Unity Candle Ceremony

A beautiful "ceremony within a ceremony" is the "Unity Candle Ceremony". In celebrating the union of the bride and groom, this "unity" ceremony symbolically represents, not only their becoming united in marriage, but also the coming together of all their friends and family
through their marriage. In the ceremony below I have the couple lighting their individual candles, but they may opt to have their mothers light their candles, or any other
members of the wedding party they choose.

There are numerous versions of this ceremony and the example given below can be edited as a couple sees fit. In the wedding ceremonies I officiate, the wording of the ceremony might be a little different and will depend on the desires of the couple and the feedback I receive from
them. Also, in situations where a candle lighting might not work, the couple may want to
perform another type of unity ceremony such as a sand or rock ceremony.

At the instruction of the officiant, the couple moves
over to a table with the Unity Candle.

Before you met, your lives were on different paths with different destinations.
But love has brought you together and joined these separate paths into one.

I will now ask that in a moment you light a single candle that will symbolize your
previous separate lives, separate sets of friends, separate families and the
different life's journeys you once traveled. And then I ask that you each
take your individual candle and together you light the center candle.

The couple steps forward and lights their individual candles.

The Unity Candle is lit.

With the lighting of the center candle you have now symbolically joined your once
separate lives. As two flames combined into one light, so now are your friends
and family joined, through you into one. And your once solitary life's paths
are also now one. All that was once separate is now shared and in this
sharing you both will find great comfort and joy as you forge
a new life's path and destination together.

For couples who have obtained a marriage license from their County offices, my Wedding Officiant services are available to them throughout Los Angeles and Southern California.

My Marriage License Service is available for ceremonies conducted within Los Angeles County.

In looking for wedding officiants, ministers, celebrants and the like, Frank Woods is among the most experienced and respected officiants in California. Each ceremony, whether non-religious or religious
(civil or non-denominational)
is crafted to reflect the individual needs and desires of each couple.
Whether your wedding will be small and intimate or large and festive, I give each couple the attention and care they deserve when planning their ceremony.

If you would like more information on my fees and services, please call me at 818-845-0964 or click on one of the "Contact me" links on this page.