Fresh Ideas: Unity Candles

Traditional Style Unity Candles

images from exclusively weddings.com

When I got married, we did a unity candle, but I did it diy style and dressed it up to fit the theme of our wedding. Many people are including this tradition in their ceremony either doing it by purchasing a candle online, at the craft store, or from a local wedding vendor. What I am noticing lately is that people are coming up with new and creative ways to unify during their ceremony. There are so many ways to change this ceremony up and make it all yours. Here are some examples of what I have seen lately. Hopefully this will help you to come up with a creative idea for your wedding.

Themed Candles

images from marilynskeepsakes.com, rtisticxpressions.co.za, senoja.com.au, unitycandleshop.com



images from celticattic.com, sloglocandles.com, letsgetlitcandles.com, rassermart.com, beau-coup.com, theoriginalcandleman.com

You can do a lot with your theme, just don't go overboard. It can be as simple as adding your names and wedding date or as elaborate as adding your picture, leaves for a fall wedding or shells for a beach wedding. Candles can take on almost any shape and can be made any color. There is no rule saying that you have to have a white pillar candle and two white tappers for this ceremony. If you are having a zen inspired wedding, try candles that resemble bamboo. If you are having a winter wonderland inspired wedding, try candles in a cool ice blue with snowflake appliques. For a winery wedding, try using wine glass candles or wine bottle candles (maybe skip the grapes and cheese). If you man is a sports fan and you want to go a little wild, you can even get a candle with his favorite team's logo on it and match the taper candles to those colors. You are only limited by your imagination. Candles are also something you can make or alter for yourself if you are crafty.

Interesting Shapes, Colors,and Designs


images from bomboniere.co.za, favorsdepot.com, unitycandleshop.com, Pleasant Ridge Candle on etsy.com

These are fun! There is even a round candle in this bunch that is meant to be a unity candle. Again, you can fit these to a theme of just choose them because they are different and fir with your personal style.

images from lizziecandle.com, highlanisland.com, craftcandles.com, crateandbarrel.com

Go Green With Your Candle


images from Dew on a Petal on etsy.com, jamersoncrafts.com, unitycandleshop.com

images from jamersoncrafts.com

These candles above and below are made with some interesting materials. The first one by Dew on a Petal, is a soy candle. Unlike your typical paraffin wax candle, soy candles burn cleaner so you won't see the black soot typical of paraffin candles. The second set is handmade out of rolled beeswax. When I looked on jamersoncrafts.com, I saw that you can get these in a variety of colors as well. The beautiful scroll candle from unitycandleshop.com is also made with beeswax and then is personalized with your wedding information.

images from www.candlesmith.com

The candles above by candlesmith.com are made from the bayberry plant. They use bayberry wax, a bayberry/beeswax blend and a bayberry/soy blend. The bayberry plant was used by the early settlers to make candles and candlesmith.com is continuing that tradition. Any of these green candles will make a great addition to your wedding and you will be kind to the environment too.

Floating Candles


images from exclusivelyweddings.com and bridesvillage.com, candlesmith.com, impressionsareeverything.com

Here is the alternative for the bride that wants something different, but doesn't want to stray too far from tradition. These are vessels filled with water and the candle floats on the top. You can customize these too: add food coloring to the water to match your theme, add flowers, rocks, marbles, beach glass, or any other itmes that can be submerged and you can have something that is totally you. You can also look for a shaped or colored candle to float on top instead of your typical white votive style.

Unity Sand: With or Without the Candle


images from exclusivelyweddings.com, bridestuff.com, annamariaislandlife.com, www.squidoo.com

There are many ways to do this. So, how exactly does this work? It is much the same as the unity candle only you use sand instead of candles. You can have two people start your candle with a base color (like many people have their moms light the tapper candles) or it can be all about you two and you can blend the sand together. If you choose enough colors, buy enough sand, and have a big enough vessel, you can have several family memebers and friends do this with you. In the end, you will have a unique artpiece made by you on your wedding day to display in your home.

This is so easy that you can avoid all the kits that they sell online and just diy it. No glue or skill required, so anyone can do this.

Step one, choose your vessel. Any will do, so feel free to think outside the box. It doesn't have to be a candle holder or heart shaped vessel to work. Choose a vase in a fun shape, a crystal bowl or other see through vessel with lid, a fish bowl, a champaign glass, etc...

Step two, buy sand. Once more, you can match your wedding colors or theme, but you can also do any colors you like. Are you a fan of the beach? Do sand in it's natural form and then add white and blue so it looks like the beach. Like the sunset? Choose natural sand and various tones in one or more of the following colors: red, orange, purple and blue. How about making it all about the two of you? Simply choose your favorite colors. Anything is possible and your inspiration can come from anywhere.

OIL CANDLES

images from americanbridal.com, firelight.com

images from firelight.com, erintes.com

I have yet to see one of these used at a ceremony that I have attended or heard about, but how cool are these glass candles? You can have them etched with your wedding date and names or leave them plain. You can choose from an assortment of shapes (I especially like the calalily, circle in square, and circles in triangles below). These could also become decor in your home and/or an heirloom for you to pass onto your children when they get married.

images from glassdimensions.com

images from glassdimensions.com, squidoo.com, forgetmenotwi.com

Candle Holders


images from still Novo Designs at etsy.com, picsaweb.com by Fred, north-american-wholesalers.com, balifurnish.com

jedicreations.com, Godinger on amazon.com, thecabinshop.com, kristinclay.com, Wood Crafts and Candles on etsy.com

Now that you have the candle, get a unique candle holder to go with it. It doesn't have to be a "wedding" candle holder. Make it one that you would like to display in your home: match your home's decor, match your wedding theme, make it classy, make it something that you will want to live with for a long time as a reminder of your perfect wedding day. Some of the samples above are made of wood, ceramics, crystal and cut glass. Some are made of recycled materials and some are made of rare materials. Many are handmade by crafters and artisans. There are many places for you to search for your perfect candle holder or you can make your own.

Hopefully this post has inspired you to do your unity ceremony in a not so typical way.