This popular ritual is often included in Christian, Catholic and other religious wedding ceremonies, so it might be a good one to include if you're having a non-religious ceremony but would like to add a familiar element for religious family members, which can often make them feel more included.

The ritual finds the couple lighting a standard or unity candle from two individual candles, symbolising their union.

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​'The two outside candles have been lit to represent both of your lives. They are two distinct lights, each capable of going their separate ways. To bring bliss and happiness to your home, these two lights must merge into one light. From now on, your thoughts shall be for each other rather than for you individually. Your plans shall be mutual, and your joys and sorrows shall be shared alike. As you each take a candle and light the centre one together, you will extinguish your candles, thus letting the centre candle represent the union of your lives into one flesh. As this one light cannot be divided, neither shall your lives be divided but a united testimony in your home. May the radiance of this one light be a testimony of your unity'.

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