UNITY CANDLE CEREMONY

In a unity candle ceremony, each participant takes a lit candle and then together they light one - usually larger - ‘unity candle’. Lighting the candle together is a symbol of joining together as one family. 

This ceremony usually takes place after you have said your vows or promises to each other. 

You and your partner could have a member of your family or another significant person light your individual candles. This is a lovely way to involve important people in your ceremony.

You can get specially-made unity candles but this isn’t necessary - you can use any candles you want to. You could ask the people who will be lighting your candle to get some candles they think represent you!

During the candle ceremony you could have music playing - a segment of a song that is meaningful to you both - or even have a friend read our a poem, song lyrics or reading while this ritual takes place.

One gorgeous way to include your guests in this ritual is to give them all an unlit candle (as they arrive or on their seats). You could use your newly-lit unity candle to light the flame of someone on the front row, and ask them to light the person next to them, and so on, until all the candles are lit. Or they could do this back row to front, with the final person lighting the couple’s candles.

Keen to include this, or another unity ritual in your humanist wedding ceremony? Get in touch with any questions!