The union of a man and a woman is a sacred ritual. Not only are they two people becoming one, their families merge together as well. This merging of a man and a woman and their respective families can by symbolized by personalized unity candles.
Using personalized unity candles in weddings have been around for 40 years and is popular in the United States. It actually uses three candles: two tapered ones and a big pillar candle.
The ceremony of lighting personalized unity candles is done in two stages: first, a representative from the bride and groom’s family (usually the mother) lights the two tapered candles. After the couple exchanges vows, the bride and groom will use the tapered candles to light the big pillar candle. Couples usually keep their personalized unity candles and lights it up again during their wedding anniversaries.
There is a lot symbolism in using personalized unity candles. The tapered candles are meant to represent the love of the family of the bride and groom for the couple and the pillar candle represents the union of the families as well as the union of the couple.
After the pillar candle is lit, the tapered candles may be allowed to continue to burn to symbolize that the family’s love will never be gone, or it may be blown out to emphasize that the lives of the couple and their families have been permanently merged.
Usually, personalized unity candles are made from white paraffin wax and can be decorated in many ways. Some couples may veer away from tradition and use colored personalized unity candles.
The colors may reflect the couple’s favorite, or it could reflect the color scheme of the wedding. Others may add ribbons and bows and tie it around the candle. Some personalized unity candles have a picture of the couple or the design of the wedding invitation on the surface of the candle. Some may choose to have an inscription etched on the surface of the candle.
These inscriptions may be a summarized version of the couple’s vows, it may be the same ones inscribed in their wedding rings, it may be a passage from the Bible they find meaningful, or simply their names and the date of their wedding. Some couples may also choose to decorate around the candle by using a unique candle holder or putting it in a table with flowers and other decorations.