Remember Loved Ones at your Wedding with Lovely Memorial Candles

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by: thomasgalvin
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Word Count: 822
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 Time: 4:30 AM

Weddings are a happy time. They’re a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the love of a man and woman and to spend time with family and friends that you rarely have the chance to see. Unfortunately, however, a touch of sadness is sometimes present, especially when the bride or groom has lost someone near and dear to their heart, such as a parent, sibling, grandparent, or dear friend.

While some people choose not to mention the deceased in hopes of keeping the occasion upbeat, there are many couples who decide to find a way to pay homage to that dear family member or friend who has gone before. There are a number of ways to do that like mentioning them in the printed program or dedicated a song during the ceremony. Yet another suitable way to remember the deceased is to place a memorial vase on the altar (or elsewhere), perhaps filled with the person’s favorite flowers.

Others opt for placing memorial candles in a suitable location. Memorial candles are not unlike unity candles in that they are usually a thick, white pillar candle that includes some sort of personalization. These Wedding Memorial Candles can usually be purchased from the same vendors that sell unity candles and unity candle sets.

The personalization on good quality memorial candles generally includes a hand-printed inscription that probably says something such as, “In loving memory of [person’s name], who is in our hearts forever.” Many are suitable for more than one name so that you can use just one candle for multiple memorials. Some couples, however, choose to place one candle for each individual they wish to honor.

Most vendors that sell wedding memorial candles offer the option of choosing a particular ink color for personalization. This allows the couple to design the candle(s) to match their wedding décor or theme. The candle may also be adorned with a ribbon of the same color or of a contrasting hue. Many people choose simple black, the traditional color of mourning. Usually, these candles come with a stand – either silver-toned or gold-toned.

If you’re wondering how to incorporate these Memorial Candles into the ceremony, there are a few choices. Some couples simply light them before the ceremony begins and allow them to burn throughout the service or Mass. They can be lit by whoever lights the other candles or may be lit by the couple. Others, however, incorporate the memorial candle(s) into the unity candle ceremony, especially if the individual being memorialized is a very close relative such as a mother or father. Like the unity candle, it can be lit by the thin tapers held by the bride and groom.

Once the ceremony is over, the candle can be moved to the reception area and placed in an appropriate location or can simply remain extinguished and kept by the couple as a keepsake.