Weddings

No matter the location of your wedding, live music can provides a beautiful atmosphere to your ceremony. From the arrival of your guests, your processional, in-service music, to your recessional, Craig is prepared to enhance the mood at every moment.

A well-chosen program of music has the potential to draw people into the celebration and promote their participation in the ceremony. Music during liturgical celebrations has the power to unite people in a way words alone cannot. Music should assist the assembled in their faith, heighten the readings, and captivate the spirit with joy and enthusiasm. People often ask, “must we have music at the wedding?” To which the resounding answer is, “Yes!” This is because music, when it has fulfilled its role, draws the whole person into the spirit of the celebration.

Catholic Mass - Wedding Mass

If your wedding is to take place in a church, additional music may be played. There are two types of wedding celebrations that take place in the catholic church, a wedding within the Mass, or wedding outside the Mass.

For weddings that are outside the Mass, the music selected is very much similar to the “Ceremony Only” option.

For weddings that are within the Mass, music may be played for the Responsorial Psalm, the Gospel Acclamation, a hymn of the Signing of the Register, as well as a hymn during the Offertoire and Communion. A setting for the parts of the Mass may also be played.

If your wedding is to take place within a church, the Piano and Organ may be played.

Please contact for list of music offered during the Catholic Mass.

Note that as a Catholic Mass takes place in a sacred space, restrictions on repertoire must be considered.

Music That Is Not Appropriate

1. Popular songs on the radio, Broadway shows, cinema themes, and love songs.

2. Music that focusses on performance, rather than inciting participation from the congregation.

3. The Rite of Marriage has restored a genuine liturgical tone to the wedding celebration. Since then, many have requested guidance from the Congregation for Divine Worship o the use of certain compositions. Please note that the following are NOT permitted during the Wedding Mass. Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March”; Wagner’s “Wedding March (Here Comes the Bride)”; Handel’s “Largo”; “Ave Maria” by Schubert and Gounod; and Stradella’s “Aria di Chiesa”. 

Choosing Music

1. In keeping with the concern of the Second Vatican Council, three considerations must be made when choosing music

            a. Musical Judgement – Is it good music?

            b. Liturgical Judgement – Is it liturgically appropriate?

- Liturgy celebrates marriage as a sacrament of the church, with the support of the community of faith. Songs and hymns for the liturgy must reflect the action that is taking place at the time. For instance, at communion time you must choose a communion hymn.

                        - It is best to select music drawn from sacred scripture and liturgical sources.

            c. Pastoral Judgement – Is it pastorally good?

- Does the music chosen contribute to a genuine faith and experience for all present? Have you chosen music that your family and friends can sing well?

2. If you’ve answered “yes” to all these questions, you have chosen well.

Role of the Cantor - May be hired at your own discretion

1. The cantor is a trained liturgical minister who sings the responsorial psalm and the Gospel Acclamation. They invite the assembly to participate in the liturgy.

2. Cantors enable and motivate the singing of the assembly; cantors help people overcome the reluctance that many feel about singing in church. Singing in church is one of the earliest and most fundamental forms of participation in the liturgy, dating back to pre-Christianity. Participation in singing during the liturgy connects us to over two thousand years of historical practise.

3. Sometimes couples would like a friend to sing at their wedding. If this person is familiar with liturgy and liturgical singing, then they are welcome to lead in song.

Ceremony Only

Ceremony only, or a civil ceremony, has three main musical components.

  • The Processional

  • Signing of the Register

  • The Recessional

In addition to this, there is opportunity for music while your guests are arriving and departing.