Start planning

Christian Weddings

Best Christian Wedding Songs for Every Ceremony Moment

Christian wedding songs for each moment: prelude, processional, hymns, unity ritual, Communion and recessional, from classic hymns to modern worship.

Updated · 6 min read

The best Christian wedding songs match each moment of the service: gentle music as guests arrive, a stately processional, hymns the congregation can sing together, a reflective piece during a unity ritual or Communion, and a joyful recessional. Below are well-known hymns, classical pieces and modern worship songs for every part of the ceremony, listed by title and composer or artist. Check every choice with your church's music director before you finalize it.

Key takeaways

  • Plan music by moment: prelude, seating of family, processional, hymns, unity ritual or Communion, recessional and postlude.
  • Classic hymns such as "Be Thou My Vision" and "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" invite guests to sing, while worship songs such as "The Blessing" bring a modern feel.
  • Many Catholic parishes, and some Protestant churches, ask that music during the service be sacred rather than secular.
  • Talk to your church musician early: some churches require their own organist, and livestreaming may raise music licensing questions.
Illustration of church organ pipes, an open hymnal and floating music notes
Illustration of church organ pipes, an open hymnal and floating music notes

Before you choose: talk to your church musician

Your church's music director or organist knows what works in the space and what the church allows. Ask:

  • Does the church require its own organist or musicians? Is there a fee if we bring our own?
  • Are there guidelines on secular songs or recorded music during the service?
  • Can a soloist or a friend perform, and will they have rehearsal time?
  • If we livestream the ceremony, does the church have a license that covers streaming the music?

Some Catholic parishes discourage Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" and Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" because both come from secular stage works, so ask before you plan around them.

Prelude: as guests arrive

The prelude usually runs for 20 to 30 minutes while guests are seated. Gentle instrumental pieces and hymn arrangements work well.

Traditional

  • "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," Johann Sebastian Bach (from Cantata BWV 147)
  • "Air" from Orchestral Suite No. 3, Johann Sebastian Bach
  • "Sheep May Safely Graze," Johann Sebastian Bach
  • Hymn arrangements of "Be Thou My Vision" (traditional Irish melody SLANE) and "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (text by Robert Robinson)

Contemporary

  • Instrumental arrangements of worship songs such as "Goodness of God" (Bethel Music) or "Build My Life" (Housefires)
  • Acoustic guitar or piano versions of "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" (Thomas Chisholm and William Runyan)

Seating of family

A distinct piece signals that the ceremony is about to begin as grandparents and parents are seated. Choose something calm and short, such as Bach's "Arioso" or a hymn arrangement of "Be Thou My Vision."

Processional

Many couples choose one piece for the wedding party and a second, grander piece for the bride's entrance, which cues guests to stand.

Traditional

  • Canon in D, Johann Pachelbel
  • "Prince of Denmark's March," Jeremiah Clarke, often called the "Trumpet Voluntary"
  • "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba," George Frideric Handel (from Solomon)
  • "Bridal Chorus," Richard Wagner (from Lohengrin), the tune many people call "Here Comes the Bride"; check your church's policy

Contemporary

  • "Cornerstone," Hillsong Worship, played instrumentally or sung softly
  • "God Gave Me You," Dave Barnes
  • An instrumental arrangement of "The Blessing" by Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes

For a full guide to who walks when, see our processional and recessional order guide.

Congregational hymns

A hymn sung together turns guests into a worshiping congregation. Choose well-known tunes and print the words in your program if they are in the public domain, or ask your church about permission for copyrighted texts.

  • "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," text by Charles Wesley. Its opening lines, "Love divine, all loves excelling, / Joy of heaven, to earth come down," are in the public domain. Often sung to HYFRYDOL (Rowland Prichard) or BLAENWERN (William Penfro Rowlands).
  • "O Perfect Love," text by Dorothy Frances Gurney, written in 1883 for a family wedding. It opens, "O perfect Love, all human thought transcending."
  • "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," text by Henry van Dyke, sung to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."
  • "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," text by Joachim Neander, translated by Catherine Winkworth.
  • "Now Thank We All Our God," text by Martin Rinkart, translated by Catherine Winkworth.
  • "Be Thou My Vision," traditional Irish text, sung to SLANE.
  • "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," Thomas Chisholm and William Runyan.
  • "In Christ Alone," Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, a modern hymn many congregations know.

