Honoring Special Friends with a Unity Candle Ceremony

Many couples renewing their vows want to honor the role special people play in supporting their marriage. A unity candle ceremony is perfect for this situation. Whether you want to honor only particular people or a mix of family and friends, we have a ceremony perfect for you. One of the other beautiful things about a unity candle ceremony is that it can accommodate any number of people. We have included ideas below for a number of different situations to inspire you. Feel free to mix and match them to create a unique unity candle ceremony for your vow renewal.

Group/Family Unity Candle Ceremony

Supplies:

• One individual tapered candle for each person
• One pillar-style candle
• Secondary candelabra or candles to be lit by candle lighters at the beginning of the vow renewal ceremony

Ceremony

We will now symbolize [name and name]’s union with a ceremony of light.

The flame of the soon to be lit Unity Candle, represents not only illumination, but also Spirit; and fire is often said to symbolize inspiration, power, and passion.

As you each bring these qualities forth from within yourselves to your union and your family, may you find the same flame burning always brightly in your hearts.

(Officiant lights two taper candles and gives them to the couple.)

[Name and name], take these candles, and realize that as you light the Unity candle together, your lit Unity Candle represents that your lives are joined as one. [Number] of years ago, your two families and sets of friends became one.

(Couple lights the candle together.)

Will the mothers of the couple now come forward and light your candles from the Unity Candle?

(The mothers light their candles and then move to opposite ends of the line of people being honored to light the candles of the person standing at the far ends. Each person in turn lights the candle of the person next to them until everyone’s candle is lit.)

Let us all share our good wishes and personal blessings for [name and name], as together we say:

May the light of love,

And the light of understanding

And the light of respect

And the light of tolerance

Shine eternally for you both.

We now join in blessing [Name and name], as they begin the next chapter of their lives together.

We recognize that the presence of a Spirit/The Holy Spirit within them enables them to fulfill the promise of true partnership in life.

We know and affirm that life in joy and love.

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Group Unity Candle Ceremony

Supplies:

• One individual tapered candle for each person
• One pillar-style candle
• Secondary candelabra or candles to be lit by candle lighters at the beginning of the vow renewal ceremony

Ceremony

The strength of a marriage comes from the commitment of a couple to one another and from the support of those who care about them. As [name and name] renew their vows to one another, they also want to recognize the role that the support from [names] has played in strengthening their marriage.

From every human being there rises a light. When we come together in support of a common goal, their streams of light flow together and a single, brighter light goes forth bringing the light of love, the light of understanding, the light of respect, and the light of tolerance to all.

As you light your separate candles, you honor your separate selves: your uniqueness and your autonomy. This candle represents the light of your being: your special talents, needs, visions and gifts – all that makes you who you are, you honor with this flame.

(Each person lights their candle)

As you blend your flames to light the unity candle, you celebrate the power of separate lights to ignite a common flame of commitment.

(Each person takes their white taper candle and together lights the unity candle.)

[Name and name], may you bask in the beauty of the light created by your love for one another and from the love of those who support you, may its light shine bright and steady upon your path together and may its heat keep you warm through all the days of your lives and beyond.