| U N I T Y C A N D L E |
| Not everyone has a unity candle. This is an event which varies from church to church, priest to priest, and couple to couple. Following the actual marriage portion of the Mass, the unity candle represents your first official act as husband & wife. Most often the unity candle ceremony is brief and is an excellent opportunity for a short song or instrumental selection. Some suggestions are below. Keep in mind that the unity candle takes about 1.5 minutes so very rarely will we get through an entire song. This can be a secular or religious song. I recommend keeping a joyful sentiment here. No "Eagles Wings" or "Be Not Afraid" at this point, please. |
FROM THIS MOMENT ON by Twain & Lange A popular song which translates well into a modern-style wedding, I have done this with guitar, piano and even organ music. Piano & guitar work very well with this one, and it is a lovely sentiment... and even has a spiritual feeling for those churches who like their music liturgical! THIS WOULD DEFINITELY BE CUT SHORT FOR THE UNITY CANDLE SONG. IF YOU WANT THE SONG IN ITS ENTIRETY, I SUGGEST YOU PLACE IT IN THE PRELUDE SLOT! LYRICS: From this moment life has begun. From this moment you are the one. Right beside you is where I belong, from this moment, on. From this moment, I have been blessed. I live only for your happiness and for your love, I'd give my last breath, from this moment on. I give my hand to you with all my heart. I can't wait to live my life with you, I can't wait to start. You and I will never be apart. My dreams came true because of you. From this moment, as long as I live, I will love you, I promise you this: there is nothing I wouldn't give from this moment on. You're the reason I believe in love, and you're the answer to my prayers from up above. All we need is just the two of us. My dreams came true, because of you. From this moment, as long as I live, I will love you. I promise you this there is nothing I wouldn't give, from this moment - I will love you, as long as I live, from this moment, on. GROW OLD ALONG WITH ME by John Lennon This is a gorgeous song which sounds good with nearly every type of instrument. I love these lyrics, simple and sweet. Perfect for the unity candle spot because of its length. LYRICS: Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be. When our time has come, we will be as one. God Bless our love, God bless our love. Grow old along with me. Whatever fate decrees, we will see it through, for our love is true. God bless our love, God bless our love. Spending our lives together, man and wife, together, world without end, world without end. Grow old along with me, two branches of one tree. Face the setting sun, when the day is done. God bless our love, God bless our love. THE VOYAGE by Dahon, made popular by Christy Moore This is a very nice sentiment & the song sounds lovely when accompanied by piano or guitar. The chorus (life is an ocean...) is repeated twice during the song. Also a good length for the unity candle. LYRICS: I am a sailor,you're my first mate, we signed on together, we coupled our fate. Hauled up our anchor, determined not to fail. For the hearts treasure together we set sail. With no maps to guide us we steered our own course, rode out the storms when the winds were gale force. Sat out the doldrums in patience and hope,working together we learned how to cope. Life is an ocean and love is a boat. In troubled water it keeps us afloat. When we started the voyage,there was just me and you...now gathered round us we have our own crew. HOW DEEP IS THE OCEAN? - 1930's ballad by Irving Berlin. Nice for unity candle as is short & sweet. LYRICS: How much do I love you? I'll tell you no lie... How deep is the ocean? How high is the sky? How many times a day do I think of you? How many roses are sprinkled with dew? How far would I travel, to be where you are? How far is the journey from here to a star? And if I ever lost you, how much would I cry? How deep is the ocean, how high is the sky? ONE HAND, ONE HEART– from the show "West Side Story" by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim. I prefer piano for this one. Okay for unity candle. LYRICS: Make of our hands, one hand. Make of our hearts, one heart. Make of our vow, one last vow, even death won’t part us now. Make of our lives, one life. Day after day, one life. Now it begins, now we start, one hand, one heart, only death will part us now. |
| BLEST ARE THOSE Lyrics: Blessed are those who love you. Happy those who follow you. Blest are those who seek you, O God. HOSEA (perfect sentiment for unity candle!) Lyrics: Come back to me, with all your heart. Don't let fear keep us apart. Trees do bend, though straight and tall, so must we to others call. Long have I waited for your coming home & living deeply our new life. You will sleep secure with peace. Faithfulness will be your joy. Integrity and justice with tenderness you will know. I HAVE LOVED YOU Lyrics: I have loved You, with an everlasting love. I have called you, & you are mine. Seek the face of the Lord and long for Him. He will give you his light and his hope. OPEN MY EYES Lyrics: Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see your face. Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see. Open my ears, Lord. Help me to hear your voice. Open my ears, Lord. Help me to hear. Open my heart, Lord. Help me to love like you. Open my heart, Lord. Help me to love. I live within you. Deep in your heart, O, Love. I live within you. Rest now in me. PATH OF LIFE (again, very nice idea for unity candle) Lyrics: You will show me the path of life and guide me to joy forever. Keep me safe, O God. You are my hope. You alone shall be my saving God. Now my heart is glad, my soul is filled with Joy. Never will my God abandon me. |