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

I started singing at weddings, about 14 years ago - primarily Protestant. The soloist/soloists are usually the only ones that sing. It seems that when the entire congregation is asked to sing (full Catholic mass) it doesn't sound like many people participate.

I sang the first two verses of "How Great Thou Art," at a wedding once; the last verse, in the version I had, was better suited for a funeral. " I sang "Amazing Grace" at the last funeral I sang. How about some more joyful selections like "Morning has Broken" or "Joyful, Joyful we Adore Thee?" I've sung those at weddings.

PPs have given some good alternatives if you want to go that route but I'm guessing that if this is that important to you then all of your friends also know you're Christian and won't be surprised/offended to see that included in your wedding.

If no one had any idea then it might seem like it was coming from left field, but I don't get the impression that's the case here. I think you're fine to do it.

Haha, I agree with @Katie D. No altar calls! Not that you were suggesting this OP.

SimpleSeamstress - I did not say that any traditional church wedding tradition are a thing of the past just because many people choose to have 30 minute ceremonies outdoors. Please don't put words in my mouth.

Soloists are dated - not because of outdoor ceremonies, but because they are just not incorporated into ceremonies on a frequent basis. It's awkward, long and drawn out - most people don't prefer them that is why they are not done. It is a rarity to see a soloist perform at a ceremony and I come from a small, conservative, very christian town in the Bible belt. It just doesn't happen.

I'm an atheist, and I wouldn't be offended if a friend had a hymn at her church wedding. However, I would probably not sing along and feel slightly more out of place than just during prayers or hearing the reading of a passage from the bible.

@KD I totally trust that that has been your experience. But if you were to attend a Catholic ceremony or a liturgical Christian ceremony where the Eucharist is included it wouldn't be out of place. I loved every part of my ceremony including the soloist performance.

I also live in the bible belt and see soloists at plenty of weddings...even non-Christian weddings. Maybe "dated" isn't the correct term?

Do it. its important to your FH and its something you want. Just for time sake I would say pick one song, or if you do a hymn only do 1-2 versus from each instead of the whole song.

We are having a lutheran ceremony. Our church is very musical so we are incorporating it. With that said, we decided not to do you communion and filled that space with music. Our music is very familiar. We chose our music director to sing a solo of amazing grace and then we chose two hymns to be sung by the attendees. How great thou art and America the beautiful (believe it or not it's in the Lutheran hymnal ) as an ode to FH military service.

I'm not Christian and I wouldn't mind. If I attend a wedding at a church, I expect it to be religious. Normally I just sit/stand silently during prayers or hymns if they aren't in line with my faith.

Also IDK if I consider hymns "worship" song. there are many many forms of worship and singing is one of them, but in the more contemporary meaning when I read "worship songs at ceremony" I thought "your grace is enough" by Chris Tomlin or something that you'd hear on a contemporary Christian radio station on a Sunday morning.

I say have a soloist and if people want to join in, have the soloist invite them to do so before the song starts. Again, this is a wedding, not a Sunday church service, so it doesn't really need a praise and worship segment.

I'd do "Let my words be few."

I'm an atheist and I think your idea sounds fine, especially if it's important to your FH. I think it's nice that you plan on having the words to the song printed if you want people to sing along. A song like Amazing Grace especially has broad appeal, I would be perfectly comfortable singing along to that or just listening. This sounds way more approachable to outsiders than a lot of religious ceremonies. All the sitting/kneeling/reciting in a Catholic mass definitely feels uncomfortable to me. People who don't know what to do stick out like a sore thumb in those situations. Versus people who don't want to sing, who would barely be noticed.

Most of the Christian wedding I've been at have had congregational singing two or three songs. The one even had the entire bridal party sing 4 verses of a hymn in 4 part harmony! But that obviously takes a very special kind of bridal party haha ...

I'm Christian and we probably won't include congregational singing because we have other Christian elements in our ceremony.

My sister had 2 hymns sang by the congregation. Their wedding was a service. I don't think you should shy away from your faith to please anyone on your wedding day...in a church. I am having 2 hymns as well. It is important to us. We haven't decided if it will be a soloist or the congregation. I have been to weddings that felt straight up like sunday service and it was fine. Interestingly, i have noticed that christians are the only ones who always worry about things like this. Toning religion down to please other people. I have been to weddings of other religions and they don't care. I didn't even understand what was being read or said but its their religion and their wedding day was not the day for them to step away from it or tone it down. Its important to your FH, do it.

I'm not religious. I'm never bothered by someone expressing their religion.

Keep the songs. It's expression of your religion and who you are.

A lot of the ceremonies I go to have a song or two during the ceremony and the worship leader invites the congregation to stand and sing. I think worship songs are best placed during the unity ceremony and communion if you are doing that.

I've been to weddings where the couple has chosen to have everyone sing one worship song as a group. Even though I am a Christian, I think it's weird when the song chosen has absolutely nothing to do with love. I'd be on board with this practice if the couple picked one of the many worship songs or hymns that speak of love for each other and love of Christ.

We actually haven't talked about doing this, yet. I'm leaning towards not wanting to make our guests sing. The thought has crossed my mind to find a purely instrumental version of a hymn that is about love to walk down the aisle to, but I've not given that a lot of thought.

I am not religious in any way but I would be respectful and understanding if I were a guest at your wedding. I mean I might get uncomfortable if it lasted for an hour but a song or two, sure.

I'm walking up the aisle to "Be Thou My Vision," we're taking communion to "In Christ Alone," and we are leaving to "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King. Mix it up and do what's important to you! People can sit for 3 minutes while something very important to the couple actually getting married is done. Or they can make a paper airplane.

I wouldn't do much in the way of just someone standing there and singing with nothing going on though. It's a bit awkward if not done super well.