Wedding Candles: Two Lights, One Flame
In the sacrament of marriage, two individuals come together not only in love but in divine unity. While not a liturgical requirement, the tradition of lighting a wedding candle has gracefully found its place in many Christian wedding ceremonies.
This simple yet profound ritual involves two flames becoming one—a visual metaphor of two souls now joined by God, walking together as one light into the future.
Sometimes, couples even bring their preserved First Communion or Confirmation candles to light the unity candle, bringing their faith journey full circle.
The Meaning Behind the Flame
The wedding candle ceremony often takes place right after the vows and the exchange of rings. Each partner lights the larger unity candle using smaller candles, symbolizing their individual lives, now intertwined in love and shared purpose.
The act is quiet, sacred, and deeply moving. As the two flames merge, it symbolizes not loss of individuality but the formation of something greater: a shared spiritual light, sustained by grace, prayer, and partnership.
In some weddings, a prayer or short verse is read during this moment, inviting the Holy Spirit to bless the union and keep their flame strong.
“What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” — Mark 10:9
Two Hearts, One Flame
The wedding candle doesn’t end with the ceremony—it becomes part of the couple’s shared faith tradition. It may be relit each year on their anniversary, or during moments of prayer, difficulty, or thanksgiving. For couples who preserved their earlier sacramental candles, this ritual unites not just their present but also the faith journeys that shaped them. A flame born in baptism, nourished through communion and confirmation, now burns in covenant.
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