What do candles symbolise at a wedding?

Short answer

Candles symbolise love, light, hope and the joining of two lives. A single flame can represent the couple's new home together, while separate flames show the individuals who come together as one.

At a wedding, candles carry several layers of meaning. The most common is love, because a flame is warm, bright and constant. It suggests affection that can be seen and felt, and that endures through the night.

Light itself is a strong symbol. Candles bring light into darkness, which stands for hope, guidance and a bright future. Many couples and families see the flame as a blessing on the marriage, a wish that the couple will always find their way together.

The way candles are used can add more meaning. A unity candle, lit from two separate tapers, shows two people becoming one family. That is why it is often placed at the centre of the ceremony table. If you keep the two tapers lit as well, it can also show that each person keeps their own identity within the marriage.

In some faiths, candles are part of the religious ritual. A church may use candles to represent the presence of God or the light of faith. In other traditions, each guest holds a candle during the ceremony to show their support for the couple.

Whatever the tradition, the message is warm: love is a light you carry together.