Unity Candle

Elaina1012

So Im getting married Catholic style and my priest is trying to tell me Catholics don't use the unity candle? Which I find funny..Cause both mine and my FI's brother's had catholic weddings and they used the unity candle. Im actually getting married in the same church as my brother did. Anybody else hearing anything about this? Im guessing this is new? Plus I already bought my unity candle.

brainybrunette

I'm a former Catholic (brought up that way, but no longer practicing).  As far as I know, the unity candle is a Catholic thing.  We're actually doing it to make our grandmothers happy (they are not happy that our wedding is not in a catholic church, or a church at all for that matter). FI's grandmother bought us the unity candle without even asking us if we were planning on using one.  I think it's kind of expected to be a part of a Catholic ceremony. 

mpjf1001

We are being married in a catholic ceremony and the priest asked us if we were doing a unity candle, i dont know if that means you dont have to, but we are!

mrshall1027

I've never heard that Catholics don't use a unity candle.  Every Catholic wedding I've been to has used one and I used one when I got married through the church previously.

NRod70

Hmmm, I am not Catholic but I know I have been to Catholic weddings and it has been used.  As a matter of fact, I was showing my co-worker pics of my DIY candle the other day and she mentioned something about hers...she is Catholic and was married in her church.

I am Methodist and it is common in my denomination as well.

Maybe its just that particular priest?

snuff9861

I'm getting married in the catholic church and my priest is the one who suggested the unity candle. It is not traditionally a part of the Catholic service but many priests will incorporate it.

ericaandtom2012

Lol at "catholic style". As far as the candle, all of the catholic weddings I've been to have had a unity candle, but they were also all within one extended family. I would talk to the priest again.

tracey525

I'm Lutheran, and my FI is Catholic. We're getting married in a Catholic church, which allows the unity candle, but sort of discourages it, since it's "redundant." We met w/ the priest on Monday, and his take is: it's not traditionally part of the ceremony, but a lot of people do it. He also said that the unity candle is traditionally a big part of Protestant ceremonies, and that he sees "dual religion" couples do it ALL the time.

We're just having a ceremony, no mass, and decided to do the unity candle (I really want it, and I think it's a nice gesture to allow our mothers to light the individual candles at the beginning), and will likely have Ave Maria play at the same time, then have a meditation for the rest of the song, since I will not be going up to the statue of Mary to pray. For us, it was a perfect compromise!