What's Behind the Unity Candle Ceremony in Weddings?

A wedding has always been my favorite occasion. And unity candles for weddings seem to make it all so much more special. Why? It is when you feel that love is in the air. It is where you see the love of two individuals sealed for eternity. Also, wedding ceremonies have always been a spectacle to me.

It gives the couple a chance to play with creativeness and display them through how the program of the wedding goes. I am sometimes awed by the cleverness of the details that go into the preparation of a wedding.

Many brides work hard into conjuring up the perfect setting for their wedding. Each wedding tells something about the couple. Couples put their mark of individuality on details such as the invitations, the kind flower they use, the color of the theme of the wedding, how the reception area is arranged, the decorations and all. Even the task of choosing the right person for different roles is an important task that tells something about the couple.

If you are inexperienced at arranging an event this will be a difficult task. The things that you will use for the wedding, especially on the wedding ceremony itself are very valuable. They represent different meanings.

The traditional wedding uses many items as symbolisms. The color white, rings, cord, rice, and candles. Every culture has something different to offer. It is important to know what these items symbolize and which ones your religion permit. For example the use of color white means purity, the cord symbolizes unity of souls, rice – fertility, rings – eternity, and the unity candles symbolizes the union of the lives of two individuals as well as their families.

Of all these things, the unity candle’s legitimate use in a catholic wedding is questionable. It only has been started being used in the 1930s. Whoever began the tradition is unknown. Some priests do not even encourage the use of it as it is not an official part of the ceremony. However due to the nature of the candle as a representation of Christ as being the light, it is sometimes permitted by other priests. Actually the unity candle is more likely seen in Christian weddings.

Wedding ceremony unity candles are often seen as that big fancy candle decorated with flowers or sometimes the couple’s picture or names. Two representatives from each family lights a smaller candle to be used later by the couple to light the unity candle. This act represents the merging of two families or two individuals.

So if you are preparing for a wedding and you want some things to be included in the ceremony and you are in doubt whether these is allowed in your religion, it is wise talk to whoever will wed you such as your priest or pastor. This step will help you eliminate unwanted disruptions in the actual wedding itself.

I have seen some couples who try to be very dramatic when it comes to their wedding ceremonies and they try to include unofficial rites and they only end up not being able to do it because they aren’t allowed. As for the use of unity candles for weddings, it is better to consult your priest or pastor about the use of it.