Unity Candles - Unity Candle Sets - Wedding Candles - Unity Sand Sets

Lighting unity candles is a relatively recent addition to wedding ceremonies, and is most commonly performed in the United States. In carrying out their unity candle ceremony, the wedding couple uses two slim taper candles with a large pillar candle or unity candle between them. At the beginning of the wedding ceremony, a member of each family (often the mothers of the bride and groom) walk forward with candle lighters to light the two taper candles. After saying their vows, the bride and groom approach the unity candles and use the two lighted taper candles simultaneously from each side to light the large center candle.

Often a unity candle is decorated with the wedding invitation, flowers, shells, pearls, crystals, an inscription, a picture of the couple, or other ornamentation. The unity candles were traditionally white, but like everything else about weddings, colors are brightening up the landscape. During the lighting of the unity candles, the officiant may explain the meaning of the unity ceremony. It is a popular tradition for the couple to save their wedding candles and relight them on their anniversaries, even if they do this alone.

When the unity candle ceremony is performed to symbolize the joining together of the bride and groom, the tapers are most often blown out to indicate that the two lives have been permanently merged. Some couples leave them lit beside the central unity candle, symbolizing that they are still individuals.

Occasionally the unity ceremony is performed to symbolize the joining together of the two families, into one united family that will love and guide the new husband and wife. In this tradition, the taper candles are lit by representatives from each family to symbolize the love and allegiance that each family has for either the bride or the groom. As the bride and groom use these two flames to light their unity candle, they bring the love of both families together in a united love of the new couple. Generally, the two tapers are left burning and replaced in their holders because each family's love for their own will continue. Some couples decide to extinguish their individual candles to symbolize the merging of the families.

Personalized unity candles are the latest trend, and Advantage Bridal offers a vast selection of designs and colors to fit your wedding theme. Monograms, names and date and special embellishment can be used to design a unity candle set that is uniquely your own.