Advice for Selecting Catholic Wedding Music

Most people who are planning a wedding want each element to be both spiritual yet romantic. Part of creating this perfect combination is sure to include having the perfect music for the event--and many have found that Catholic music is just powerful and meaningful enough to make it the right choice.

Finding music that the couple loves and making it have the right religious / spiritual meaning can sometimes be hard, however there are several things that will help the person planning the wedding reach the right decision.

The first thing is to ask the priest or pastor conducting the ceremony about which music other couples have had played during their wedding ceremonies. Most churches will have an organist who will play the music for the bride as she walks down the aisle, and she will probably have song books. Ask to browse through those song books so you can get some ideas.

Another suggestion is to look on the Web for religious songs that are commonly used during weddings. By looking on the Internet, you will often also be able to listen to the music and make a better-informed decision as to which songs are best suited to your ceremony.

You should also ask for advice from you friends and family. This is especially true if they come from a Catholic background, as they are more likely to recall the best Catholic music options.

Once you have several options, if you find it difficult to make your final selection, see if you can play a couple songs during the ceremony. You could use one as your guests arrive, another as the bride walks down the aisle, and perhaps another during the service and / or at the end of the wedding as guests leave.

One last bit of advice: When you're selecting your Catholic music, listen to your heart. It's fine to listen to the advice of others, but you should never pick a song just because others like it. Remember, it's your special day, and you should do only those things that you love.

We've listed below some of the more popular Catholic wedding songs to get your started in your search.

POSSIBLE PRELUDES:
One Hand, One Heart. L. Bernstein
Ave Maria. Franz Shubert
Laudate Dominum. Mozart
The Wedding Song. Bob Dylan
The Gift of Love. Hopson

POSSIBLE PROCESSIONALS:
Bridal March. Wagner
Trumpet Voluntary – Clarke
Trumpet Voluntary – Stanley
Canon in D. Pachabel

POSSIBLE SONGS FOR PRESENTATION OF GIFTS
The Bridal Prayer -Roger Copeland
All I Ask of You - Weston Priory
The Wedding Song - annon.
The Gift of Love - arr. Hopson
Servant Song - McGarill
Set Your Heart on the Higher Gifts - Warner
I Have Loved You - Joncas
Servant Song - McGarill
Set Your Heart on the Higher Gifts - Warner
Prayer of St. Francis – Sebastian Temple
The Irish Wedding Song - trad.
Servant Song - McGarill
Set Your Heart on the Higher Gifts - Warner
Wherever You Go - Weston Priory
With This Ring - Copeland

POSSIBLE COMMUNION SONGS:
One Bread, One Body - Foley
Servant Song - McGarill
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring – Bach
Panis Angelicus - Cesar Franck or Sacris Solemnis
One Bread, One Body - Foley
Servant Song - McGarill
Here I Am Lord - Schutte
On Eagles Wings - Joncas
I Have Loved You
Laudate Dominum - Mozart
One Bread, One Body - Foley
Servant Song - McGarill
Taste and See - Moore

POSSIBLE RECESSIONAL SONGS
Joyful, Joyful We Adore You - Hymn, Beethoven
Ode to Joy - Beethoven
Allegro Maestoso (from Water Music) - Handel
City of God - Schutte
Rondeau - Mouret
Wedding March - Mendlessohn
Psalm 19 - Benedetto Marcello