Unity Candle Questions?

[tmli]

For those who have had Unity Candles...I have questions about the logistics. We would like to have the candles lit by our mom's and ds's by my dad. Does this happen as part of the whole unity candle ceremony or are they lit prior to ceremony starting and we jointly lite the large one? Does the officiant say something during this time?

 

[beckyb29]

We had a unity candle for our ceremony, and there was a little part written in the ceremony, but I'm not sure exactly what Rev Day said. I'll try to find it, or you can do a search for Unity Candle readings. It was something along the lines of "these 2 candles represent 2 seperate lives, 2 families, 2 sets of friends, which will now be joined as one" or something...

Towards the beginning of the ceremony, my mom and my husband's mom walked in together(after everyone else was seated) and lit the 2 skinny candles on the outside at the same time. They sat down, and then my husband and Rev Day walked in, followed by me. We took those candles and lit the center candle during the ceremony.

I'd imagine you could do it however you like, as long as you let the people involved know ahead of time.

 

[hmgolden]

We actually had our brothers light the unity candles for our wedding. Just prior to the processional they each escorted our respective mothers (my MIL first, followed by my mother) to their seat and then went to the alter and lit the candle. At that point, my brother in law took his seat, and my brother returned to the back of the wedding pavilion so that he could process in with the rest of the groomsmen. DH and I then lit the larger candle doing the ceremony.

Generally the candles are lit as part of the seating of the mothers, I've never seen it done differently, but I am sure that if you wanted it done during the ceremony you could work it out with your officiant.

 

[tmli]

Thanks girls. I don't need to have it as part of the ceremony so we will have them lit by the Mom's ahead of time.

How long does it take? I am afraid the song I chose is too long.