How to Pick Music for a Catholic Wedding Ceremony

Catholic wedding ceremonies still top the poll as the number one way to get married in Ireland. However, with falling mass numbers and a declined interest in the Church I find a lot of couples I work with have no idea what music they'll be allowed at a Catholic ceremony, never mind where to put it.

Unless you're quite up to date with how masses and weddings work, choosing the music can sometimes feel like a difficult and daunting task. This is my easy guide to how to pick your music.

Firstly decide on what kind of ceremony you want. Do you want a trad sound to your ceremony or would you prefer it to sound more classical? Would you like a mixture of all different types of music or do you want to keep it firmly within a theme?  This is very important to decide early on as it will determine what type of musicians you choose.

Next figure out where your budget is. If you can only afford a solo singer and an accompanist then just book that. If your budget can stretch to including an extra singer or a string quartet then go for it. Keep in mind that your budget may effect the songs your choosing or the sound your after. For example having a gospel sounds with just a singer and a guitar as opposed to four singers and a guitar is going to be quite difficult. If your budget is stretched pick singer or musician that can play more than one instrument. With my group, The Gealach Trio, we all play at least three instruments to give you a fuller sound and a wider scope for the music you can pick.

Check everything with your priest. And I mean everything! Ask him very early on what rules he has for music. There is nothing worse than finding out a week before your wedding that you're going to have to change your music.

Now it's time to pick your pieces. I have laid out each part of the mass below. I have also included ideas of music for each. Keep in  mind most musicians will have a repertoire far larger than these few songs and they are here just to give you a guideline. Most musicians will also be open to learning new pieces requested for the day.

Processional
This is where the Bride takes her walk up the aisle. As this is outside of the mass most priests are quite open to suggestions here, within reason. I always suggest thinking on something that has a nice pace that you can comfortably walk to. When you imagine yourself walking down the aisle, as most women have, what can you hear in the background. I always try and think of that piece of music as a soundtrack to you seeing your future husband at the top of the aisle. If you're still drawing a blank why not think of a piece that means a lot to you and the person walking you down the aisle as it's a very special moment to them too.

Examples:

Canon in D
The Voyage
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Annie's Song
Bygone Days

Individual Candle Ceremony
So you've made it to the top of the aisle in one piece and now it's time for you both to light two separate candles on the alter to represent your individual selves. Background music is beautiful here but my advice is to always think of it as just that, background music. This process takes all of a minute usually so you definitely don't want anything that goes on too long and ruins the pace of the ceremony. Instrumental music seems to work best here but if you're determined to have a song keep the length to just the first verse and chorus. This ceremony happens outside of the mass so again most priest and quite flexible.

Examples:

Songbird
She Moved Through the Fair
Lascia Chio Pianga
Raglan Road
Nella Fantasia

Psalm
In between the two readings we have the Responsorial Psalm. The clue is really in the name of this one... Response. The hymn should have a chorus that is repeated throughout. This is 100% a place you can not include anything non religious or instrumental. Some priest will sometimes allow other hymns here that aren't psalm so long as they have a religious meaning. If you aren't keen on having a sung piece here having a spoken psalm is also an option.

Examples:

Be Not Afraid
Eagle's Wings
Ag Chriost an Siol
The Lord is my Shepherd
Here I am Lord

Alleluia
This takes place after the second reading has been completed. It last for around 30 seconds. I love having the Alleluia sung as I feel it really introduces the Gospel beautifully but you can also have it spoken.

Lighting of the Unity Candle
After you've been pronounced as husband and wife you light the Unity Candle form your two individual candles on the alter representing you both coming together as a couple. Much like with the first candle ceremony this happens really quickly so don't pick anything that goes on for ages. The second candle lighting happens during the mass so if you want a song at this point it will more than likely have to be religious. Some priests will be happy with having an instrumental piece here that is non religious though.

Example:

Amazing Grace
Tabhair Dom do Lamh
Inisheer
Song of Ruth
I Watch the Sunrise

Offertory
This is the part of the mass that the gifts of the bread and wine (communion) are brought to the alter. This is usually done by the mothers of the bride and groom and so I think having an Ave Maria or any piece about Mary here is always beautiful as a representation of the mothers. This is a sacred part of the ceremony and so it must be a hymn used or some priests may be open to having an instrumental piece here.

Examples:

Serenade to Spring
Ave Maria (Gounod)
Ave Maria (Schubert)
A Mhuire Mhathair
As I Kneel Before You

Holy Holy
The Holy Holy can be sung but generally we choose not to. I feel that having the singers sing all the responses it can really slow the pace of the whole ceremony. You can always have it sung though if this is something that you want.

Our Father
I really don't know why this has become a trend in recent years as I'm really not a fan. Singing the Our Father is certainly an option but I think it takes away something from the ceremony. Even for someone that barely enters a church chances are they're going to have some memory of this prayer. Even other faiths use the Our Father. It's the one place that the majority of your congregation are comfortable and know exactly what's going on. I personally think it's so much nicer spoken. However if there is a version of it you love and really want it performed at your wedding we're happy to do it.

Sign of Peace
Music during the Sign of Peace is also quite a new thing for wedding but unlike the Our Father I love this one. Having a piece of music here gives you a little bit of time to breathe. You can go down of the alter and shake hands with your family and some of your guests and be congratulated for the first time. It's a really lovely moment. Choose something religious here or check with your priest if you'd like an instrumental.

Examples:

Make me a Channel of your Peace
May the Road Rise to Meet You
Dona Nobis Pacem
Peace Perfect Peace
Seek Ye First

Communion
We're on the home stretch now! We usually advise you to pick two pieces for communion, if you have loads of people at your wedding though you may want to pick more. Both pieces will have to be religious, most priests are usually quite strict about this part as it's the centre of the mass. Again some priest though will be slightly more laid back and will allow something instrumental.

Examples:

Panis Angelicus
Pie Jesu
Caccini's Ave Maria
Ave Verum
Give Me Joy in my Heart


Post Communion Reflection
After communion some couple choose to have a poem or a piece read. We can provide backing music to that if it is something you'd like. The piece should always be very simple though and instrumental so as not to take the focus away from the reading.

Signing of the Register
This is my favorite part as you have much more freedom here. The mass is now over so you now have free reign, to a certain point. We usually put two songs in here also to give you time to sign and also to have some photos taken. I always encourage the bride and groom to pick a song each at this point as it makes the process a little more personal.

Examples:

Make You Feel my Love
You Raise me Up
Just Breathe
Better Together
Just the Way you Are

Recessional
We're on our way out now and I find most couples want to be dancing down the aisle on the way out! Pick something upbeat. Get the party started early and get your guests singing and dancing along with you.

Examples:

Somewhere over the Rainbow
I Can't Help Falling in Love with You (Trad version)
Viva la Vida
My Girl
Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Once you've chosen your pieces and cleared them with your musicians check them over with your priest again!

On the day ensure that the church will be open for them to set up and always provide them with an emergency contact number.

Most, including ourselves, will play before the ceremony starts and one or two tunes when it ends. We generally try to stop around the time the wedding is due to start to prevent the bride from waiting at the bottom of the aisle to make her entrance!

Thank you for taking the time to read my guide and hope we will work together in the future. If you'd like more information on myself or The Gealach Trio please email info@weddingsbykerry.com