I've been to wedding ceremonies where the mother of the bride & groom get up and light a candle to represent the two families joining and it's a lovely way to include them in the service which we'd like to do...but we've no idea how it actually works or what it supposed to be said during this part of the service.

And our Anglican minister is happy to have it done but as it's not standard he doesn't know how it works or what he's supposed to say ...so he's left it up to us.

Did anyone do a candle/unity ceremony and if so how did it work and what did they say?

thanks!

We had the unity candles. At very start of our ceremony after the welcome our mothers got up to light the candles. The priest read out " XXX & XXX will each light a candle symbolising two separate families."

After the blessing and exchange of the rings the priest read out this...

Candle Ceremony

Matthew and Emma will now light the marriage unity candle with the family candles that have been burning throughout the ceremony.

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.

The two distinct candle flames represent the faith, wisdom, and love they have received from their parents.

As a married couple their thoughts shall be for each other rather than for their individual selves. Their plans shall be mutual, their joys and sorrows will both be shared alike. The two distinct flames shall now be merged into one.

As this new flame burns undivided, so shall their lives now be one. May the radiance from this flame guide them through every day of their future together.


Hope this helps!

^^^ This is how we did it as well. The candles symbolising our families had the family names on it and our Unity candle had our first names on it and the date.