Popular Hymns for Weddings

Traditional favourites and contemporary choices for church weddings. Guidance on how many to choose, how to present them in your order of service, and the opening verses of the most-requested hymns.

Choosing your hymns Check with your vicar or church organist before finalising your selection — some churches have restrictions on certain hymns, and your organist will need to know the key you'd like them played in. Two or three hymns is standard for a full church service.

How Many Hymns?

A typical Church of England wedding service includes:

One processional hymn — sung as the bride walks in (or as the couple enters together)
One mid-service hymn — after the vows or during the signing of the register
One recessional hymn — as the couple leaves (optional; often replaced with a joyful piece of music)

For a shorter service, one or two hymns is perfectly appropriate. Civil and humanist ceremonies don't traditionally include hymns — choose songs instead.

Print the words to any hymn your congregation is expected to sing. For hymns where only the choir or soloist performs, a note of the title is sufficient.

Traditional Favourites

Lord of All Hopefulness

Jan Struther (1931) · Tune: Slane · Gentle and accessible

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever child-like, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Four verses, easy tune, loved by congregations of all ages.

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Charles Wesley (1747) · Tune: Blaenwern or Hyfrydol · Majestic

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!

A powerful, uplifting choice. Works well as a processional or recessional.

Jerusalem

William Blake / Hubert Parry (1916) · Stirring and patriotic

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

Always raises the roof. Best used as a recessional when you want to end on a high.

Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer

William Williams (1745) · Tune: Cwm Rhondda · Powerful, especially sung in parts

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
Hold me with thy powerful hand.

Particularly loved at Welsh weddings. Congregations sing it with real gusto.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Cecil Frances Alexander (1848) · Tune: Royal Oak · Joyful and familiar

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.

A universally known hymn. Perfect for spring and outdoor weddings, and for guests of all ages.

Contemporary Choices

Modern favourite

Make Me a Channel of Your Peace

Sebastian Temple (1967) · Based on the Prayer of St Francis · Contemplative

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
And where there's doubt, true faith in you.

A gentle, moving choice. Works beautifully for quiet, reflective services.

Be Still, For the Presence of the Lord

David Evans (1986) · Contemporary worship · Reverent

Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
The Holy One, is here;
Come bow before him now
With reverence and fear.

A quieter, more intimate choice. Good mid-service after the vows.

Presenting Hymns in Your Order of Service

For each hymn in your order of service, include:

The hymn title
All verses you'll be singing (clearly numbered)
The tune name in brackets, if it helps guests recognise it: Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer (Cwm Rhondda)

If a hymn has a chorus that repeats between verses, mark it clearly — "Chorus:" — so guests don't get lost.

Include your hymns in your programme

Design your order of service online — add hymn words, readings, and the wedding party list.

Start designing →