Christian Wedding Processional Songs
Embrace your faith as you walk down the aisle to one of these meaningful Christian wedding songs.
A wedding is always an emotional, memorable event. It’s a day filled with family and fun. Music is an essential and sentimental element of the event, from the first song played as your guests file into the church to the final song at the reception.
For Christians, the sacrament of marriage is a commitment to a life-long partner made before God. While there are many classic praise and worship songs for wedding ceremony, you and your partner don’t have to stick to the standards. If you have a song that’s meaningful to you, it should be part of your big day.
Christian marriage songs come in all shapes and sizes, including classical, country, jazz, rhythm and blues, pop, rock and roll, and hip-hop. For a wedding Christian song, feel free to choose music from any style. As long as the lyrics focus on the Christian faith, it’s Christian music. Now, you’ll still have to deal with Nana Rose’s disapproving looks if you play Christian heavy metal band Skillet as one of your wedding communion songs, but that’s your battle to fight. (Don’t worry, although they do rock, you won’t find Skillet on the following list.)
When selecting music, consider its use during the ceremony carefully. For example, Christian wedding recessional songs and processional songs are slower to allow enough time for the entire wedding party to enter and leave. In contrast, wedding communion songs are engaging but low in volume, so they don’t interfere with the service.
For any song you choose—even from this list (which are all pretty safe)—be sure to check the lyrics. There are songs out there that may seem like Christian love songs for weddings, but when you dig into the lyrics, they turn out to be more depressing than you realize. You may also wish to discuss the song selection with your immediate family or the clergy member officiating your wedding. No one knows the demeanor of your family and guests better than you and your spouse. So, make sure nothing will detract from your special day.
Ultimately, however, it’s your day, and you want it filled with songs that are meaningful to you and your spouse. They can be formal or poppy, slow or rocky. To make your decision a little easier, here are a few divine Christian wedding processional songs.
Old, old, oldies but goodies
When we say old, we mean it—some from hundreds of years ago. Many of the lyrics are translated directly from the Bible (“Ave Maria” is based on passages from the book of Luke), and others are hauntingly evocative classical pieces. They have stood the test of time and are especially poignant when used as worship songs for weddings.
“The Lord’s Prayer,” performed by Andrea Bocelli featuring The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
You’re probably pretty familiar with this one. Jesus taught His disciples this prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4), and Andrea Bocelli and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir set it to a beautiful melody.
Sample lyrics:
Our Father,
Which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
On Earth
As it is in heaven.
“Ave Maria,” composed by Franz Schubert, performed by Luciano Pavarotti
Schubert’s name for this melody is actually “Ellens Dritter Gesang” (“Ellen’s Third Song”). The inspiration was a play, not a prayer. At a point in the original version, Ellen prays to the Virgin Mary, which is the inspiration for the Roman Catholic prayer “Ave Maria” becoming adapted to this music.
Sample lyrics:
Ave Maria, gratia plena. (Hail Mary, full of grace.)
Maria, Gratia plena. (Mary, full of grace.)
Ave, ave dominus, (Hail, hail, Lord,)
Dominus tecum. (The Lord is with thee.)
Benedicta tu in mulieribus. (Blessed art thou among women.)
Benedictus Fructus Ventris (Blessed is the fruit of thy womb)
Ventris tui, Iesus. (Jesus.)
“Amazing Grace,” performed by Aretha Franklin, written by John Newton
Working as a captain of a slave ship, John Newton experienced an epiphany during a severe storm and converted to Christianity. He later became a priest and an abolitionist. He wrote “Amazing Grace” in 1772, and today, the song is one of the most recognizable melodies in the English-speaking world due to its message of God’s mercy and forgiveness of past sins.
Sample lyrics:
The Lord has promised good to me,
His word, my hope, secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
“Symphony no. 9 (Ode to Joy),” composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, poem written by Friedrich Schiller
Beethoven included (a slightly revised version of) Schiller’s poem “Ode to Joy” in “Symphony no. 9” because the composer was a fan of Schiller’s philosophical works.
Sample lyrics:
Seid umschlungen, Millionen! (Be embraced, Millions!)
Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt! (This kiss to all the world!)
Brüder, über’m Sternenzelt (Brothers, above the starry canopy)
Muß ein lieber Vater wohnen. (There must dwell a loving Father.)
Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen? (Are you collapsing, millions?)
Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt? (Do you sense the Creator, world?)
Such’ ihn über’m Sternenzelt! (Seek Him above the starry canopy!)
Über Sternen muß er wohnen. (Above stars must He dwell.)
