Unity Candle

Is anyone familiar with the tradition of the unity candle? How exactly does this work? I would like to have a unity candle and two tapered candles on each side. I was planning to have a member from each family light one of the tapered candles and then my fiance and I will light the center unity candle after saying our vows. When should the tapered candles be lit, before the beginning of the ceremony, before the procession? Any ideas?

They usually offer a different menu too. Every place we looked at did Chicken Fingers and French Fries.

Considering that the kids are not drinking at the bar either, it adds up to one heck of an overpriced Chicken McNugget Haapy Meal!!!

I've never heard that history of the unity candle. We are Roman Catholics and will be getting married in a Roman Catholic church. The church is providing us with the unity candle as a gift from them to the bride and groom. I guess it does depend on your priest. Thanks for the interesting info.

They usually offer a different menu too. Every place we looked at did Chicken Fingers and French Fries.

Considering that the kids are not drinking at the bar either, it adds up to one heck of an overpriced Chicken McNugget Haapy Meal!!!

My priest never mentioned paganism but he advised us against it because it is optional and he thought we would appreciate the $35 in our pockets the following week. He was very funny. Still, as someone who is usually in the audience at weddings, it is nice to get a front view of the bride & groom momentarily during the ceremony, you tend to just be looking at them from the back for the whole process. But I guess that has nothing to do with the religious aspect. :o)

Considering that the kids are not drinking at the bar either, it adds up to one heck of an overpriced Chicken McNugget Haapy Meal!!!

Thanks for the info...

I never heard about the unity candle...now I'll have to do my research and rethink it for our Interfaith ceremony! Trying to incorporate both faiths into our ceremony is not as easy as I thought it would be!

PaganBride,

I have to agree with you. I too saw a knock against the unity candle because of its tie to the pagan community in this thread. And that's a shame. I'm not pagan, but I always saw the lighting of the candle as two coming together into one, a perfect symbol for marriage. The unity candle will definitely be a part of our ceremony. And our church has already told us our base is a gift to us from them.

I must say how interesting and informative this board has been! The unity candle 'history' threw me for a loop. I have the same understanding that PaganBride and Kel have. (two becoming one)

Meanwhile, I was worried that we wouldn't be able to use the one my sister bought us since our ceremony was going to be outdoors (was...until I found out a Catholic Priest will not perform our ceremony outside)

I did not mean to offend. I was just sharing what my priest had told me. Personally, I think the symbolism of it is beautiful and touching; however, due to my religious belief, I will not include it in my ceremony.

I used Wedding Traditions, which seems to be a division of Rexcraft. The invitation samples use the same code, and they share a common fax number, although the addresses are different but they are both in the same state.

I am not sure how it is with all religions, but I am Catholic and the priest advised against the unity candle. He said that its roots are based in paganism and it isn't appropriate in a Catholic ceremony. However, I seem to remember it being done at my brother's wedding, which was in the same church. I guess it depends on which priest does the service.

They usually offer a different menu too. Every place we looked at did Chicken Fingers and French Fries.

Considering that the kids are not drinking at the bar either, it adds up to one heck of an overpriced Chicken McNugget Haapy Meal!!!