top of page

Religious Wedding Ceremony Music

20230901_101211341_iOS.JPG

Music plays such a central role in shaping your wedding ceremony, setting the tone for your day, and creating memories for you, your family and friends. We cater for all religious and faith-based wedding ceremonies; we are most often invited to perform at Catholic Wedding Masses, which we discuss on this page. To explore the curation of music for your religious wedding ceremony/service in another tradition/faith, please contact us and we would be delighted to help.

 

The Catholic Wedding Ceremony Mass includes numerous musical moments, and each has special meaning that can be effectively conveyed in the music you choose. There are some requirements that are important to consider, and it will be very important to work closely with your priest during the process of curating your Wedding Mass musical selections, to understand the musical requirements outlined by your parish and diocese. Here, we will outline the format of the Wedding Mass, including those moments where religious music is often recommend. 

​

  • Processional

  • Lighting of Separate Candles

  • Psalm (must be religious and sung, though can also be read by a guest if not sung)

  • Gospel Acclamation (must be religious and sung, though can also be read by a guest if not sung)

  • Lighting of Unity Candles

  • Offertory Procession (highly recommended to be religious - speak to your priest about their requirements)

  • Communion (highly recommended to be religious - speak to your priest about their requirements)

  • Signing of the Register

  • Recessional​

 

Below you'll find some frequent choices for each section of your Wedding Ceremony, as well as our suggestions! Any of the below choices can be performed instrumentally or vocally (with the exception of the Psalm and Gospel Acclamation, which must be sung or read), and where we have a video of our version of a song, you'll find it linked so you can have a listen!

 

Please note - we are not limited to the songs listed below! We will specially prepare and perform any music you wish, including selections not listed below.

Processional

Processional (Walk-In)

The entrance procession music accompanies some or all of the wedding party as they enter the ceremony room and walk up the aisle. It is a very exciting and emotional moment, and the music plays a special role in accompanying this memorable point in your wedding ceremony!
 

We recommend choosing a song with special significance to you both, and would often recommend that the tempo match the pace at which you’d like to make your procession. Sung or instrumental music will suit this moment, and it can add an extra dimension to consider varying the music here, like having instrumental music for a bridal party entrance and adding vocals for the bride. Acoustic arrangements of popular, folk, and other styles are our personal favourites! You can also consider creating a medley of two songs.

Candles

Lighting of Candles

There are two candle lighting moments in the Wedding Ceremony. The first occurs almost as soon as the Wedding Ceremony begins, shortly after the Entrance Procession, where you will light your individual candles, symbolising your unique stories and your personalities, talents and gifts. The second occurs shortly after the Marriage Ceremony section of the Ceremony, where the unity candle is lit from your individual candles, symbolising your coming together as a couple. 

​

We perform candle lighting music instrumentally, to accompany this important symbolic moment. It is also a very short moment, and so we recommend choosing the chorus of a favourite song to accompany this. You could also consider choosing the same song for both moments, for instance by including a verse at the first candle lighting, and a chorus at the second. Here are some recent selections for candle lighting:

Psalm

Psalm

The Psalm is proclaimed between the First and Second Readings. The Psalm must be proclaimed, which means that it may either be sung, or it can be read by a member of the congregation. There are many musical arrangements of Psalms, and the below are very popular and effective for the Wedding Ceremony:

Gospel Acclamation

Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia)

After the second reading, the Gospel Acclamation is proclaimed. This section of the Mass must also be sung, or read by a member of the congregation. Should you wish to have this section sung, please let us know. In most instances, we will sing 'Alleluia', but during the season of Lent, the acclamation is 'Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ', in line with church music requirements. This can also be sung in Irish (as Gaeilge).

Offertory Communion

Offertory & Communion

The Offertory Procession and Communion sections of the Mass take place after the Marriage Ceremony section. One musical selection will accompany the Offertory, and we recommend choosing two pieces of music for the Communion. 

​

It is very important to note that there can be different requirements in terms of whether music at these moments must be religious, or whether other types or styles of music may be performed. We highly recommend that you speak to your priest to ascertain their recommendations, as well as the requirements of the parish and diocese in which you are getting married. A selection of hymns that suit both sections are listed below, and these may be performed with vocals or instrumentally: 

We also perform instrumental and other arrangements of non-religious musical selections during these moments in ceremonies, if the priest has allowed the couple to choose non-religious music. A few examples of these are:

​

Signing Of The Register

Signing Of The Register

The signing of the register is a relaxed and yet exciting moment in your ceremony, when you, your family and guests will be preparing up for your pronouncement and joyful procession into married life! It can also be a very busy point in the ceremony, where the celebrant will arrange for the signing of the marriage register and invite you and your witnesses to come forward. It is also a very important photo moment. We would recommend choosing two songs here, unless you are planning on having a shorter moment here.
 

The possibilites at this point in the ceremony are also vast, and it can be a great point to incorporate more upbeat or thematic songs that may not have featured up to that point. It can be effective to choose a first slightly more relaxed song, and then a slightly more upbeat song as their second choice, to start building the energy to the final procession. However, all combinations will work well here.

​

Here are some recent selections for the Signing Of The Registry:

Recessional

Recessional (The Walk-Out)

The exit procession marks your entry into married life together - and it’s a moment for celebration! Expect clapping and cheering, and singing along, as well as lots of photos. While any favourite song will work here, we have found that upbeat and energetic songs are best suited to this moment.
Vocal and instrumental music will work equally well here, and we will often structure our musical arrangement to start with the chorus of the song, so that the most memorable and recognisable moment in the music is the one that accompanies your first steps.

​

Here are some recent selections for the Exit Procession:

©2024 SHANE HENNESSY

bottom of page