How to Choose Catholic Wedding Hymns

You’ve planned everything for your Catholic wedding, but you’re stuck on how to choose Catholic wedding hymns for this momentous occasion. How do you decide, and where will you go about finding sheet music for your Catholic wedding? Read on to learn more about choosing Catholic wedding hymns, including specific suggestions for popular musical pieces and where to find more information.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. First, consider the type of wedding you are planning. It will be a Catholic wedding, of course, but not all Catholic weddings are created equal. Will you be married in a nuptial mass, or will you just have a wedding liturgy without a mass? Are you getting married in the traditional Latin rite, or in a contemporary ceremony? All of these factors will determine the most appropriate choice for Catholic wedding hymns.

2. Decide whether you will have live instrumentalists, a choir, a soloist, or any combination of these. Polyphonic Catholic wedding hymns, for example, will require a full choir. The many arrangements of popular hymns like the Ave Maria can be sung by a soloist or just played instrumentally.

3. Consider your own musical tastes. Do you prefer contemporary music, or traditional Latin Catholic wedding hymns? Don’t feel like you must choose all of one type of hymn – you can integrate both Latin and English hymns in contemporary and traditional arrangements.

4. Realize that you must stay within the bounds of appropriate liturgical music. The music you choose must meet the same criteria as any other music that is used during liturgical services. This means that soundtracks and Top 40 hits are most likely inappropriate. The music should reflect the wedding as a liturgical celebration. If you aren’t sure about these guidelines, make sure you consult with the priest or parish coordinator where you will be getting married.

5. The following is a list of music collections that include Catholic wedding hymns and are appropriate in liturgical settings. This list is taken from recommendations by the Diocese of Green Bay. (1) When Love Is Found - GIA Publishing. This is a compilation of wedding music put together by David Haas and Jeanne Cotter. This collection includes selections for parts of the mass, plus hymns and commentary. (2) United As One (Volume One and Two) - OCP Publishing . This also includes liturgical music and special selections. (3) Wedding Music - Augsburg Publishing. This five volume set includes traditional organ pieces with some optional instrumental parts as well.
   GIA Publishing has a variety of solos and assembly pieces not published in the collection referenced here; contact GIA Publishing for additional information.

6. Some traditional Latin Catholic wedding hymns include Marian hymns, like the Salve Regina, to be played before the start of mass. Schubert’s Ave Maria or Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring are popular choices for the offertory. Panis Angelicus (“Bread of Heaven”) is popular for communion. Other traditional selections for Catholic wedding hymns include Adoramus Te, Christe and O Sanctissima.

Tips & Warnings

• If you will have live music, be sure your musicians are capable of competently playing the pieces you choose. It's fine to have an amateur singer do a solo, but it's better to choose simple piece that can be sung well, rather than a complicated piece that's too difficult for a beginner.
• Keep it liturgically appropriate. Just because it's classical music doesn't necessarily mean it lends itself to the occasion.