Wedding Music Guidelines

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: FROM APRIL 2024 TO DECEMBER 2024, ST. CECILIA WILL BE UNDERGOING A MAJOR RESTORATION PROJECT OF THE 100 YEAR OLD PIPE ORGAN. DURING THIS TIME, THE ORGAN WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CHURCH, AND ONLY THE PIANO WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR MUSIC AT WEDDINGS.

Music for the wedding should be planned jointly by the couple utilizing the information and music samples found on this website, in consultation with the Director of Liturgy and Music. Use the Wedding Music Selection Form and the Wedding Music Samples to help you make and submit your selections. Remember that the Sacrament of Marriage is a liturgical celebration. Therefore, one of the basic principles that should underlie your selection of music is whether the music is indeed liturgical music. Popular songs and secular music, no matter how meaningful they may be to you, have no place in the liturgy.  Additionally, pre-recorded music (CDs, etc.) are not permitted in the Church. They may be appropriately performed at your wedding reception. For the wedding liturgy you’ll want to ensure that the emphasis on sacred music, which derives its context from scriptural and liturgical sources, and by its very nature enhances your union within the liturgical rites being celebrated. 

LITURGY AND MUSIC DIRECTOR

The parish Director of Liturgy and Music is entrusted with the responsibility of determining the suitability of musical selections within the context of the Roman Catholic wedding liturgy, and must approve all music and musicians chosen for the ceremony. Please familiarize yourself with the following guidelines, and submit music selections online using the Wedding Music Selection Form.  The Director will then contact you to finalize and details and, if necessary, schedule a meeting with you. 

ORGANIST

The Parish Organist serves as the principal musician at all St. Cecilia weddings, and bears the essential responsibility of ensuring the proper performance and timing of the various musical portions of the wedding liturgy.  The honorarium for the organist is $250.  This should be paid by check made out directly to the organist by check or by cash.  The Director of Liturgy and Music will assist you.  Payment should be made no less than 2 weeks before your wedding day.

CANTOR

Only experienced Saint Cecilia cantors are permitted to serve in this capacity at weddings. This helps to avoid disappointment to the couple and their families since it ensures a desirable continuity with the church’s regular worship life, and protects the parish’s mission in terms of high quality liturgy and music. It also helps guarantee that the service will go smoothly because presider, cantor, organist and instrumentalists are accustomed to working with each other as well as with the specific acoustical demands of the liturgical space. The honorarium for the cantor is $185.  This should be paid by check made out directly to the cantor by check or by cash.  The Director of Liturgy and Music will assist you.  Payment should be made no less than 2 weeks before your wedding day.

INSTRUMENTALISTS

Instrumentalists (trumpet, violin, flute, harp, etc.) may be used upon approval of, and arrangement with, the music office. Due to musical and liturgical requirements, only experienced Saint Cecilia instrumentalists may play for weddings at Saint Cecilia. If individual instrumentalists are desired, the music staff will secure their services. Note that extra fees will apply for each additional musician hired, and are subject to availability.  The fee for a trumpeter or flutist is $200-225. These fees reflect the scale set by the Musician’s Union. Payment should be made no less than 2 weeks before your wedding day.

Instrumental quartets, trios or other ensembles may be contracted independently of Saint Cecilia Church, and each ensemble likewise sets its fees independently. Any visiting musicians/vocalists MUST be pre-approved by the Director of Liturgy and Music before you contract them for your wedding.  If you wish to contract such instruments, you should contact the Liturgy and Music office at least 4 months before you wedding date. These musicians are in demand for weddings throughout the city, therefore early scheduling will ensure that they will be available for your wedding.

ORDER OF SERVICE/WORSHIP PROGRAM

Due to the participatory nature of Catholic liturgical celebrations, it is highly recommended that you provide your guests with an Order of Service or Worship Program to assist them in their active participation at your wedding celebration.  This is especially important for Catholics and non-Catholics alike when the wedding will be celebrated within Mass (with Holy Communion).  The Liturgy and Music Office can assist you in preparing a Worship Program that will include all the necessary music, responses, and postures to promote full, conscious, and active participation of the assembly.

MUSIC COMPONENTS OF WEDDING LITURGIES

 Working together as a couple, please use these Wedding Music Samples to assist you in making appropriate music selections for your wedding.  Contact the Director of Liturgy and Music if you have any questions.

