CHRISTIAN BRIDES: Should I lead worship at my ceremony?

Personally I think it's kinda weird.

At a good friend's wedding a year and a 1/2 ago, she had some worship songs in her ceremony. But then she had some friends who lead worship at their church come up and lead it. I think it would be ok if the wedding party lead worship, but I think the bride and groom should stay at their spots at the front. I would be very confused to see the bride lead worship like that.

At the Christian churches that I have been to, worship music usually happens in the 20-30 minutes leading up to the beginning of the service or as the opening of the service. Is this what you're talking about? I think it would be very odd but if you don't care about processing down the aisle or are having a nontraditional ceremony, I guess it could work.

I am a religious person and attend church every week. With that being said as a guest, I would not necessarily want to join in worship songs at a wedding. For the most part, I want to watch the unity and love between the couple during the ceremony.

Also, what if you have guests who are of different religions? Most will sit thru a ceremony even if its not their denomination, however asking to participate is pushing it.

I agree completely with Mrs Gee. Also I think it would be odd for the bridal party and B&G to sing during the wedding.

I love a good worship song, I love singing worship songs, and I love live bands performing them.... but this would be a bit strange to me. Other have mentioned it, but you should really think about the people at your wedding that do not share your faith and even those who just don't participate in that type of worship regularly. Even some Christians feel uncomfortable in that setting.

For years I have imagined having worship at my ceremony and pictured it being beautiful and perfect. However now that I am actually planning my wedding and have my guest list, I realize only about half of the guests would enjoy this. Additionally, I don't want to make an outdoor ceremony in August any longer than it has to be. As an alternative I am playing worship songs before and during the processional.

I lead worship as well and FH is the drummer for our group. We will be having worship at our ceremony since it is something that is very significant to FH and I.

But, neither of us will be leading. I, personally, think it would take away from the wedding itself and make it more of a church meeting.

99% of the guests are used to this kind of setting and I know 100% of them would be comfortable with it. So I am not worried about that aspect at all, and will be having worship songs, whether I lead them or not.

Also, we are in a small outdoor space, so we would stay where we are. And the songs would be during the ceremony, so I won't miss walking down the aisle or anything like that.

I just think it would be a unique way of serving God and our guests and taking the focus away from bride, bride, bride, and turning it towards the One who has allowed all this to happen.

Personally, I don't see how you leading the songs would be taking the focus away from you. That seems like it would put more focus ON you.

I get what you're saying, @Tasha. I think it would be cool to ask your bridal party ( the ones who are musical) to lead this instead of you. I went to a wedding a while ago where the bride and groom stood at the altar just worshipping while the songs played. It was beautiful.

I went to Christian high school and college and a lot of the weddings I've been to have worship. It's usually sometime between the processional and the vows or during the unity ceremony. It always feels kind of out of place, but it's fine. I've seen several groomsmen lead it. It's not a big deal. A guitar is usually somewhere off to the side and then they just grab it and lead worship in the normal way. One wedding even passed out lyrics with the programs.

I do think it would be kind of weird for the bride to lead it, especially if the groom is not involved, but I wouldn't think too much of it. Don't you think you'll be nervous enough during the ceremony or too busy to practice before?

ETA: @ MrsGee - I disagree: have you ever been to a Catholic ceremony? The liturgy assumes participation from the audience. Those who aren't religious just stand or sit respectfully. Worship is kind of the same thing-the couple wants to sing and worship God at their wedding ceremony. Guests don't have to sing along.

I would let your bridal party or your pastor lead it.

@ Nicole- My DH is catholic and yes I have been and go every Sunday. I come from a background of Christian, but since being married I attend mass with DH which is totally different but nice.

I get what you're saying, and respect it, but I think that @Katie90 nailed my point.

Of course, no matter what OP chooses, there is no right or wrong answer. Their wedding will be beautiful in however they decide to include worship into their ceremony. I do like the idea of the bridal party leading vs. Bride and Groom.

I don't think you should.

Nope. on all fronts.

I've never been to a ceremony where this has happened- and I would be completely weirded out by it. And I've been to many christian weddings. It's a wedding- not a church service. Sing your worship songs at your reception.

Please no. I'm Christian and all, but I went to a dear friend's wedding last year that was basically a church service (Baptist). It was just awkward, and I feel like it took away from the wedding aspect of the wedding.

@Tasha I get wanting to include worship in your ceremony but here's something my priest told me regarding ceremony music: Christian worship music is great but it rarely relates to the couple and as much as he (the priest) agrees that Jesus is great and should be praised, a wedding ceremony is to celebrate two people pledging their love before God and the community and the music should reflect that. A wedding is not a church service, it's a sacramental service that is about those receiving the sacrament through God's grace.

She said that she knows 100% of her guests would be comfortable with it though. So if she already has that general consensus, it may indeed work for her and her guests.

I'm not sure you could know that 100% of your guests are comfortable with it, unless this is the common practice amongst all of your friends and family at weddings. Just because they are Christians, doesn't mean they would feel comfortable, as many fellow Christians are expressing here. I understand wanting to honor the Lord in your ceremony, and that can be done in many ways, but it sounds more like you are wanting to take the stage and do what you love - leading the worship - which I don't think should be the focus. Just being honest. We are doing guitar hymns in the prelude. You could also include a worship song in whatever unity ceremony you are doing - either by someone (not in the wedding party) singing it, or just having it played over the sound system. That's just my opinion!

I guess I just don't think making people uncomfortable because you are spending about 5 minutes singing a religious song is a good enough reason not to do it. A lot of people get uncomfortable when asked to bow their heads in prayer before a meal, but that doesn't mean a couple shouldn't have prayer before their dinner.

The least awkward place to do it would be for members of the bridal party to sing during the unity ceremony. Literally every wedding I've been to has had some sort of song in there. Regardless, put it on the program so people know it's coming.