30 Christian Wedding Songs for the Ceremony, First Dance and Reception

What are the best Christian wedding songs?

"When God Made You" by NewSong featuring Natalie Grant and "I Will Be Here" by Steven Curtis Chapman are the best-loved contemporary Christian wedding songs. "The Blessing" by Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes, a married couple, is the modern worship favorite, and the hymn "O Perfect Love" was written for a wedding.

Classic wedding hymns

1. "O Perfect Love": written by Dorothy Gurney for her sister's wedding.
2. "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling": the Charles Wesley hymn sung at countless weddings.
3. "The Gift of Love": a gentle hymn based on 1 Corinthians 13.
4. "Be Thou My Vision": the ancient Irish hymn.
5. "Great Is Thy Faithfulness": a hymn of trust for the years ahead.
6. "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee": set to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", perfect for the recessional.
7. "Amazing Grace": the hymn nearly everyone can sing.
8. "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing": a hymn of gratitude.

Christian love songs for the wedding

9. "When God Made You", NewSong featuring Natalie Grant: the modern Christian wedding classic.
10. "I Will Be Here", Steven Curtis Chapman: a promise of faithfulness.
11. "God Gave Me You", Dave Barnes: the original of the song Blake Shelton made a hit.
12. "Lead Me", Sanctus Real: a husband's prayer to lead his family well.
13. "The Prayer", Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli: a soaring blessing for the couple.
14. "Butterfly Kisses", Bob Carlisle: a father's song for the father-daughter dance.

Worship songs for the ceremony

15. "The Blessing", Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes: a blessing sung by a husband and wife.
16. "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)", Matt Redman: easy for the congregation to join.
17. "Goodness of God", Bethel Music: gratitude for faithfulness.
18. "In Christ Alone", Keith Getty and Stuart Townend: a modern hymn many churches know.
19. "Cornerstone", Hillsong Worship: building a life on a firm foundation.
20. "How Great Thou Art": the beloved hymn of praise.

First dance songs for Christian couples

21. "God Gave Me You", Blake Shelton: the country hit version.
22. "Bless the Broken Road", Rascal Flatts: thankful for the path that led to each other.
23. "Then", Brad Paisley: love that keeps growing.
24. "Amazed", Lonestar: the 1999 country wedding favorite.
25. "Speechless", Dan + Shay: a wedding-day favorite.

Classical pieces for the processional and recessional

26. "Canon in D", Pachelbel: the most popular processional.
27. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", Bach: graceful and joyful.
28. "Ave Maria", Schubert: for the bride's entrance or the unity candle.
29. "Trumpet Voluntary", Jeremiah Clarke: a regal entrance.
30. "Wedding March", Mendelssohn: the classic recessional.

For more ceremony music, see our processional songs and wedding exit songs.

Where each song fits in a Christian wedding

• Prelude: hymns played softly on piano or strings as guests arrive.
• Processional: "Canon in D", "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" or an instrumental "Be Thou My Vision".
• Unity candle or communion: "Ave Maria", "The Prayer" or "When God Made You".
• Congregational hymn: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness", "10,000 Reasons" or "How Great Thou Art".
• Recessional: "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" or Mendelssohn's "Wedding March".

Bible readings that pair with wedding songs

Many couples pair a reading with a song: 1 Corinthians 13 with "The Gift of Love", Ruth 1:16 with "I Will Be Here", and Ecclesiastes 4:12, the cord of three strands, with a unity ceremony followed by "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" as the closing hymn.

Christian music for the reception

At the reception, upbeat Christian artists like TobyMac, for KING & COUNTRY and Lauren Daigle mix easily with secular favorites. Play their joyful songs during dinner and save the dance floor for the songs most of your guests know.

Christian songs for the father-daughter dance

"Butterfly Kisses" is the classic Christian father-daughter song, and many fathers also choose "I Loved Her First" by Heartland or "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw. For more, see our father-daughter dance songs.

Can you play secular songs at a Christian wedding?

Most churches ask that the ceremony music be sacred, but the reception is usually open to any song the couple loves. If you are unsure, ask your pastor or music director early: some churches have a list of approved ceremony music and their own organist or pianist, and many are happy to learn a new song if you ask a few months ahead.

Christian wedding songs for a country wedding

For a barn or outdoor wedding, "God Gave Me You", "Bless the Broken Road", "Then" and "Amazed" bring faith and a country sound together. See our country wedding songs for more.

A song about your marriage and your faith

Every couple's story is different: how you met, the prayers along the way, the people who brought you together. A personalized song can tell that story with your names and the verse that means the most to you, a meaningful gift for your spouse on the wedding morning or a first anniversary.

How to create a wedding song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: acoustic, pop, country and more.
2. Add both your names.
3. Share three moments from your story and anything about your faith you want included.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Celebrate your marriage with a song about your story: create a song and hear four previews for free.