Weddings by Church of the Green Wood

Unity Candles and Other Blessings

 

Unity Candle

The unity candle is a way to symbolize the joining of two sparks into one flame, just as two families merge through a marriage to create a new family. The unity candle ceremony requires two pillar candles and two taper candle and may be customized to include representatives of both families who will light their family's tapers from the candle representing the Divine Source.  The first candle lit is the Divine Source pillar candle, which should be lit before the ceremony just before the guests enter the space.

Within each human being burns the spark of the divine.  When two people love each other with devotion and freedom, they kindle the awareness of that spark in each other.  The lighted candle is symbolic of cosmic creation and the light and truth in the heart, mind, and soul.  Fire symbolizes purity and passion.  Fire also means the security of home, hearth, and family.  (Bride) and (Groom), take in the warmth and light that the divine flame represents.  May it light your way on the journey of life upon which you now embark.  Through your commitment to one another you combine your divine light with the promise to always see that light in one another.  Nurture and tend that divine flame in your partner as best you can each day, especially at the times it may be hardest to see.  For times may come that your partner may doubt or forget the existence of that light within, and your duty by your love and commitment is to mirror and rekindle the flame.

Bride and Groom may each light an individual taper off of the Divine Source candle to represent their families of origin, or they may invite mom or adult children to light the tapers. 

Now, (Bride) and (Groom), as you bring your individual flames together you form the new and greater flame of your marriage.  Never forget that the light of your union is continually sustained and renewed by your connection to the Divine Source and the eternal light of the many faces of God. 

Light the unity candle.

The candle you have lit together symbolizes your marriage, your willingness to surrender to something greater that yourselves.  May the light of your marriage be a beacon in the night and a safe harbor from the storms of life.  May your future be made infinitely brighter by the light and love that you share.

 

Blessing of the Hands

The blessing of the hands may be performed before the vows or after the exchange of rings, as you prefer.. 

1. Minister holds hands over the couples clasped hands.
   Bless these hands that you see before you this day.  May they always be held by one another.  give them the strength to hold tightly through the storms and stresses of life.  Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in wondrous love.  Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in grace, rich in caring, and devoted to one another.
   
2. As an expression that your hearts are joined together in love, please face each other and hold hands. As you walk together hand in hand through the seasons in your life, you will feel the gift you are to one another.  These are the hands of your best friend, holding yours on your wedding day.  Your love is strong, vibrant, and promising as the first flower of spring.  These are the hands that will work alongside yours with the passion and warmth of the summer sun as you build your life.  These are the hands that will protect and guide you, dry you tears of joy and sorrow, as the garden of your love matures, its changing like the autumn leaves.  These are the hands that in the winter of your lives, aged with wisdom and experience, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness and comfort with a simple caress, soft as the falling snow.
   
3. (Bride), please hold (Groom)'s hands palm up so you may see the gift that they are to you.  These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love that are holding yours on your wedding day as he promises to love you all the days of his life.  These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years for a lifetime of happiness.  These are the hands that will comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief wrack your soul. These are the hands that will comfort and encourage your children to be the best they can be.  These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your family so you may enjoy life's successes. 

(Groom), please hold (Bride)'s hands palm up so you may see the gift that they are to you.  These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love that are holding yours on your wedding day as he promises to love you all the days of his life.  These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years for a lifetime of happiness.  These are the hands that will comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief wrack your soul. These are the hands that will comfort and encourage your children to be the best they can be.  These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your family so you may enjoy life's successes. 

Rose Ceremony - Honoring the Mothers of the Bride and Groom

"__mom__ and __mom__, as the future comes from the past, know that without
you this day would not be taking place. As we all know marriage is a
coming together of two lives and a celebration of the love of two
people. But it is also so much more. The love that (Bride) and (Groom)
feel for one another is the flowering of a seed planted by you in
their hearts years ago. The very reason that they know how to give
and receive love itself is a direct result of the love that they
were shown by you as they grew into the man and woman that we see
here today. Your children love you very much and thought that now
would be the perfect time to remind you of this, by offering you
these symbols of eternal love, these roses."

The Bride and Grooms mothers are presented each with a rose

May you be blessed with many healthy happy years of watching the
next generation thrive."

Sand Ceremony

(Bride) and (Groom), will you now step up to the altar and hold
close to your heart the container of sand representing the essence
of all that you are and all that you bring to this union. As you do
so, embody the grains with all your hopes and dreams for the future.
and all the particles of personality that make you unique and
wonderful in one another’s eyes."

Bride and Groom come to behind the altar
and each take their own container of sand in hand

"Within a marriage each person is both their own and each others.
Two individuals choosing to create a new life with endless
possibilities and new dreams that are theirs together.
Will you now pour the sand that is to represent the foundation of
your friendship which has grown into love and all that you bring to
this union from the paths that you have traveled to get to this day?

Bride and Groom begin to intermingle their sand

Bring to mind the strength of your promises, the honesty integrity
and determination with which you make them

Bride and Groom continue to pour their sand

Think of how you give yourselves, trustingly and whole
heartedly to one another and to the spirit of your marriage

Bride and Groom continue to pour their sand

And will you now seal the vessel with love as a reminder that
nothing is more important nor more sacred than the bond that you
share as confidant and advocate, friend and lover, husband and wife
now and forever."


Child’s Ceremony

Often marriage is viewed as the union of two persons. Yet marriages not only unite the Bride and the Groom, they unite families. With the changing structure of what a family is in today’s
world we are offered unique and wonderful opportunities to simply increase the number of loving caring relationships we have in our lives.(Children's names) will you join us?

Children come forward.

During a wedding ceremony rings are exchanged with a promise. It is the promise of a safe haven free from judgment, that offers unconditional love and support under any and all circumstances. (Bride) and (Groom) thought appropriate that their children should also receive a token of their promise to them this day. They wanted to find a way to let them know now how special and wonderful they each are in their own way. They also wanted them to have something
physical, for the future, as a reminder that (Bride) and (Groom) will always support them.

Addressing the children:

There may come times when there are things going on in your lives that you may feel no other human would ever understand. And while they can’t guarantee they’ll always like everything they hear, they can promise you that there is nothing that any of you can ever say that will not be met with unconditional love. So is the bond of trust that (Bride) and (Groom) establish with one another, and extend to all of you this day."

Children receive their gifts.