Make a Unity Candle

The unity candle ceremony is a symbolic gesture performed during a wedding. Mostly observed in the United States, it is a tradition that arose around the 1960s as a way to suggest that the individuals lives are brought together in a single bond. The unity candle consists of three candles (two tapered candles and one pillar candle). At the beginning of the wedding ceremony, two people light the tapered candles. Typically, the mothers of the bride and groom perform this task, or you may choose someone special from each family. During the ceremony, the bride and groom each take a lit tapered candle and they light the pillar candle together, symbolizing two lives becoming joined into one.

Making your own unity candle enables you to add your own personal touches, as suggested here.

Steps

1. Purchase candles and candle holders for the unity candle. White candles are used to signify purity, or you may prefer to use candles that match your wedding colors. Candle holders can be purchased separately, or you can buy a basic unity candle base.
2. Decide on a design that represents you and your future spouse. There are multiple ways to customize a unity candle. Some brides choose to decorate the unity candle by cutting out the wedding invitation and affixing it to the pillar candle, while others use ribbons, jewelry, or stencils. The following methods will help you to decide what you'd like.

Wedding invitation

1. Decorate your candle by using your wedding invitation.
2. Cut the text body out of an invitation. Cut it in an oval shape to help it fit better around the curvature of the candle.
3. Use straight pins to anchor the paper to the wax. Pins come with pearl ends or you can use decorative pins, like earrings with diamonds or gemstones that match your colors to use to affix the paper with.
   • If you'd like to use ribbon as well, wrap the ribbon around the center of the candle and adhere with hot glue or a straight pin, then place the invitation over the seam and finish with additional pins.
4. Check that it is sitting straight, then place in the candle holder.

Ribbon bow

1. Find ribbon that matches your wedding colors.
2. Tie the ribbon in a bow around the candle. The bow can be as fancy or as simple as you'd like. If the bow is fairly large or heavy, considering pinning it into place to avoid it slipping down.
3. Make any necessary adjustments and place in the candle holder.

Ribbon wrap

1. Find ribbon that matches your wedding colors.
2. Wrap a length of wide ribbon around the center of the pillar candle. Hot glue the ends together.
3. Glue a narrower gauze ribbon over the top of this ribbon and glue in place. Be sure to center this evenly so that the ribbon underneath peeks out the same amount top and bottom.
4. Glue a row of beads around the middle of the gauze ribbon. You can also glue a decoration onto the bead row if desired.
5. Add more wraps above and below the center wrap if desired. Thinner lengths of ribbon can make a nice pattern when added above and below using the same method outlined in the previous steps. Be sure to keep the distances even between the center wrap and the other two ribbon wraps. If using two additional wraps, add the gauze layer but not the bead layer, as this can look overdone.

Gemstones

1. Choose gemstones of choice to add sparkle to the unity candle. Costume gems can be purchased from craft stores. Places that sell crystals can also provide elegant crystal beads suitable for wedding use.
2. Attach them by placing a small drop of hot glue on one side and pressing it into the wax of the candle. Alternatively, you can use gemstone earrings that you press into the wax without additional adhesive.
3. Place gemstones in an irregular pattern or use them to shape the first letter of the groom's last name if the couple is straight and planning to share one name. If they're gay, lesbian or not planning a name change, use both initials with a hyphen.

Stencil decoration

1. Find a stencil suitable to rub onto the candle. There are rub-on stencils with wedding related phrases available from your local craft store or online craft stores.
2. Alternatively, make your own stencils by individually rubbing stencils of choice onto the candle in a pattern of your own design.
   • Incorporating your wedding date and the initials of both partners are good choices.

Placement of the unity candle

1. Place the unity candle on a decorated table that is set off to the side of the altar or behind the preacher. Guests will have a clear view of you while you light the candle and this will also give the photographer an opportunity for ceremony pictures.
2. Arrange for music to play. Many couples play music during the candle lighting, this allows you to share a private moment with your groom before being pronounced as married.

Tips

• If you have worked with lightweight embossing foil before, beautiful designs can be made using this as the wrap around the candle. Add small pearl color beads to set off the embossed foil.
• There are many ways to incorporate a unity candle into your wedding ceremony; read up on the different approaches people have used to lighting and blowing out (if at all) the candles.
• During the wedding ceremony, the unity candle is normally lit after the bride and groom have exchange their vows and rings but before they are presented as husband and wife. However, note that as this is not a religious tradition, you must alert your officiant to your desire to include this as part of your wedding ceremony so that it can be incorporated.
• Be creative with your decorations. Craft supply stores have a variety of ribbons, jewelry, and rub-on stencils that you can use when personalizing you unity candle. You can also use flowers or a picture of the bride and groom.

Warnings

• Never leave a lit candle unattended.
• Do not decorate the top of the candle in order to reduce the risk of fire hazards.

Things You'll Need

• 1 pillar candle
• 2 tapered candles
• Unity candle base
• Candle holders
• Wedding invitation
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Miscellaneous earrings
• Ribbon
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue
• Gemstones
• Rub-on stencils
• Flowers
• Picture of bride and groom

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Sources and Citations

• http://www.craftyweddings.com/make_unity_candle.html – research source

See also

• Make Primitive Country Cake Candles
• Make a Scented Candle in a Glass
• Make Homemade Candles
• Make an Oil Lamp
• Make a Gel Candle
• Make Glow in the Dark Candles
• Make a Candle out of an Orange
• Make Water Candles
• Make Shot Glass Candles
• Make a Bright Outdoor Candle from Old Wax

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