Prelude

Prior to the beginning of the wedding liturgy, there is a prelude consisting of about 15 minutes of instrumental music as guests arrive and are seated. Music during this time is usually selected at the discretion of the Organist and encompasses a combination of pieces that mirror the festive nature of the occasion as well as the quiet dignity of prayerful reflection. Often the prelude is comprised entirely of solo organ repertoire, but the utilization of other instruments (trumpet, flute, harp, etc.) is possible as well.

Seating of the Generation

Couples often wish to have the seating of their parents and/or grandparents highlighted and accompanied by a special piece of music. The seating of the generation takes place just prior to the procession of the wedding party, so the music should be clearly different from that of the processional. A meditative vocal solo or relatively quiet instrumental piece is usually best here.

Processional

The processionals are usually played by the organ alone or with trumpet(s). You may select two: one for the procession of the wedding party and another for the bride.  You may also choose to select one piece to be used for entire procession (good for smaller or more intimate weddings).

Glory to God (skip if you are not celebrating within Mass)

During the Introductory Rites of a Nuptial Mass, the Glory to God is sung. The cantor will lead the assembly in singing the hymn. Musical settings of Glory to God are taken from the standard liturgical repertoire of St. Cecilia Church.

Responsorial Psalm

The responsorial psalm follows the first reading and is always sung.  It will be led by the cantor.  Use the “Together for Life” book as your guide in selecting a Psalm appropriate for your wedding. 

Gospel Acclamation

Before the gospel reading, an Alleluia is always sung (except during Lent). This will be led by the cantor. During the season of Lent, alleluias are omitted from the Church's liturgies, and the Lenten gospel acclamation "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ" is sung instead, led by the cantor.  Musical settings of the Gospel Acclamation are taken from the standard liturgical repertoire of St. Cecilia Church.
 

Offertory (skip if you are not celebrating within Mass)

If your wedding will be celebrated within Mass, the liturgy continues with music during the offertory and preparation of the altar. This usually takes very little time, so a short organ improvisation or instrumental selection is usually most effective at this point. The selection of the offertory music is usually left up to the musicians.

Acclamations (skip if you are not celebrating within Mass)

During Mass, the Eucharistic Prayer follows next. The cantor will lead the assembly in singing the responses within the prayer. These acclamations include the Sanctus (Holy, Holy), the Mysterium Fidei (Mystery of Faith), and the Amen.  Musical settings of these acclamations are taken from the standard liturgical repertoire of St. Cecilia Church.

Lord's Prayer

Sometimes couples ask to have the Lord's Prayer (Our Father) sung. Keep in mind that your wedding guests will likely come from several different churches and faiths. Since this is the one common prayer among all Christian denominations, it is very important that everyone be able to join in praying it together. For these reasons, the Lord's Prayer is spoken, rather than sung, at Saint Cecilia wedding ceremonies.
 

Sign of Peace (skip if you are not celebrating within Mass)

Since the sign of peace involves speaking and movement on the part of the congregation, and since the Lamb of God follows immediately, it is not necessary to have music at this point.
 

Lamb of God (skip if you are not celebrating within Mass)

The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) is sung immediately following the sign of peace, just before communion.  Musical settings of the Lamb of God are taken from the standard liturgical repertoire of St. Cecilia Church.

Communion Procession (skip if you are not celebrating within Mass)

In selecting music to accompany the communion procession, couples will want to keep in mind the nature of the Eucharistic rite as a sign of the unity of everyone gathered, so the singing of a congregational hymn is the norm to accompany the communion procession.  If you need help in selecting the hymn to accompany the communion procession, look to the Gospel reading you selected.  Study the texts of the Communion Procession options and the Gospel reading to see if you can find thematic similarities. Please note that one piece of music is almost always sufficient for communion.

Meditation to the Blessed Virgin Mary (optional)

If you plan on making a visitation to the image of Mary, it will take place after communion (or after the Lord's Prayer if you're not celebrating within mass). At this point in the liturgy, a meditation could be sung by the vocalist as a reflection of the personal, devotional prayer of the bride and groom and of the whole congregation. Music during this moment is usually a setting of the "Ave Maria" or other appropriate hymn to Mary. This action may also be accompanied by an instrumental by the organist. 
 

Recessional

The wedding recessional is usually the liturgy's most festive and joyous of musical expressions. Most often played by the organ alone or with trumpet(s) or other instruments, there are many possibilities. You might notice that some of the same pieces are listed as both processionals and recessionals.  That's because they can work for either the entrance procession at the beginning of the wedding or the exit recessional at the end. The only difference is that usually they're played a little faster if used here at the end.