the unity candle symbolizes the combination of two families coming together to create a new family unit. Although the unity candle is a single candle it usually involves at least three candles. The bride will have a candle and so will the groom; together they will light the single unity candle from their candles.The bride may decide to include their mothers or some other significant family member to join in the lighting. In this case everyone involved will have their own candle and together they all light the single candle still symbolizing the joining of the two families.
Planning a wedding takes some creativity and thinking outside of the box to make it unique anyway, so why not take it a step further and have some fun with the Unity Candle.
If you have a short guest list and time allows for it, you could offer each guest a small unlit candle as they arrive. After you have lit the unity candle invite them to light their candle from it before a short prayer. This offers a meaningful way to get all the guests involved in the ceremony and celebrates the union of both family and friends.
If you are unable to do this kind of lighting at the ceremony bring the unity candle to the wedding and let the guests light their candle from it there. You could use votive candles with a holder that is decorated to commemorate the wedding. After the reception the guests can take their votive holder home as a wedding favor.
Not every bride will choose to have a lighting of the unity candle at the wedding. Although it is traditional it is not necessary, cutting this tradition out of the wedding ceremony is a personal choice. Perhaps you want to spend less time planning the ceremony and more time planning the wedding reception. It would be perfectly acceptable for you to incorporate it into the wedding reception activities.
It would also be acceptable to cut the candle lighting out of the activities all together. However, there may be some family members that expect this special lighting and may be disappointed if it doesn't happen. Your wedding will be unique no matter how you plan it. The important thing to remember is that it is your wedding day and it should be the one you dreamed of. Even the most traditional aspects of a wedding become unique when you add your personal touch.