At a glance
- Hymns you choose: entrance, offertory, Communion, Marian hymn, recessional
- Parts of the Mass everyone sings: Gloria, Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, Holy, Mystery of Faith, Amen, Lamb of God
- Instrumental or choir pieces: prelude, signing of the register, postlude
- A Liturgy of the Word wedding keeps the psalm and acclamation but has no Eucharistic prayer or Communion music
Three kinds of wedding music
Couples often ask for “a list of wedding songs”, but a Catholic wedding Mass uses three different kinds of music, and each is chosen differently.
- Hymns. Songs with several verses, sung during the processions and at Communion. This is where you have the most choice.
- Parts of the Mass. Short texts that belong to the Mass itself, such as the Gloria, the Holy and the Lamb of God. The words are fixed; what you choose is the musical setting, and they are meant to be sung by everyone.
- Instrumental and choir pieces. Music to listen to, at moments when something is happening rather than being said, such as the signing of the register.
The Church’s norm · Order of Celebrating Matrimony, Introduction, no. 30
The chants sung during the celebration should be appropriate and express the faith of the Church, with attention paid to the importance of the Responsorial Psalm.
Every suggestion below is chosen with that in mind.
Every moment for music, in order
| Moment | Kind | Who usually sings |
|---|---|---|
| Prelude | Instrumental or choir | Musicians, while guests arrive |
| Entrance | Hymn or instrumental | Everyone, or instrumental |
| Gloria | Part of the Mass | Everyone |
| Responsorial Psalm | Part of the Mass | Cantor and everyone |
| Gospel Acclamation | Part of the Mass | Everyone |
| After the rings (optional) | Hymn or canticle of praise | Everyone |
| Offertory | Hymn or choir piece | Choir or everyone |
| Holy, Mystery of Faith, Amen | Parts of the Mass | Everyone |
| Lamb of God | Part of the Mass | Everyone |
| Communion | Hymn, then a quiet piece | Everyone, then choir |
| Marian hymn (if your parish includes it) | Hymn | Choir or everyone |
| Signing of the register | Instrumental or choir | Musicians |
| Recessional | Hymn or instrumental | Everyone, or instrumental |
Before the Mass: prelude and entrance
Prelude. For ten to fifteen minutes before the Mass, quiet instrumental or choral music settles your guests and turns the church from a gathering place into a place of prayer. It can be anything sacred and reflective.
Entrance. The entrance procession can be accompanied by a hymn everyone sings, or by instrumental music. Many couples in Singapore choose an instrumental piece for the bride’s entrance, then a hymn once the procession reaches the sanctuary. A strong, well-known entrance hymn, such as Praise to the Lord, the Almighty or Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee, gets your guests singing from the first minute.
The Liturgy of the Word
Gloria. At a wedding Mass the Gloria is included, even on weekdays in Advent and Lent, because the celebration of Matrimony is treated with the solemnity of a feast. It is best sung, in a setting your guests can pick up quickly.
Responsorial Psalm. The psalm follows the first reading. A cantor sings the verses and everyone sings the response. You choose the psalm from those given in the Order of Celebrating Matrimony, usually together with your readings. It is a sung prayer, not an interlude, so it deserves a cantor who can proclaim the words clearly.
Gospel Acclamation. The Alleluia, with a verse, greets the Gospel. In Lent, a different acclamation replaces the Alleluia.
The Rite of Marriage
The exchange of consent is spoken, not sung, and music is not usually played under the vows.
After the consent, the rite includes a short acclamation, and your parish may sing it. After the blessing and giving of rings, the current rite allows everyone to sing a hymn or canticle of praise. This is a lovely, often overlooked moment: a short, joyful hymn of thanksgiving, sung by the whole church, right after you are married.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
Offertory. While the gifts of bread and wine are brought forward and the altar is prepared, a hymn or a choir piece is sung. This is a good place for a hymn about offering or love, or for a piece your choir sings alone.
The Eucharistic acclamations. The Holy, the Mystery of Faith and the Great Amen are acclamations of the whole congregation. Singing them well draws your guests into the heart of the Mass. Choose settings that are simple and familiar, ideally ones used in Singapore parishes, so that everyone can join in.
Lamb of God. Sung during the breaking of the bread. A setting that repeats simply works best.
Communion. Music accompanies the Communion procession, beginning as the priest receives. A Communion hymn everyone can sing, such as One Bread, One Body or Where Charity and Love Prevail, suits the procession. When it has finished, a quiet choir or solo piece can follow, for example Panis Angelicus.
Singapore customs after Communion
Marian hymn. Many couples in Singapore offer flowers to Our Lady and entrust their marriage to her, with a Marian hymn such as Ave Maria, Hail, Queen of Heaven or Immaculate Mary. Whether this happens, and when, is decided by your parish.
Signing of the register. The signing can take several minutes. This is the right place for music to listen to: a choir piece, a solo, or an instrumental.
Sending you out: the recessional
The recessional is the one moment that is pure celebration. A joyful hymn everyone sings, such as Now Thank We All Our God, or a bright organ or piano piece, sends you out of church as a married couple. We keep playing until the church has emptied.
If your wedding is a Liturgy of the Word
If one of you is not Catholic, your wedding may be celebrated without Mass. The Liturgy of the Word keeps the entrance, the Responsorial Psalm, the Gospel Acclamation, the Rite of Marriage and the recessional, and the Lord’s Prayer is part of the rite too. There is no offertory, no Eucharistic acclamations and no Communion music. Our mixed-marriage music guide explains the difference in full.
How we help
For every wedding we sing, we suggest music for each of these moments, check the list with your parish, and prepare it in rehearsal so nothing is sung on the day that hasn’t been prepared for your celebration. Our second guide, how to choose hymns for your wedding Mass, takes you through the choices themselves.
Questions couples ask
What music is sung at a Catholic wedding Mass?
The entrance hymn or processional, the Gloria, the Responsorial Psalm, the Gospel Acclamation, an offertory hymn, the Holy, Mystery of Faith, Amen and Lamb of God, a Communion hymn, often a Marian hymn, music for the signing of the register, and a recessional.
Which parts of a Catholic wedding should be sung?
The Church gives priority to the parts everyone sings together: the Responsorial Psalm, the Gospel Acclamation, and the acclamations of the Eucharistic Prayer (Holy, Mystery of Faith, Amen). The Gloria is included at every wedding Mass and is best sung.
Is there music during the vows?
No. The exchange of consent is spoken, and no background music is played under it. After the rings, everyone may sing a short hymn or canticle of praise.
When is the Marian hymn sung at a Singapore wedding?
Many couples offer flowers to Our Lady with a Marian hymn, usually after Communion. Whether and when this happens is decided by your parish.
Does a Liturgy of the Word wedding have fewer hymns?
Yes. Without Mass there is no offertory, no Eucharistic acclamations and no Communion music. The entrance, psalm, Gospel Acclamation, Rite of Marriage and recessional remain.
Sources
- Order of Celebrating Matrimony, second edition, Introduction, nos. 29 and 30, and the rite within Mass.
- General Instruction of the Roman Missal (on the Responsorial Psalm, the Gospel Acclamation and the Eucharistic acclamations).
- Parish wedding guidelines, for example St Joseph’s Church (Victoria Street), 2025.
