What is a Unity Candle, and why is it often used in a wedding ceremony?
A. A wedding ceremony is a pageant of sorts, and usually includes romantic imagery. The purpose of the imagery is to paint a picture of the words being spoken. Often couples will have two taper candles lit to represent their separate lives, and after the exchange of wedding vows and rings, they will light a third candle together. This “unity candle” represents their union, the joining of their two lives into one. It is purely a romantic image, without any religious implications.
A. A wedding ceremony is a “pageant of love” that usually includes romantic imagery. The purpose of the imagery is to paint a picture of the words being spoken. Often couples will have two taper candles lit to represent their separate lives, and after the exchange of wedding vows and rings, they will light a third candle together. This “unity candle” represents their union, the joining of their two lives into one. It is purely a romantic image, without any religious implications. There are two commons practices many couples do involving the unity candle that are not wrong, but I believe detract from the beauty and simplicity of the imagery. First, some couples blow out their individual candles after they light the unity candle. But it makes much more sense to me to keep those individual candles lit, because the couple are now both two separate people and one mystical union. After all, your own lives are not extinguished until you die! The second common mistake is having someone else ot
