83 Best Unity Candle & Sand Ceremony Songs
2020
The Unity Candle event takes place during the wedding ceremony after the bride and groom exchange their vows. Typically, the bride lights a single candle for herself and the groom lights a single candle for himself. Then, the bride and groom light their “unity candle” together with their single lit candles. A unity candle song is played during the unity candle lighting ceremony.
Another great show of bringing families together through matrimony is to have parents and/or grandparents light candles and then pass the candles onto their respective daughter/bride, and son/groom. The bride and groom then light their unity candle together.
Unity candles are a big business to candle companies. They come in all sorts of sizes and colors. For the do-it-yourself bride and groom, they can buy a standard candle. Then, the candle can be decorated in your wedding colors with ribbon, beads and whatever suits your fancy. Unity candles can be purchased as a single candle or in a candelabra setting with a single tapered candle on each side of the official unity candle.
Unity Candle Songs
Last Updated: January 6, 2020
Traditional wedding Unity Candle songs celebrate the union of the bride and groom. Bridal couples can select romantic pop songs I Was Meant To Be With You by Diamond Rio, True Companion by Marc Cohn and Give Me Forever (I Do) by John Tesh. Bridal couples can also select instrumental songs perfect for church weddings like Wedding Song by Kenny G. Since the candles are being lit, a theme-appropriate song would be You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone.
An alternative to the unity candle songs ceremony is the unity sand ceremony. The unity sand ceremony can be done after the vows are read, as the unity candle ceremony would be, or while the vows are read. The sand ceremony uses multiple sand colors to fill a glass container such as a vase. The bride and groom take turns filling a glass vase, or also known as the unity vase. The sand colors can be coordinated with the bridal couple’s wedding colors. The same unity candle songs below are also fitting for the sand ceremony.
Top 7 Unity Candle Songs
7. You Light Up My Life – Debby Boone
Originally released in 1977.
A great love song to show how much another lights up their world. We placed this at number 7 as it fit the theme of light. However, this song may also be seen as corny because of the same theme. It is one of our favorites but uses your own judgment.
6. Circle Of Life – Elton John
Originally released in 2002.
This song became popular from the movie the Lion King. However, the words are very fitting to the unity candle ceremony when the bride and groom’s family members are included.
5. Inseparable – Natalie Cole
Originally released in 1975.
With lyrics such as “We are just, Inseparable, that’s how it is”, this is a classic R&B love song. Natalie has a soulful voice to truly make this a ceremony with lots of feeling and emotion.
4. True Companion – Marc Cohn
Originally released in 1991.
Just as the previous song, Marc has one of those voices that really stands out and makes you feel the song lyrics. We feel this is a great unity candle song as a companion relationship is like unity of two people. With lyrics like “My arms are reaching out, out across this canyon, I’m asking you to be my true companion,” a classic rock love song.
3. I Could Never Love You Enough – Brian McComas
Originally released in 2003.
Our only country love song on our list. This is not a song known by the masses, but it should be. Just by the song title, you get an idea of the theme of this song.
2. Wedding Song (There Is Love) – Peter, Paul & Mary / Noel Paul Stookey
Originally released in 1971.
This song has been around the longest on our list. However, this is a classic love song that could be considered a folk style music song. However, we love acoustical songs that show true love. In addition, the song is themed for a wedding.
1. One Hand, One Heart – West Side Story Cast
The initial release date of the play was October 18, 1961.
This song is a fantastic vocal or as an instrumental song for the unity candle ceremony. The main chorus is as follows: “Make of our hands one hand, make of our hearts one heart, Make of our vows one last vow, only death will part us now.”
Other great Candle Song Lists and Articles
Songs With Candle In The Song Title
In Memory or Unity Candle Ideas
Unity wedding songs list curated by Matthew Campbell
Question can more than one unity ceremony be done at a wedding???
Hi Teena. Absolutely. We have seen weddings with multiple events at a wedding celebrating two coming together as one such as the sand ceremony, unity candle ceremony, wedding rope ceremony, jumping the broom and more. It’s your wedding and do what makes you happy!
My daughter is getting married in the Fall in the mountains. Candles for the unity ceremony Wong work since its outdoors and may be windy. I’m thinking the sand unity is more for weddings at the beach. Any suggestions for a unity ceremony in the mountains?
Hi Fatims. Most of our unity candle songs will also be great for the sand ceremony as well. Just skip the songs with candle in the title of course.