Music and Liturgy Planner

View and Listen to the choices and make your selections below

Be sure to read the explanations under each heading below for an understanding of how music works for each part of the wedding liturgy. When you click on the "info/listen" button for each selection, a popup window will appear with background information and/or texts, along with the playback controls for the listening example.

Please note that you will need Apple QuickTime installed on your computer to be able to hear our listening examples.
Send us your completed form

After you have completed all sections of the Wedding Selection Form, please click submit at the bottom.

NOTE: you cannot save your work and you must have every field filled in or you will have to redo the form.

Thank you! We look forward to working with you and making your wedding a beautiful and prayer-filled experience.

View and Listen to the choices and make your selections below

Be sure to read the explanations under each heading below for an understanding of how music works for each part of the wedding liturgy. When you click on the "info/listen" button for each selection, a popup window will appear with background information and/or texts, along with the playback controls for the listening example.

Please note that you will need Apple QuickTime installed on your computer to be able to hear our listening examples.
Send us your completed form

After you have completed all sections of the Wedding Selection Form, please click submit at the bottom.

NOTE: you cannot save your work and you must have every field filled in or you will have to redo the form.

Thank you! We look forward to working with you and making your wedding a beautiful and prayer-filled experience.

*indicates required fields

* Wedding Date (MM/DD/YY):

*Wedding Time:

*Type of Wedding Liturgy:

*Number of People in Bridal Party:

*Number of children in procession, if any:

*Groom's First and Last Name:

*Groom's E-mail:

*Bride's First and Last Name:

*Bride's E-mail:

* Will the Bride be taking her husband's last name?

YES
NO

If you have an established married address, please list it here:

*What is the first and last name of your Best Man?

*What is the first and last name of your Maid of Honor?

*Presider's First and Last Name:

*Presider Phone Number:

*Presider Email:

* Will the presider be at the rehearsal?

YES
NO

*Will you have a Unity Candle?

YES
NO

*Will have a dedication to the Virgin Mary?

YES
NO

* Will your reception be held on the Lake Shore Campus of Loyola University?

YES
NO

*Will you provide your own floral arrangements for the area on either side of the tabernacle?

YES
NO

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 selected at the discretion of the Director of Music 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 (trumpets, strings, harp, etc.) is possible as well.

Seating of Parents and Processionals

Couples often wish to have the seating of their parents highlighted and accompanied by a special piece of music. The seating of the parents 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. If this is desired, please choose an appropriate vocal solo or instrumental selection from the possibilities listed below.

The processionals are usually played by the organ alone or with instruments.

Choose three selections.

VOCAL SOLO

	Wedding Hymn - George Frideric Handel
	Now with Thanksgiving - Irish Folk Tune
	Come, Lord Jesus, to This Place - Donald Busarow

INSTRUMENTAL:

	Bist Du Bei Mir - Johann Sebastian Bach (with optional oboe)
	Canon - Johann Pachelbel (with optional violin)
	La Grâce - Georg Philipp Telemann (with optional violin)
	Four Seasons - Winter: Largo - Antonio Vivaldi (with optional flute)
	Xerxes: Largo - George Frideric Handel (with optional violin)
	Minuet - Jeremiah Clarke (with optional trumpet)
	Serenade - Jeremiah Clarke (with optional trumpet)
	Ecossaise - Jeremiah Clarke (with optional trumpet)
	Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Johann Sebastian Bach (with optional violin and trumpet)
	The Planets, Theme from Jupiter - Gustav Holst
	The Queen's Processional, Lauda Anima - John Goss
	Prince of Denmark's March - Jeremiah Clarke (with optional trumpet)
	Trumpet Tune - Henry Purcell
	Trumpet Tune in D - David Johnson
	Festive Trumpet Tune - David German
	Prelude to the Te Deum - Mac-Antoine Charpentier (with optional trumpet)
	Rigaudon - Andre Campra

* Opening Prayer
These are your options for opening prayers at the beginning of the liturgy, please choose one:

	Opening Prayer A1
	Opening Prayer A2
	Opening Prayer A3
	Opening Prayer A4

* First Reading from the Old Testament
Choose one from the list below:

	B1: Genesis 1:26-28, 31a
	B2: Genesis 2:18-24
	B3: Genesis 24:48-51, 58-67
	B4: Tobit 7:6-14
	B5: Tobit 8:4b-8
	B6: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
	B7: Song of Songs 2:8-10, 14, 16a; 8:6-7a
	B8: Sirach 26:1-4, 13-16
	B9: Jeremiah 31:31-32a, 33-34a

* Responsorial Psalm

The responsorial psalm follows the first reading, and there are many psalms from which to choose. If you are printing a wedding program, be sure to print the words of the psalm refrain so your guests can join in the singing. Choose one from the list below

Psalm 33 Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Psalm 34 Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Psalm 90 May the love of God fill us all our days; Let us sing for joy as morning fills the sky.
Psalm 103 The Lord is kind and merciful.
Psalm 118 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
Psalm 128 Blessed are those who fear the Lord. (Guimont)
Psalm 128 Blest are those who love you. (Haugen)
Psalm 128 May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives. (Chepponis)
Psalm 146 Praise the Lord, my soul! Praise the Lord!

