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Two
lit candles are at the front on a table or altar. These may have been lit by the
mothers of the Bride and Groom at the beginning of the ceremony, or you may
arrange simply to have them lit and burning as other candles are lit prior to
the ceremony.
After the vows, or after being pronounced husband
and wife, the two of you approach and each take up one of the lit candles.
Together the you light the central, unlit candle.
There aren't necessarily words attached to
lighting the unity candle. This is something you do, not something someone says.
The unity candle may be something to do during a solo; particularly an
instrumental solo. Be aware that lighting the candle takes 30 seconds; the
average solo takes 3-4 minutes. So don't start moving when the solo begins. Wait
60 seconds or so.
When
you pick up the lit candle to use it to light the central candle together, be
aware that the candle has been burning for 20-30 minutes and there will be a
pool of hot wax around the burning wick. As you tip the candle, this hot wax
will go somewhere; hopefully not on you. Pick up the candle and whatever stand
it is in. It's easier to do that than to try to remove the candle from its
stand.... If the three candles involved are in fact in three separate stands.
Sometimes there's a unity candle holder that incorporates all three candles in
one stand.
Also agree ahead of time about which of the two
of you will really light the wick of the unity candle, and which of you will
pretend to light it.
Pay attention to the choreography of lighting the
candle. The two of you will have to approach the altar or table on which the
three candles sit. The officiant may have to step out of the way for you to do
this.
After
you light the unity candle, will you be returning to your original spot? The
logistics of the Bride's dress also may need to be thought through. Do you need
the Maid of Honor's help with the train at that point?
Lighting a unity candle is a symbolic act, so be
careful what the symbolism is. Don't blow out your individual candles. Neither
one of you has been extinguished by the beginning of your married life together.
Something has been added, but your individuality isn't lost!
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