Worship song at ceremony? Please chime in if you aren't a Christian as well!!

We are having a full Catholic mass as our ceremony. Everything from the readings to the music will be religious. My dad's side of the family and many of our guests are not Catholic, but it's the way in which we want to be married. I think that the vast majority of our guests, if not all of them, will be understanding of that and just not/sing participate if they don't feel comfortable with the message.

So, TL;DR- I think you're fine with the worship songs!

I think you're fine. I'm not religious (raised Catholic though), but when you attend a wedding ceremony in a church you expect it to be religious. now if people were speaking in tongues I'd be at a loss, but music- no problem.

I think that's fine. I'm not Catholic, but when I go to a Catholic wedding I know to expect a super long ceremony, lots of readings and songs. Guests can deal.

I'm not religious and while I wouldn't particularly enjoy a hymn or two, it wouldn't bother me in the least. If it's important to you both, by all means go for it.

I am a Christian and besides Catholic masses I have never seen this done. I have seen soloists perform but never the 'congregation' sing at a wedding. And soloists are a thing of the past.

I think it's totally fine. I'm as non religious as they come, but I expect church weddings to be religious affairs, and I still think that hymns are beautiful, I just appreciate them in a different way. And if anyone is that bothered, they can just not sing.

We had a friend sing in the middle of our civil ceremony -- longest 3 minutes of our lives while we just stood and looked at each other.

But, if the whole congregation is singing, I don't think that's a problem. But, you might limit it to 1 during the ceremony. If you really want to have another, do it during the Prelude.

Could you have hymns played as guests are coming in? There are beautiful arrangements out there! I would feel super weird if someone asked the guests to straight up sing a hymn at a wedding.

I basically never like singing in the middle of a ceremony, secular or not. I feel that it's awkward, and I'm a minister. What is your friends sang you up the aisle or down the aisle? I had a great couple who had an upbeat gospel song sung to recess to, and it was galvanizing.

I think using scriptural readings, God language and maybe a blessing would be more effective, tryly.

I would love to go to a wedding and they sang a hymn. If your FH wants that then I think you should do it. You could bring some to love Jesus they way you and your FH do. We could all stand to be closer Christ as it stands today.

OP - I guess I don't understand the need to sing a worship song during the ceremony as an act of worship when the ceremony itself stands as an act of worship to God. As Celia mentioned, there are many ways to incorporate your faith, but a Christian wedding ceremony is faith based worship.

I'm not a fan of everyone singing - that seems awkward to me. But, I would expect a Christian ceremony to be religious, even though I'm not. So the religiousness wouldn't bother me. I just wouldn't sing.

I am an atheist and while I appreciate many gospel songs because they are beautiful I don't think I would necessarily mind being invited to a ceremony with singing. I would stick to one song though. Anymore and I would feel like I was at a church service. Also please make sure your officiant doesn't do the whole lets try to convert in the middle of the ceremony thing. I went to a wedding where once where the officiant gave more a sermon than a ceremony for the couple and then asked if any audience member wanted to be saved. Super awkward.

I'm an atheist and wouldn't mind at all. It's your wedding and if it's important to you and your FH, you should include it.

Katie D, you stole what I was going to say.

I'm also not religious and while I would totally expect your ceremony to encorporate your faith, don't make it as painful as going to a church service.

I agree that one song would probably be enough. I also agree that I don't want it to be painful.

We aren't doing any other rituals. I said no to the unity candle, the sand pouring thing, etc...because I wanted it to be short and simple.

I guess the reason I really want to do this is that it would be a great way to incorporate my 2 friends who otherwise won't be in the wedding, and because FH wants it.

I would love it. I think that is a beautiful idea honestly.

OP, I would say it's up to you since it is your ceremony. I would lean towards a soloist performance though over everyone singing. I assume that not everyone you are inviting is Christian so communal singing might be out of place. With that said, I had a very traditional Episcopal ceremony where the structure is close to a full Sunday service. I had the option to include communal songs but figured this would be awkward for guests so I skipped it. I did have two song performances: What a Friend I have in Jesus and Ave Maria. My ceremony included communal prayers. I decided to not worry about any non-Christian or full on atheist guests since they knew I was Christian and I consider it normal when you are invited to the wedding of someone that is religious to be exposed to rituals and customs that aren't your own. Just as long as it is clear that it is optional to join in on songs and prayers that are done communally. And I don't agree that any traditional church wedding customs like soloists are a thing of the past just because many people choose do have 30 minute ceremonies outdoors.

First of all, it's your wedding & your FH's!!! Do what you want to do. If that includes gospel songs, then so be it. It's your day, it's what you choose it to be. Your guests are there to support you & your FH. If they choose to sing along fine if not, fine too. At Catholic weddings most times it's a full wedding mass with all the standing, sitting & kneeling. There are songs & readings & gospel. If your guests are uncomfortable, they don't have to participate, or much less attend.

I think if it's important to you and FH, incorporating a hymn is fine! As a Christian, your wedding ceremony has a very religious meaning. I don't think you should shy away from incorporating your faith at the risk of making a few guests who don't share your beliefs uncomfortable. They know you, they know your wedding is in a church, and if being in a church and hearing worship songs bothers them that strongly then they won't go. I doubt it will though.

My brother and sister are both vocal performance majors, and I'm having them sing 1 song during the ceremony. We are doing the unity candle- originally I said we didn't need it, but we are doing it simply because it's a nice tradition and it gives us something to do during the signing, which was really important for us to include! You can find something to do during the song, or you can just join the worship. I think if it's important to you and FH it should definitely be included