Catholicbrides.com would like to thank the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin for their insightful contribution on the subject of music. The above article is an excerpt from their booklet, "Your Wedding in the Catholic Church." If you are being married in the Green Bay area their website, www.gbdioc.org will be a valuable resource for you.

Music is a basic and integral part of Catholic Worship, and therefore also for your wedding celebration. Whether you exchange your vows during a Liturgy of the Word or a Mass, music is not a frill, but an important and basic element that cannot be overlooked when planning your wedding ceremony.

There are parts of the celebration that need to be accompanied by music, and the most important times are those for congregational song. Unfortunately in our recent history, this is usually the last type of music that couples consider.

Planning music in which the entire assembly can take part in is a vital requirement when planning the music for your celebration. Allowing an organist, pianist or soloist to perform all of the music in your wedding is not compatible with Catholic Liturgy.

It is important that the music fit the context of faith and dignity of the occasion. The texts should speak of a Christian concept of marriage, not focus on a romantic one. Every generation has it's love songs, and some of them are great music. However, while they may have a place in your wedding day, it needs to be planned outside of the wedding liturgy.

It's also important to remember that your wedding day belongs to more than just the two of you. Those who have come to share the day with you want and deserve the opportunity to help you celebrate by lifting their hearts and voices in song.

Let them be more than passive, let them celebrate with you, and select music to help them do that! Choose songs and refrains they can sing. By doing this, you give the assembly a sense that this is a celebration of joy where everyone can participate.

Selecting Your Musicians

Very often, parishes have a list of their own musicians who have been trained and will be happy to assist you in planning and ministering the music for your wedding. Often parishes do not admit outside musicians to participate in the ceremony.

In accordance with the primary focus of the celebration, all instrumentalists and vocal musicians should fulfill their roles as ministers of the liturgy, and their location in the church needs to reflect this.

It is also important that those serving as musicians for your wedding be truly competent. This competency includes a thorough understanding of the structure of the Catholic wedding liturgy. Too often, friends or relatives of the couple are asked to serve as musicians out of friendship rather than competency.

You will also need to check with your musicians as to what their fee will be, and when they would like you to remit payment to them.

Selecting Your Music

The Church has set forth guidelines regarding the music in any liturgy, not just weddings, so the music you choose for your wedding should be evaluated in the same three areas: liturgical, pastoral, musical.