At a glance
- Confirm your date, parish, and whether it is a Mass or a Liturgy of the Word
- Learn which moments have music, and what kind
- Choose a cantor, ensemble or choir to suit your church and your day
- Choose hymns for each moment, then check them with your parish
- Allow one month's notice for a cantor, two for an ensemble, three for a choir
Confirm your date, parish and form of celebration
Everything else depends on three facts: the date, the church, and whether your wedding will be celebrated within Mass or as a Liturgy of the Word. If one of you is not Catholic, it will ordinarily be a Liturgy of the Word, which has fewer moments for music. Your parish priest confirms this with you.
Read next: Music for a mixed-marriage Catholic wedding.
Understand what the liturgy needs
A wedding Mass has about a dozen moments for music, and they are not all the same kind. Some are hymns you choose, some are parts of the Mass everyone sings, like the Gloria and the Holy, and a few are instrumental. Knowing which is which makes every later decision simpler.
Read next: The music of a Catholic wedding Mass, moment by moment.
Choose your musicians
A single cantor with an accompanist leads a congregation well. An SATB ensemble adds harmony and warmth, and a full choir brings the sound of a great celebration. The right choice depends on the size of your church, the size of your guest list, and how much notice you have. Our contributions are published for every arrangement, so you can plan with a clear figure.
Read next: Which music arrangement is right for your wedding? and Contributions and what they cover.
Choose your hymns
Choose each hymn for its moment in the Mass, for words that express your faith, and for a tune your guests can sing. Secular love songs belong at the reception, not in the Mass. A good programme mixes hymns for everyone with one or two pieces for the choir alone.
Read next: How to choose hymns for your Catholic wedding Mass.
Check with your parish
Every parish has its own practice. Many keep a list of approved hymns, some have rules about the organ and rehearsal times, and all will want to see your booklet before it is printed. Ask for your parish’s wedding guidelines early. When you book with us, we check the music list with your parish music coordinator for you.
Book, then prepare together
Ask as soon as your date and parish are confirmed. We ask for one month’s notice for a cantor, two months for an ensemble and three months for a full choir. Once we’ve confirmed, we plan the music with you, prepare it in rehearsal, and arrive early on the day for a sound check and a word with the priest.
Read next: How booking works, or check our availability for your date.
Arranging a funeral instead?
Families usually have only a few days. Please go straight to Catholic funeral music, or message us on WhatsApp and we’ll check straight away.
Questions people ask
How far ahead should we plan our wedding music?
Start as soon as your date and parish are confirmed. We ask for one month's notice for a cantor, two months for an ensemble and three months for a full choir.
Do we need to know about music to plan it?
No. Tell us your date, parish and any hymns you love, and we will suggest music for every moment of the liturgy and check it with your parish.
What is the first step in planning Catholic wedding music?
Confirm your date, your church, and whether your wedding will be a Mass or a Liturgy of the Word. Everything else follows from those three facts.
Sources
- Order of Celebrating Matrimony, second edition, Introduction, no. 30.
