage. Its fire is magical because it represents the light of two people in love. This candle before you is a candle of Commitment because it takes two people working together to keep it aflame. This candle is also a candle of Unity because both must come together, giving a spark of themselves, to create the new light. As you light this candle today, may the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives. May it give you courage and reassurance in darkness, warmth and safety in the cold, and strength and joy in your bodies, minds, and spirits. May your union be forever blessed.
Option 7 Religious reading from Matthew (5:15-16)
Officiant: Now we shall celebrate this union as it is symbolized through the lighting of the unity candle.
(Bride and groom take their place behind the table)
From every human being there rises a light.
When two souls destined for each other, find one another, their streams of light flow together
and a single brighter light goes forth from the united being.
Officiant to bride and groom: These two candles are symbolic of separate people in their own right. They symbolize your individual spirits, your individual connections with God, all that you are and, all that you have been, and all that you will become.
Please take your candles and light the center candle representing your marriage.
As the candle of your marriage burns brightly, remember that the two tapers of yourselves are not diminished. You do not disappear in marriage. You remain you. But in joining, both lights are brighter, each supports the other and miracles can happen.
I would like to share a beautiful reading from the Gospel of Matthew (5:15-16)
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
_____ and ___, from this day onward, may you bask in the beauty of the light of your love, may its light shine bright and steady upon your path together and may its heat keep you warm through all the days of your lives and beyond.
(Everyone goes back to their places)
Officiant: Now we shall celebrate this union as it is symbolized through the lighting of the unity candle.
(Bride and groom take their place behind the table)
From every human being there rises a light.
When two souls destined for each other, find one another, their streams of light flow together
and a single brighter light goes forth from the united being.
Officiant to bride and groom: These two candles are symbolic of separate people in their own right. They symbolize your individual spirits, your individual connections with God, all that you are and, all that you have been, and all that you will become.
Please take your candles and light the center candle representing your marriage.
As the candle of your marriage burns brightly, remember that the two tapers of yourselves are not diminished. You do not disappear in marriage. You remain you. But in joining, both lights are brighter, each supports the other and miracles can happen.
I would like to share a beautiful reading from the Gospel of Matthew (5:15-16)
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
_____ and ___, from this day onward, may you bask in the beauty of the light of your love, may its light shine bright and steady upon your path together and may its heat keep you warm through all the days of your lives and beyond.
(Everyone goes back to their places)
Option 8
Officiant:
Now we shall celebrate this union as it is symbolized through the lighting of the unity candle.
From every human being there rises a light.
When two souls destined for each other, find one another,
their streams of light flow together
and a single brighter light goes forth from the united being.
These two candles are symbolic of separate people in their own right. They symbolize your individual spirits, your individual connections with God, all that you are and, all that you have been, and all that you will become.
Please take the two taper candles, and light the center candle representing your marriage.
As the candle of your marriage burns brightly, remember that the two tapers of yourselves are not diminished. You do not disappear in marriage. You remain you. But in joining, both lights are brighter, each supports the other and miracles can happen.
From this day onward, may you bask in the beauty of the light of your love, may its light shine bright and steady upon your path together and may its heat keep you warm through all the days of your lives and beyond.
Option 9- Include children
Officiant:
Light is the essence of our existence. Each one of us possesses an inner glow that represents our hopes, our dreams and aspirations in life.
This center candle symbolizes the union of your lives, families, and friends, as well as your shining commitment to each other.
The lighting of the center candle represents not only the union of Bride____ and Groom_____ in marriage, but the unity formed in this new family in which your lives will now shine as one family. Bride____, Groom_____, Child_____, Child_____.
Each candles flame represents your lives before this day, individual, unique and special. Please take the candle symbolizing your life before today, and together light the center candle to symbolize the union of your individual lives. Each flame will help to make the family even brighter and stronger.
(As Bride____, Groom_____, Child and Child_____ light the unity candle with their tapered candles the Officiant will say):
As you light this candle today, may the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives. May it give you courage and reassurance in darkness, warmth and safety in the cold, and strength and joy in your bodies, minds, and spirits. May your union be forever blessed.
(Everyone moves back to their place)
********************************************************************************
Other choices of wording to be said during lighting of unity candle:
***you may choose to have a special poem recited by a friend or loved one or music played instead of the officiant speaking****
Here is an example:
The following poem by Harold Douglas is frequently recited by the officiant while the bride and groom light the Unity Candle:
Soft mists embrace two golden flames,
Alone they search the night.
Two souls adrift in dreams of love,
They seek to claim the light.
The path is long from which they came,
But sure they are it's right.
Two flames embrace in dreams of love,
Two Souls - Two Hearts Unite.
Officiant:
Now we shall celebrate this union as it is symbolized through the lighting of the unity candle.
From every human being there rises a light.
When two souls destined for each other, find one another,
their streams of light flow together
and a single brighter light goes forth from the united being.
These two candles are symbolic of separate people in their own right. They symbolize your individual spirits, your individual connections with God, all that you are and, all that you have been, and all that you will become.
Please take the two taper candles, and light the center candle representing your marriage.
As the candle of your marriage burns brightly, remember that the two tapers of yourselves are not diminished. You do not disappear in marriage. You remain you. But in joining, both lights are brighter, each supports the other and miracles can happen.
From this day onward, may you bask in the beauty of the light of your love, may its light shine bright and steady upon your path together and may its heat keep you warm through all the days of your lives and beyond.
Option 9- Include children
Officiant:
Light is the essence of our existence. Each one of us possesses an inner glow that represents our hopes, our dreams and aspirations in life.
This center candle symbolizes the union of your lives, families, and friends, as well as your shining commitment to each other.
The lighting of the center candle represents not only the union of Bride____ and Groom_____ in marriage, but the unity formed in this new family in which your lives will now shine as one family. Bride____, Groom_____, Child_____, Child_____.
Each candles flame represents your lives before this day, individual, unique and special. Please take the candle symbolizing your life before today, and together light the center candle to symbolize the union of your individual lives. Each flame will help to make the family even brighter and stronger.
(As Bride____, Groom_____, Child and Child_____ light the unity candle with their tapered candles the Officiant will say):
As you light this candle today, may the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives. May it give you courage and reassurance in darkness, warmth and safety in the cold, and strength and joy in your bodies, minds, and spirits. May your union be forever blessed.
(Everyone moves back to their place)
********************************************************************************
Other choices of wording to be said during lighting of unity candle:
***you may choose to have a special poem recited by a friend or loved one or music played instead of the officiant speaking****
Here is an example:
The following poem by Harold Douglas is frequently recited by the officiant while the bride and groom light the Unity Candle:
Soft mists embrace two golden flames,
Alone they search the night.
Two souls adrift in dreams of love,
They seek to claim the light.
The path is long from which they came,
But sure they are it's right.
Two flames embrace in dreams of love,
Two Souls - Two Hearts Unite.
