Hymn during ceremony!

mmvlaardingerbroek

So my fiance and I plan on having a hymn during our ceremony. We have been looking and looking and finally found one we both love and agree on. It is "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" Chris Tomlin sings a version of it.
My mom on the other hand is all up in arms about it. She keeps saying it is dull and not a happy song. Does it seem like a good song if you have heard it before? It is worshiping and thats what we want because there are some people that might never step foot in a church again. I think this covers it well. I know my fiance might be frustrated if we have to go back and look again but I just want someone elses opinion since my mom has been so frustrating by complaining about it.

twixinthemix

Well, Chris Tomlin certainly puts a more upbeat spin to the song, which in my church is usually song more during Lent.  Does your mom know only the traditional hymn version or the Chris Tomlin rendition? 

We are singing a hymn as well, but we are using When Love Is Found, which is in the Methodist Hymnal.  It's also in the Gather Catholic hymnal as well, but in a different time signature (music dork alert!!).  It's perfect for weddings!!  It's to the tune The Water Is Wide.

1 When love is found and hope comes home,
Sing and be glad that two are one.
When love explodes and fills the sky,
Praise God and share our Maker's joy.

2 When love has flow'red in trust and care,
Build both each day that love may dare
To reach beyond home's warmth and light,
To serve and strive for truth and right.

3 When love is tried as loved ones change,
Hold still to hope though all seems strange,
Till ease returns and love grows wise
Through list'ning ears and opened eyes.

4 When love is torn and trust betrayed,
Pray strength to love till torments fade,
Till lovers keep no score of wrong
But hear through pain love's Easter song.

5 Praise God for love, praise God for life,
In age or youth, in husband, wife.
Lift up your hearts let love be fed
Through death and life in broken bread.

mmvlaardingerbroek

That is a good one it looks like! I will have to look it up!
But I think I did forget to say my FI wants to original hymn version. He is very traditional which is fine.

sister2groom

Go over the lyrics again and ask her what she doesn't like. I just looked at them and I like that it's really Gospel-focused. If you really analyzed it, I guess it does focus a lot on Christ's death (I'd prefer if it mentioned salvation or victory over death or something), but it also refers to what He did for us, which is good. My favorite traditional hymn is "And Can it Be," which is a little more upbeat.

kellya01

What if you do "Nothing But the Blood" instead?  It's more victorious sounding, but a similar message.

One wedding I attended, we sang Doxology at the end because at that church, it is traditional at the end of every service to sing it.  I can't remember if they were methodist or what but I didn't mind it in the least.  

iamjoesgurl

I think that it is fine to do a hymn and I don't feel that a hymn changes the tone of the ceremony.  One of my sisters did "Be Thou My Vision" and the other did "Great is Thy Faithfulness".  I personally loved "Great is Thy Faithfulness" because I love the message of the song.  But if you want a hymn with a gospel message, I think that is fine.

mattycam

I agree with Joe's girl. I am doing a hymn " The Longer I serve Him, The sweeter he grows". It has been my favourite hymn since I was a teenager and I am so happy to incorporate it into our wedding.

c4g

I think we're going to do Be Thou my Vision and Blessed be your name...you said your mom is all up in arms-is she one of the ones you said might never step into a church again?

mmvlaardingerbroek

No. She just thinks the hymn is low in key and not as pretty as some others.. The people that may never step into a church again is some extended family on my dads side.

xstarx05x

Is the hymn being played or sung?

katanne9

Hmm, what instrumentation will you use for the hymn? Maybe that would help to convince her?

I understand your Mom's point, but if you both love it - then run with it!!

Also, FWIW, we sang "All Creatures of our God and King" and "Be thou my vision" (Which is also slower and deeper like yours).

IMO, as long as people can sing it fairly easily that is all that matters.

mmvlaardingerbroek

So good news!!

We went to dinner with our music minister and his wife because my mom and I keep his children on Tuesdays and we just met them for dinner. I told them about the hymn and they thought it sounded good. They also said there was a hymn version that is a little faster. So she got more excited about it! YAY!

I am very thankful for all of your advice!!  Thank you very much! I didn't know about this board until recently so I will be here a lot!

xstarx05x

Good! I don't know if you like a Capella but here's another version I like. Thought I'd share! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_a3u8T7XvE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

mattycam

Glad it worked out, God is good!