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Original poster

To want a singalong in my (civil!) wedding ceremony?

111 replies

ThisMustBeMyDream · 22/06/2025 19:02

I can't decide if this is weird, or genius!
I'm having a civil wedding ceremony. At a religious wedding, hymns are sung. So, at mine I'd love to choose a song that the vast majority of guests will know (and I'd provide the lyrics anyway!) to sing along to!
If you'd enjoy this, what song would you go with as a fun, but still fitting for a wedding, tune?

OP posts:
ClaredeBear · 22/06/2025 20:34

ThisMustBeMyDream · 22/06/2025 19:02

I can't decide if this is weird, or genius!
I'm having a civil wedding ceremony. At a religious wedding, hymns are sung. So, at mine I'd love to choose a song that the vast majority of guests will know (and I'd provide the lyrics anyway!) to sing along to!
If you'd enjoy this, what song would you go with as a fun, but still fitting for a wedding, tune?

That’s amazing! But you’ll need to hire someone who is experienced at persuading people to sing. I hope you have a blast!

LucyMonth · 22/06/2025 20:33

It’s funny all the comments bar one are positive but the vote says otherwise…so I’m gonna stick my neck out and say this idea makes me feel sick with cringe.

I hate “forced” joy of this sort. Any good wedding always spontaneously ends up in a sing song at some point anyway, at least it does in Scotland and it’s usually 500 miles or Dignity. But forcing it with written lyrics…oh God I hate it. I hate it. Forced fun is awful.

Throwmoneyatit · 22/06/2025 20:30

MiloMinderbinder925 · 22/06/2025 19:51

Bohemian Rhapsody

Scaramouch, Scaramouch, will you do the Fandango?

This was my suggestion too!

incrediblehux · 22/06/2025 20:29

I went to a humanist wedding where we all sang "Love is all around" by Wet Wet Wet. It went fine and I think most people got stuck in and enjoyed it.

OldEnoughToFancyBobGeldof · 22/06/2025 20:25

I’d love this..
All you need is love, The Beatles
Simply the best, Tina Turner (They did a cover of this in the Schitts Creek wedding and it’s brilliant!)
Marry You, Bruno Mars

Ponderingwindow · 22/06/2025 20:21

If you are of a certain age and have a certain nerd quotient, there is only one answer…

“He’ll make me happy” from the Muppets Take Manhattan.

i think it’s a lovely idea whatever song you choose, but I would have a hard time not picking this even if not everyone would know the words.

Slobberchops1 · 22/06/2025 20:20

Nobody actually likes singing hymns and I doubt your guests will want to sing along to a cringey song you’ve picked

minipie · 22/06/2025 20:19

FuzzyPuffling · 22/06/2025 19:23

It's the "civil" bit that doesn't allow hymns (or religious readings) not churches.
Churches are happy for you to sing hymns whenever you like!

Show quote history

The reason civil weddings are not allowed hymns is that when civil weddings were first brought in in 1837 (it had been church weddings only up till then) the bishops in the House of Lords insisted on this as a condition of voting through civil marriages.

So very dog in the manger.

aodirjjd · 22/06/2025 20:18

I like this idea but haven’t liked a single suggestion so it’s a no from me if think

SnowflakeSmasher86 · 22/06/2025 20:18

bridgetreilly · 22/06/2025 20:15

500 miles?

Perfect! Everyone knows it, always gets people singing and it’s romantic!

itsgettingweird · 22/06/2025 20:17

Ponoka I blame you entirely for the Rick Astley earworm I now have 🤣

I also think it’s a lovely idea.

You could go really fun and have something everyone knows like Sweet Caroline.

Or something about love or another karaoke type song which is more likely to have people singing along with gusto!

What about crazy little thing called love?

bridgetreilly · 22/06/2025 20:15

500 miles?

SnowflakeSmasher86 · 22/06/2025 20:14

Take a Chance on Me by Abba?

Daisypod · 22/06/2025 20:14

Well it looks like I’m in the minority but I’ve always hated this and I’ve been to a few civil ceremonies where you’ve been expected to sing a fun pop song. I’m really sorry but I find it cringey but then I hate enforced fun and jollity

herebehippos · 22/06/2025 20:12

We did this. It is ine of my fave wedding memories. Go for it

SnowflakeSmasher86 · 22/06/2025 20:11

Ah I love this! i used to sing in a pop choir and always thought I’d ask them to come along and sing if I married again. Getting everyone to join in would be lovely. Could you maybe organise a local amateur choir to lead the singing and add harmonies to make it sound a bit more tuneful and less like school assembly?!

Changes100 · 22/06/2025 20:06

Not really wedding related but there's nothing like Sweet Caroline to get everyone joining in. It's always synonymous with happy and joyful gatherings .

Sharptonguedwoman · 22/06/2025 20:05

Might be too religious in that it mentions a grateful prayer but Thankful Heart form Muppets Christmas Carol is a fabulous song imo and I'm not religious at all.

IvyNeighbour · 22/06/2025 20:02

I'd absolutely love that as a guest. I've always thought if I got married I'd have a singalong to Especially for You, the women could sing Kylie's part and the men sing Jason's.
Be My Baby would be another good choice. Anything that would work as a first dance song and is fun/easy to sing to would work.

FusionChefGeoff · 22/06/2025 19:59

We did this!!! Friend played guitar so he did a spot and we encouraged everyone to join in - we did Wonderwall

PermanentTemporary · 22/06/2025 19:57

It’s easy to think that pop songs are easy to sing. In general, a lot of them aren’t. Some of us are still recovering from the crowd attempting All You Need Is Love at the Millenium Dome. That definitely goes for God Only Knows, it’s really complicated. Even if the song is simple, if the best-known recording is done in a complex way some people will try and copy the recording.

Going to the Chapel is a better one. Here Comes the Sun isn’t too bad either. Sweet Caroline?

RhinestoneCowgirl · 22/06/2025 19:57

This has just reminded me that we sang 'Consider Yourself' from Oliver! at my uncle's funeral 😲

Everyone sang with gusto...

For a wedding something with a really good chorus I think, so that at least people can blast that bit out, even if they don't feel so confident with the verses. I think it's a lovely idea (I really love singing in groups)

SALaw · 22/06/2025 19:56

Isn’t that…normal? You think you came up with it? I’ve sung at every civil ceremony I’ve been at. “All you need is love” and “It must be love” spring to mind.

BruceAndNosh · 22/06/2025 19:52

Beach Boys - God only knows (what I'd be without you). Although the opening line of "I may not always love you" might be awkward

MiloMinderbinder925 · 22/06/2025 19:51

Bohemian Rhapsody

Scaramouch, Scaramouch, will you do the Fandango?

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