This page gets more hits so while I am sick and have time to read I'm posting it here. THANK YOU for responses.
We are having a candlelight ceremony and also doing the unity candle. For that I want to involve our small "audience" (closest friends and family). I love the christmas eve service we have at my church where everyone is holding a lit candle. It adds so much to the candle decorations in the windows and with the stained glass.. Plus it would mean a lot to me to have the unity candle go like this:Pastor says something about how "The couple is glad you have come to share in their big day, but they would also like you to know that without the support of family and friends this marriage would not be possible. You have all supported their marriage so tonight as we unite these two we'd like you to be involved."Then two ushers walk from back to front light the end row of candles (vigil type candles that we plan on giving to them as they enter the ceremony) anyways the work their way up front to both our families and then our families come up to light our candle (my family=mine, his family=his) then my FI and I will light the unity candle.
It's a rough concept right now, I just don't know what the pastor could say? Has anyone done this or does it just sound stupid. We aren't having a wedding party so I like the idea of our families coming up there.