unity ceremony

The unity candle is one of the most popular ways to symbolize the merging of two families into one family or two people into one marriage. Commonly, at the beginning of the ceremony, the bride’s and groom’s mothers will each light a candle on either side of the unity candle. At some later point in the ceremony – usually after the ring exchange – the couple will each pick up a candle and light the unity candle in the center. This portion of the ceremony can be very personalized