The Unity Candle

So as I get the wedding pictures back I am reminded of the sweet memories from that day.  There are some that have funny stories and I thought I would share one.  We decided we wanted to try to have an outdoor wedding, the ultimate deciding factor would be the weather for the day.  Jon had been watching the weather and doing research as the day came closer.  Since the wedding was in February there was an average high of like 70 and a low of 40 something.  So, we knew it would be a gamble.  As the day came closer it was warming up and really looking like it would be a nice day.  The weather forecast said it was supposed to rain the day before and the day after but was clear for the day of the wedding.  As I woke up that morning I remember thinking surely it would hold out and be a wonderful day.  And, it was beautiful.  We had a lot of family that had come in from much colder areas.  I had a grandmother and 2 aunts whose flights had been delayed due to lots of snow and the day of our wedding it was about 70 degrees here.  As they day went on, apparently Jon and Chad (the pastor) started to realized the wind was picking up. I was clueless to this because I was in a room with all the girls, doing hair and make up all day long.  so Jon and Chad came up with a game plan in case the unity candle didn't light.  As the ceremony was about to begin the wedding coordinator warned all of the mothers that the unity candle may not light and she had put a lighter up there for them to use.  I missed this memo and was totally clueless.  As the doors open and the procession begins I was hiding behind a corner and couldn't really see what was going on.  All of the mothers were escorted down the isle and headed up to light the candle.

Lucky for them there were three of them to tackle this task.  As they got up there, they appeared to have a problem.  The candle was not really wanting to light, the wind was making thing more difficult than one would have thought.

The were working very hard and everyone could tell.  So, the men in my family decided to help.  2 of my uncles and my cousin's husband decided to come up and make a shield from the wind for them.

To this, the crowd let out a chuckle.  As I hid behind a corner, I still had no idea what was going on.  Jon and Chad realized as they his behind the door figured that maybe it had something to do with the candle.  So the ceremony continues and it comes time for Jon and me to light the unity candle and it had gone out.  We walk over and I begin to attack this problem.  I was determined to get these two candles lit.  All along Jon has a smirk on his face and is saying "It's fine, let it go, it will be ok."  No no I was going to get them lit and it was going to work dang it...

Finally, I got both of the individual candles lit and we were able to attempt to light the big one.

As we brought the two candles together they both went out.  Since Jon and Chad had a plan he kept encouraging me to let it go and move back to the front.  He kept telling me it was ok and we needed to go.  I was thinking to myself, "Ok, no it's not ok.  We have to get these things lit."  Finally I did let it go and we walked back.  As we arrived Chad announced, "The internal flame has been lit."  These are the things that make our wedding, our wedding.