How is the Unity Candle lit during the Wedding ceremony?

Question

My sister will be getting married next month, and as a gift, I purchased a Unity candle set that includes 2 side tapers. Traditionally how should these be lit. I think my sister is under the impression that the pastor lights one taper, and the remaining taper is lit from the one the pastor lit, and the bride and groom lite the unity candle.

I know this is incorrect.

If I remember correctly from past weddings, the tapers are lit by the mothers of the bride and groom. If that is correct. where do the mothers get their flame from?

Answer 1

The unity candle ceremony represents the union of the two families. The bride and groom light the individual tapers and bring the two flames together to light the larger column. This is similar to the South African !Kung ceremony in which fire from the hearths of the homes of both families is used to start a fire in the newlyweds' home.

Answer 2

The mother of the bride and the mother of the groom each light a taper..

I have seen it done in a few different ways...

1. Each mother carrys a lit candle down the aisle with them at the beginning of the service (they place these in candle holders at the front) the candles are then there and lit for the bride and groom when the time comes...

The priest/ minister/ rabbi or other official gives a short speech about the light of god and the light of god being the light of the families, the light of the families joining to form a new family...

When the time comes the bride takes he candle and the groom his and they light the unite candle..

2. Each mother has a candle and lighter waiting for them at thier seat.. Just before the unity candle portion they each light thier candle and are ready to bring them to the bride and groom at the appropriate time....

The priest/ minister/ rabbi or other official gives a short speech about the light of god and the light of god being the light of the families, the light of the families joining to form a new family...


The rest follows as above...

3. The official lights a candle while giving a short speech about the light of god.. The mothers light thier family candles while the official talks about the light of god being the light of families... The mothers hand the family candles to the bride and groom... The official talks about the light of the families being carried on by thier children... the couple lights the unity candle... while the official talks about the lights of the two families combining to create a new family...

the rest follows as above...


I have always liked the theatrics of the 3rd way with the official guiding the gathering through the stages as each candle is lit...

Answer 3

I just finished a marriage prep course at my church and the priest told us that the mothers light the tapers, and then the bride and groom each take one and light the unity candle together. It is done that way to represent not only two lives, but two families becoming one.

That is also how it was done at my sister's wedding, and i'm pretty sure the priest provided something for the mothers to light them with (it was a very long time ago and i was young so i don't quite remember). Your pastor can give you more information.

Answer 4

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A typical unity candle set has three candles total. Two smaller taper type candles and a larger pillar type candle, usually decorated. The two individual candles are lit before the ceremony by the mothers of the bride and groom to signify the two families. After the vows are spoken, the bride and groom take their individual candles and together light the larger one. They blow out the individual tapers (be sure to do this away from the main one or you'll blow it out too!) to signify their union of two becoming one. The poem can be read during the candle lighting or after the minister has finished.

Answer 5

At the beginning of the wedding ceremony, the mothers of the bride and groom light the two taper candles. Later in the ceremony, the bride and groom will take the two candles and light the large pillar candle together. They may blow out their individual candles or leave them lit beside the central candle, symbolizing that the participants in the marriage have not lost their individuality.

Answer 6

Unity Candle Lighter

Answer 7

I recently got married and we had a unity candle ceremony.

On either side of the alter we had 2 small tables. On the bride's side was my mother's picture (she died when I was a teenager) a memorial floral arrangement, a tapered candle in a holder and a burning votive. The groom's side simply had the tapered candle in a holder and a burning votive.

When the time came, my father got up and lit my taper from the burning votive on the bride's table. Both of his parents lit his taper from the burning votive on the groom's table. They handed the tapers to us a s a symbol of their blessing and the unifying of our families.

Then he and I took our tapers and lit the large unity candle on the alter. This signified the joining of our lives together.

Answer 8

All the weddings I've ever been to..Including how we did it at my daughter's wedding..
The mother of the bride and groom go up after they are ushered down the isle..and light the taper candles..then the groom will take the one his mom lite..and the bride will take the one her mom lite to light the unity candle..
The moms light them from the candle oprea's..sp?

Answer 9

The side candles can actually be lit by anyone, although it's usually the moms who use some kind of lighter. Personally, we had our pastor light them & we lit the center candle together. We also decided to leave the side candles burning, we didn't like the idea of just blowing them out. I really don't think there is a "wrong" way of doing it, whatever makes the couple happy & has meaning to them.

Answer 10

The bride lights one, the groom lights one and the bride and groom light the last one togather.