Unity ritual and reflection

A unity candle, cord of three strands or sand ceremony usually takes a few minutes. A soloist or soft instrumental works well.

  • "The Prayer," recorded by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli
  • "The Blessing," Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes, based on the priestly blessing in Numbers 6
  • "Ubi Caritas," the Taizé chant by Jacques Berthier, or Maurice Duruflé's choral setting
  • "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace," Sebastian Temple
  • "When God Made You," NewSong with Natalie Grant
  • "I Will Be Here," Steven Curtis Chapman

For more on these rituals, see Christian Wedding Traditions Explained: Unity Candles, Communion, and More.

Music map showing ceremony moments from prelude to postlude with traditional and contemporary song ideas
Music map showing ceremony moments from prelude to postlude with traditional and contemporary song ideas

Communion and Catholic ceremony music

At a Nuptial Mass, the parish music director will guide the sung parts of the Mass, the responsorial psalm and the Communion music. Pieces often heard include:

  • "Panis Angelicus," César Franck
  • "Ave Verum Corpus," Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  • "One Bread, One Body," John Foley
  • "Here I Am, Lord," Dan Schutte

If you include a presentation of flowers to Mary, "Ave Maria" in the setting by Franz Schubert or by Bach and Charles Gounod is a traditional choice.

In Protestant services with Communion, a quiet hymn such as "Amazing Grace" (John Newton) or a worship song such as "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" (Matt Redman) can play while people receive.

Recessional

The recessional should feel like a celebration. Choose something upbeat that starts strong the moment the officiant presents you.

Traditional

  • "Wedding March," Felix Mendelssohn (from A Midsummer Night's Dream); check your church's policy
  • Toccata from Organ Symphony No. 5, Charles-Marie Widor
  • "Hornpipe" from Water Music, George Frideric Handel
  • "Ode to Joy," Ludwig van Beethoven

Contemporary

  • "Happy Day," Tim Hughes
  • "Oh Happy Day," the Edwin Hawkins Singers
  • An upbeat arrangement of "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee"

Postlude

Keep the music going as guests leave. Reprise a favorite from the prelude, or let the organist improvise on the recessional theme until the church is empty.

How to plan your ceremony music

Ceremony music planning timeline from six months before the wedding to the wedding day
Ceremony music planning timeline from six months before the wedding to the wedding day
  1. Meet the music director early, ideally right after you book the church.
  2. List every moment in your ceremony order and how long each lasts.
  3. Choose one or two pieces per moment, plus a backup.
  4. Book musicians and confirm rehearsal times and fees in writing.
  5. Send a final music list with cue points to your musicians, officiant and coordinator.

Plan it in WeddingOS: add organists, soloists and string players to your vendor shortlist, compare quotes side by side and keep your final music list on the shared planning timeline. Create your free wedding plan.

Frequently asked questions

Pachelbel's Canon in D, Jeremiah Clarke's "Prince of Denmark's March" and Handel's "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" are classic choices. Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" is familiar but discouraged in some Catholic parishes. Contemporary couples often choose instrumental worship songs such as "Cornerstone" or "The Blessing."

Can we play secular songs at a Christian wedding?

It depends on your church. Many Catholic parishes, and some Protestant churches, ask that music during the service be sacred, while others are more flexible. Secular favorites often fit well at the reception instead.

What hymns are good for a Christian wedding?

"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," "O Perfect Love," "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" and "Be Thou My Vision" are well-loved wedding hymns. Choose tunes your guests are likely to know, and print the words if permitted.

What is a good Christian recessional song?

Mendelssohn's "Wedding March," Widor's Toccata and Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" are traditional, joyful choices. Modern options include "Happy Day" by Tim Hughes and "Oh Happy Day" by the Edwin Hawkins Singers. Ask your church whether all of these are permitted.

Can we print song lyrics in our wedding program?

Public-domain hymn texts, such as Charles Wesley's "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," can usually be printed freely. Modern songs and some hymns are under copyright, so ask your church whether it holds a license that covers reprinting, or list only the title and author.

Plan it in one place

Keep your guest list, budget, vendors and timeline together, and share them with family.

Create your free wedding plan Try the free tools

More christian weddings guides