Choosing Hymns for Your Wedding
Having the right hymns can make a real difference to your wedding. At some point the priest who is conducting the service will want to meet with you to discuss the music, hymns and readings. He will probably ask you what hymns you would like. You may have some favourites which make this choice easy, but if you are not a regular church-goer or if many of your friends are not, you may want to think carefully about which hymns to choose. If there is going to be a choir, they will be able to take a lead with the singing, but otherwise you want hymns which everyone can sing easily and understand.
How do you go about choosing hymns? Churches sometimes have a tape of the choir singing some of the most popular hymns (and also a tape of the most popular voluntaries and bridal marches). You could borrow this to listen to together. The priest may make some suggestions to you or lend you a hymn book. There may be an opportunity to meet the organist or choirmaster.
Some couples choose favourite hymns they remember from school days. Another idea is to watch Songs of Praise on BBC 1, to see if you recognise or like any of them.
Here is a list of some of the more popular hymns used at weddings:
- All things bright and beautiful
- Amazing grace
- At the name of Jesus
- Colours of the day (Light up the fire)
- Dear Lord and Father of mankind
- For the beauty of the earth
- Give me joy in my heart (Sing hosanna)
- Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer
- Immortal Invisible
- Jerusalem
- Lead us Heavenly Father
- Lord for the years
- Lord of all hopefulness
- Lord of the dance
- Lord the light of your love is shining (Shine, Jesus, shine)
- Love Divine all love excelling
- Make me a channel of your peace
- Morning has broken
- My song is love unknown
- Now thank we all our God
- O Jesus I have promised
- O Lord my God (How great thou art)
- O Perfect Love all human thought transcending
- O Worship the King
- Praise, my soul
- Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
- Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord
- The King of love my Shepherd is
- The Lord's my Shepherd
Tip by Kate