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
This song is frequently played slow, especially at weddings. However, Bach likely intended it to be upbeat since the text describes a friendly and joyful relationship with Jesus.
Sample lyrics:
Jesus bleibet meine Freude, (Jesus remains my joy,)
meines Herzens Trost und Saft. (My heart’s comfort and essence.)
Jesus wehret allem Leide. (Jesus fends off all suffering.)
er ist meines Lebens Kraft, (He is my life’s strength,)
meiner Augen Lust und Sonne, (My eye’s desire and sun,)
meiner Seele Schatz und Wonne. (My soul’s treasure and pleasure.)
Not quite as oldies but still goodies
Sure, these are from the recent past and not hundreds of years ago, but you’ll still find a lot of meaningful history in these wedding worship songs.
“Wedding Song (There is Love),” performed by Noel Paul Stookey
Noel Paul Stookey wrote and performed “Wedding Song (There Is Love)” for the wedding of Peter Yarrow, Stookey’s co-member of Peter, Paul, and Mary.
Sample lyrics:
Well then, what’s to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
And if loving is the answer, then who’s the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you’ve never seen before?
There is love. There is love.
Oh, the marriage of your spirits here has caused Him to remain.
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name,
There is love. There is love.
“Household of Faith,” performed by Steve and Marijean Green
This song is a staple of many Christian weddings because it honors God as a new couple starts their life together.
Sample lyrics:
Here we are at the start,
Committing to each other
By His word and from our hearts.
We will be a family in a
House that will be a home.
And with faith, we’ll build it strong.
“How Great Thou Art,” performed by Elvis Presley
Elvis grew up singing in church and loved gospel music. He recorded “How Great Thou Art” as the title track for his second gospel album.
Sample lyrics:
When Christ shall come, with a shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art.
Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee,
How great thou art.
Contemporary Christian wedding songs
The Christian faith is central to many artists today. During the early days of contemporary Christian music, it was frowned upon by many in the Christian community (who were not too fond of rock-and-roll). However, today, many embrace the style and even play it during some services, especially those catering to a younger congregation. These songs provide a modern twist to Christian wedding processional songs.
“When God Made You,” performed by NewSong and Natalie Grant
One of only two original NewSong members still with the group, Eddie Carswell wrote this song for his eldest daughter’s wedding.
Sample lyrics:
It’s always been a mystery to me,
How two hearts can come together,
And love can last forever.
Now that I have found you, I believe,
That a miracle has come when God sends the perfect one.
Now gone are all my questions about why,
And I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.
“This is Amazing Grace,” performed by Phil Wickham
“This is Amazing Grace” originally had a brooding, moody vibe, but rewrites turned it into an upbeat celebration and party.
Sample lyrics:
This is amazing grace. This is unfailing love.
That You would take my place. That You would bear my cross.
You lay down Your life. That I would be set free.
Oh, Jesus, I sing for all that You’ve done for me.
Who brings our chaos back into order?
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter?
The King of Glory, the King of Glory.
“Psalm 42,” performed by Tori Kelly
We debated this song’s placement on our list. Ultimately, we decided that, even though “Psalm 42” comes straight from the Bible, Kelly’s beautiful rendition is too contemporary for this song to fall anywhere else.
Sample lyrics:
Like a desert here,
I need Your living Word for these dry bones.
Jesus, fill us up again.
With Your presence flowing deep within,
New life begins.
As the deer pants for the water,
So, my soul needs You, Lord.
Thirsty God, You’re the living water,
And my soul needs You, Lord.
“The Prayer,” performed by Céline Dion and Andrea Bocelli
Written for the cartoon movie “Quest for Camelot,” Céline Dion (in English) and Andrea Bocelli (in Italian) recorded versions in the mid-90s. Hearing each other’s takes, they thought the two languages would sound good together, so they released “The Prayer” as a duet.
Sample lyrics:
Yes, the children engender the rain,
As the river runs through life
Healing their pain.
If you could trust with your heart one more time.
Sweet angel conceived,
You have forever and always believed,
Prayer.
Prayer, oh, prayer.
“My Jesus,” performed by Anne Wilson
Anne Wilson wrote “My Jesus” after experiencing a tragic event and discovering how to worship through hardship.
Sample lyrics:
His love is strong, and His grace is free.
And the good news is I know that He
Can do for you what He’s done for me.
Let me tell you about my Jesus,|
And let my Jesus change your life.
At DFW Celebrations, we embrace the importance of faith and have honored the religious requests of many families throughout our years in operation. Please, reach out to one of our expert event planners in Dallas and discover all that we have to offer for your joyous day. To schedule a tour of our Dallas wedding venues, contact us here.