* Second Reading from the New Testament
Choose one from the list below:

D1: Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39
D2: Romans 12:1-2, 9-18
D3: Romans 15:1b-3a, 5-7, 13
D4: 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20
D5: 1 Corinthians 12:31--13:8a
D6: Ephesians 4:1-6
D7: Ephesians 5:2a, 21-33
D8: Philippians 4:4-9
D9: Colossians 3:12-17
D10: Hebrews 13:1-4a, 5-6b
D11: 1 Peter 3:1-9
D12: 1 John 3:18-24
D13: 1 John 4:7-12
D14: Revelation 19:1, 5-9a

* Gospel Reading
Choose one from the list below:

F1: Matthew 5:1-12a
F2: Matthew 5:13-16
F3: Matthew 7:21, 24-29
F4: Matthew 19:3-6
F5: Matthew 22:35-40
F6: Mark 10: 6-9
F7: John 2:1-11
F8: John 15:9-12
F9: John 15:12-16
F10: John 17:20-26

* Prayers of the Faithful
Choose one from the list below:

Prayers of the Faithful J1
Prayers of the Faithful J2

Unity Candle (optional)

If there will be a unity candle, it is placed on a ceremonial pillar in the area to the left of where you will be standing during the ceremony, so it takes very little time to light the candle. The music chosen for this point in the service serves the action itself and is limited to the time it takes to light the candle and for the couple to return to their places. Shorter pieces are suitable at this point in the liturgy, or an instrumental improvisation will be played if no choice is made.

The Gift of Love - Traditional Irish
Now with Thanksgiving - Irish Folk Tune
By My Side - Thomas Porter
The Unity Candle Song - Joseph Sullivan and Raymond Haan
Build We A House - Raymond Haan
La Grâce - Georg Philipp Telemann (with optional violin)
Bist Du Bei Mir - Johann Sebastian Bach (with optional oboe)
Serenade - Jeremiah Clarke (with optional trumpet)
Ecossaise - Jeremiah Clarke (with optional trumpet)
No preference
Not Having a Unity Candle

Offertory (skip if you are not having Communion)

In a Ceremony with Communion, the Mass 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 left to the musicians.

Lord's Prayer

Sometimes couples ask to have the Lord's Prayer (Our Father) sung. Although this generally works well on Sundays in your local church, keep in mind that your wedding guests will likely come from several different churches and faiths. It is the one common prayer among all Christian denominations and it is very important that everyone is able to join in praying it together. For these reasons, the Lord's Prayer is spoken, rather than sung.

Communion

No Preference
Not Having Communion

Skip the following if you are not having Communion

In selecting music for communion, couples will want to keep in mind the nature of the Eucharistic rite as a sign of the unity of everyone gathered. If you have a congregation that likes to sing, a congregational hymn would be very appropriate here. A vocal solo, or a meditative organ/instrumental selection could work well here too. Please note that one piece of music is sufficient for communion. Here are several beautiful communion hymns with simple refrains for the congregation:

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN:

Taste and See - Joel Martinson
Gather Us Together - Owen Alsott (with optional oboe)
Take and Eat - Michael Joncas (with optional violin)
You Satisfy the Hungry Heart - Omer Westendorf (with optional violin)
I Received the Living God - Anonymous (with optional flute)
Eat This Bread - Jacques Berthier
Let Us Be Bread - Thomas J. Porter

If you would like to use a vocal solo, rather than a congregational hymn, here are some well-known choices:

VOCAL SOLO:

Panis Angelicus - César Franck
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Johann Sebastian Bach
When Love is Found - English Tune

Prayer After Communion
Choose one from the list below:

Prayer After Communion N1
Prayer After Communion N2
Prayer After Communion N3

Meditation to the Blessed Virgin Mary (optional)

If you plan on making a visitation to Mary's altar, it will take place after communion (or after the Lord's Prayer if you're not having a full 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. Here are many beautiful possibilities:

Ave Maria - Franz Schubert
Ave Maria - Bach-Gounod
Hail, Queen of Heaven - Henri Frédéric Hemy
O Mary of Graces - Traditional Irish (with optional oboe)
Not having a Meditation to the Blessed Virgin Mary

* Final Blessing
Choose one from the list below:

Final Blessing O1
Final Blessing O2
Final Blessing O3

* 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 or other instruments, there are countless possibilities, including these listed here. You might notice that some of these same pieces are listed as processionals earlier on this page. That's because they can work for either the entrance procession at the beginning of the wedding or the exit recessional at the end.
Please make one selection.

Prince of Denmark's March - Jeremiah Clarke
Trumpet Tune - Henry Purcell
Trumpet Tune in D - David Johnson
Festive Trumpet Tune - David German
Water Music: Hornpipe - George Frideric Handel (with optional trumpet)
Rondeau - Jean-Joseph Mouret (with optional trumpet)
Ode To Joy - Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5: Toccata - Charles-Marie Widor
Wedding March - Felix Mendelssohn

Cantor preference, further questions and/or comments:

*Please confirm your E-mail Address: