Music Suggestions
As Catholics, we have an abundance of beautiful music options to pair with the wedding — sometimes, the options can get overwhelming. How do you personalize the music for your wedding if you don’t know where to start? Keep reading for guidance when choosing the music for your wedding ceremony.
An important note: make sure to consult with your music director before falling completely in love. Whether a given piece is possible or not will depend on several things, but most especially whether the music director has access to the music given. Some parishes have strict limits on which music is acceptable so it is best to come prepared with several choices or ask if they have a sheet (which may include some or many of these!) to choose from.
I’ve also created some handy playlists. Each playlist will be linked below. If you want to visit the full channels, check out Covenant on Spotify and YouTube.
Mass Settings
The Mass setting includes all of the “ordinaries” of the Mass, or the parts of the Mass that are the same every week. This includes:
Gloria*
Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia)
Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy)
Memorial Acclamation (A, B, or C)
Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
Great Amen
You can use one Mass setting for all of these parts or use a combination of Mass settings, depending on the arrangements you prefer. Many priests will simply chant certain parts of the Mass.
A Mass setting will not be necessary should you choose or be required to have a wedding ceremony without Mass.
*Regular Sunday Mass includes the Kyrie (Lord, Have Mercy) but this is not a part of a wedding Mass. The first musical part after the processional is the Gloria.
Suggestions
Mass of Renewal
Community Mass
Mass of Creation
Mass of Wisdom
Simple Mass (Missa Simplex)
Mass of the Angels (Missa di Angelis)
Mass of Bl. John Henry Newman
Prelude &
Postlude Music
Prelude and postlude music is especially helpful if you will be having a large gathering. As you would assume, prelude music comes before the wedding begins and postlude music follows after the final hymn.
Many use prelude music to set the mood as guests begin to enter the church, to encourage prayer and establish that something grand is about to take place. Postlude music offers a celebratory tone while guests exit the church and make their way to the newlyweds.
Depending on the size of the church and the number of guests, you may want to choose more than one prelude and postlude piece of music.
Prelude and postlude music can be done with any appropriate musicians, whether your church has an organ, piano, instrumentalists for a small ensemble or solos, or any combination thereof. Most pieces of music can be arranged to work for solo keyboard (organ or piano) players or a group of instrumentalists — meaning, no matter what you have at your disposal, you should be able to find the right music for you!
Suggestions
Arioso, J. S. Bach
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, J. S. Bach
Hornpipe from Water Music,
G. F. Handel
Trumpet Voluntary (also known as the Prince of Denmark March), J. Clarke
Air from Suite in D (Air on G),
J. S. Bach
Toccata from Organ Symphony No. 5,
C-M. Widor
Trumpet Tune, H. Purcell
La Rejouissance, G. F. Handel
Processional
The processional is the first music that will be heard once the ceremony starts. The processional is what will be heard when the party and priest walk (or “process”) down the aisle.
This replaces the standard “entrance hymn,” usually being instrumental, choral, or instrumentalists with solo vocalist. (That said, it’s your wedding and you are free to have a hymn during this moment if that’s what you want!)
Note: some music directors will not allow non-sacred music from this point on because the wedding ceremony has begun. Be sure to check before you fall in love with anything secular, such as the Bridal Chorus by Wagner.
If Ye Love Me, T. Tallis
All Creatures of Our God and King,
R. Vaughan Williams
Canon in D, J. Pachelbel
Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin (also known as the Wedding March),
R. Wagner
The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba,
G. F. Handel
Laudate Dominum, W. A. Mozart
Largo from Winter, A. Vivaldi
Prelude from Te Deum,
M-A. Charpentier
Zadok the Priest, G. F. Handel
Come Thou Font of Every Blessing,
Anonymous
Hymns
Below are some popular hymns and songs that can be used throughout the various musical points of the wedding ceremony. The placement of these hymns within the ceremony are just suggestions, but really they could go anywhere.
Do note that if you are not having a full Mass (ie. no communion, no Liturgy of the Eucharist), you will not need to pick an offertory or communion hymn.
Definitions
The offertory hymn happens right after the prayer of the faithful/intentions (“Lord, hear our prayer”), when the gifts/bread and wine are brought to the altar.
The communion hymn happens during communion! It usually starts once the priest has received from the Chalice. If you are expecting many Catholic guests, communion may take a while and it is recommended to pick two or even three communion hymns (depending on how long they are) to make sure there isn’t awkward silence or unnecessary repetition of verses. Remember that if you are doing a Marian devotion, this happens after everyone has received communion but while the priest is cleaning up, so that will also take time.
If you lean traditionally with your aesthetics, you can also begin each of these moments with antiphons prior to or instead a hymn.
Suggestions
Offertory
For the Beauty of the Earth, F. S. Pierpoint
Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven, H. F. Lyte
Come, Holy Ghost, R. Maurus
The King of Love My Shepherd Is, H. Baker
Alleluia, Sing to Jesus, W. Dix
Fairest Lord Jesus, Anonymous
Creator of the Stars of Night, J. M. Neale
Communion & Second (Or Third!) Communion
Be Thou My Vision, M. E. Byrne & E. H. Hull
Panis Angelicus, C. Franck
Ave Verum Corpus, W. A. Mozart
Ubi Caritas, Plainsong, Mode VI
Godhead Here In Hiding, T. Aquinas
Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All, F. Faber
Of the Father’s Love Begotten, Plainsong, Mode V
Soul of My Savior, W. J. Maher
O Lord, I Am Not Worthy, Anonymous
O Sacrament Most Holy, Fulda
I Received the Living God, R. Proulx
Come Down, O Love Divine, Bianco da Siena
Marian Devotion
This moment of the wedding ceremony does not have a universal name because it’s technically not a part of the rubrics for the wedding ceremony! Here, it is referring to the moment where many couples choose to spend personal time praying with Mary, often by bringing flowers to an image of her.
The Marian Devotion happens during communion, most often after everyone has finished receiving and the priest is cleaning up the altar. There is no formal transition or announcement — the couple will simply get up and go.
Suggestions
O Sanctissima, Sicilian melody
Alma Redemptoris Mater,
Simple Tone, Mode V
Ave Regina Cælorum,
Simple Tone, Mode VI
Ave Maria, F. Schubert
Ave Maria, J. S. Bach/C. Gounod
Ave Maria, Simple Tone, Mode I
Salve Regina, Simple Tone, Mode V
Regina Cæli, Mode VI
Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above,
H. Willan
Recessional
This is the last bit of music your guests are likely to participate in! The recessional is the music that will accompany the priests and wedding party as they exit the church — just like when Mass normally ends on Sundays.
Usually the music suited for this moment would embody “joy” or “praise” (or both!)
If you have chosen postlude music, that music will come after, but often is more like background music.
Suggestions
All Glory, Laud, and Honor, J. M. Neale
O God, Beyond All Praising, M. A. Perry
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,
C. Wesley
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,
E. Perronet
What Wondrous Love Is This, Anonymous
Holy God, We Praise Thy Name, I. Franz
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
J. Neander
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee, H. V. Dyke