Unity candles for wedding ceremonies can be a wonderful way to bring a traditional wedding ceremony into the 21st century, especially for second marriages and blended families. In North America, more than 25% of all marriages are second time around – hard to believe but true! That means that couples getting married for the second time are bringing children into the marriage and want to embrace the whole family at the wedding ceremony. There is no better way to unite two families symbolically and let children know that they are a very important part of the marriage than with unity candles for your wedding.
The lighting of a candle at a wedding has long been a traditional aspect of the wedding ceremony. It went out of favor in the 1950’s and then started to come back big time with the increased frequency of blended families and second marriages.
The history of the wedding candle is fairly straightforward and simplistic. Even guests who have never seen a unity candle ceremony will quickly understand the meaning and sentiment. Placed upon a table near the wedding alter, the side tapers are for each member of the blended family, and the center candle represents the family as one. The flame of each candle represents the love of the person holding the candle. As each person touches the flame from their individual candle to the center family candle, it symbolizes the creation of one strong, loving family. The individual taper candles are then blown out, which represent the start of a unified family life.
Unity candles for wedding ceremonies are nondenominational, and with no specific religious affiliation, it is appropriate in any wedding from Christian and Jewish to African American and Celtic. However, be sure to check with your wedding officiate or the venue where the wedding 
ceremony is being held; it is important to know ahead of time if candle lighting is permitted. If it does, you can still have the unity candle ceremony at your wedding reception.
The longing to create family unity and express genuine sentiment can be expressed through a family unity ceremony. Be sure to choose the unity song as a family also, so that long after the wedding day, the song holds very special meaning for everyone in the family.
Choosing the Right Unity Candle Set
Unity candles for wedding come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors. You might want to use traditional taper candles in a lovely crystal or silver candelabra holder. Or you might want to go with the larger pillar candles that can be personalized or decorated to match your wedding theme.
The number in your new blended family will probably dictate the size and style you use. For example, if you have two children from a previous marriage and your betrothed has one child, then you need five candles in total so the long, elegant taper candles might work best. However, 
you can also use the taper candles to light the larger pillar candle as the symbol of family unity.
Keep in mind that for young children under the age of 6 or 7, they will need assistance with lighting their candle and participating in the unity ceremony. Tall, stately pillar candles that have a family circle monogram and are personalized are perfect for any size family unit, and truly let everyone know that “A Circle of Love Unites Us As One”.
Unity candles for wedding are available to match any ceremony theme including black and white, Cinderella’s happily ever after, winter wonder land, flower such as calla lily and rose, and even unity sets that express your heritage such as Celtic or Christian.
No matter what color or style of unity candles you choose for your wedding, the addition of a unity candle ceremony will be the most poignant and memorable aspect of exchanging your nuptials. It is an exceptionally warm and wonderful way to show the world that your new family is one from this day forward.
Unity candles for wedding ceremonies
