Irish Unity Candle Ceremony

Prior to the wedding ceremony, a large single Unity Candle and two slimmer tapers are placed in holders and arranged in the area where the wedding ceremony will be performed. During the wedding ceremony, after the vows, the bride and groom move to the area where the candles have been readied. Two honoured participants, one representing each side of the family, come forward and light the individual tapers for the bride and groom.

The bride takes her lighted taper; the groom takes his lighted taper. Simultaneously, the bride and groom use their individual tapers to light the single large Unity Candle between them. The bride and groom extinguish their tapers and return them to their holders.

The lighting of the single candle symbolically represents two individuals joining as one, and the extinguishing of the individual tapers shows the bride's and groom's intent to sublimate their individual needs to the greater needs of their union. At the time of lighting the single large Unity Candle, the couple often repeat a vow or blessing.

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