Candle Ceremony and Alternatives

Candle Ceremony Outdoor Issues

I can’t begin to tell you how many couples I’ve counseled against trying to have a unity candle ceremony at their beach wedding.  Even with giant lantern-style candle holders, it’s just too risky.  It’s beautiful and a perfect option for an indoor event, but who wants their unity candle ceremony being marred by a candle blowing out?

The Sand Ceremony as an Option

One of the alternatives to a candle ceremony that have become very popular is the Sand Ceremony.  In it, the couple (and sometimes children if you want to involve them) pour colored sand into a large glass vase that then gets capped off.  There’s a lot of symbolism involved (two becoming one, the ever-changing pattern of the colors of sand, the inseparability of the sand grains once poured) and it works perfectly outdoors.  Plus you can get colored sand to match your wedding colors.  How cool is that?

Alternatives to the Candle Ceremony and Sand Ceremony

Another option to the candle ceremony that is just starting to show up in western culture is the Thai Water Ceremony.  Even if you’re not Thai, this could be a lovely and interesting addition to your unique wedding ceremony as an alternative to the candle ceremony.

The Thai Water Ceremony (or in Thai, Rod Nam Sang) is a traditional Thai wedding ceremony. In this ceremony, the engaged couple sit together and kneel over a bench and cup their hands over an ornate silver bowl filled with flowers, typically lotus flowers (symbolizing fertility). A string is traditionally draped from the bride to the groom’s head, symbolizing their union.

Guests of the wedding, usually led by the most respected elders in attendance, will take turns approaching the couple and offering their blessings. When it is a guest’s turn to bless the couple, they pour water from a conch shell over the hands of the engaged couple, and offer words of good luck. The water is collected in the silver bowl below the couple’s hands. The Water Ceremony is typically performed by all guests older than the couple, beginning with the eldest and ending with those closest in age to the couple, though you could of course invite all of your guests to bless your union.

So don’t forget to consider those environmental issues (like wind or rain) when you’re thinking about having a candle ceremony or an alternative.  Feel free to contact me or to give me a call at (954) 667-SFGM.  So whether you choose a candle ceremony, sand ceremony, water, or any other option, I’m looking forward to working with you as your wedding officiant and helping you make your entire ceremony (candle ceremony or not) as special as your reception!