Popular Wedding Music Selections

Music should be sacred or purely instrumental and not from a secular source (i.e., not from a ballet, opera, or play). The Mendelsohn Wedding March (from Midsummer Night’s Dream) and the Wagner Wedding Chorus from Lohengrin (“Here Comes the Bride”) are not allowed. Secular songs are not allowed, even if they are played on instruments.

Traditional and classical music will complement the acoustics and aesthetics of our historic space.

If you choose contemporary settings or other music not in the public domain, you will be responsible for purchasing the musical scores (usually $10-20).

Within these guidelines, there is a vast quantity of music that is beautiful and suitable for a wedding.

Please feel free to look around on YouTube and contact me with any additional questions!

Catherine Schaefer

---

For organ and cantor

Seating of Parents

• Bach, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

  • Options

    • Organ only

    • Organ and string quartet

    • Organ and violin

    • Organ with a quartet of singers

Processional

• Pachelbel, Canon in D

• Clarke, Prince of Denmark's March (works well with trumpet)

• O God Beyond All Praising - Opening hymn

• Deus Israel - Introit Chant from Missa Pro Sponsis

Gloria

• Gloria Mass VIII Missa De Angelis (Latin)

• Gloria Mass XV (English)

Psalm

• Responsorial Psalm - Set to a psalm tone

• Uxor Tua - Gradual chant from Missa Pro Sponsis

Alleluia

• Alleluia Mode VI

• Mittat vobis - Alleluia chant from Missa Pro Sponsis

Offertory

Hymns

• Perfect Love

• Ubi Caritas

• Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Chant

• In te Speravi - Offertory chant from Missa Pro Sponsis

Solo piece for the cantor

• Ave Maria - Schubert/Gounod

• Franck, Panis Angelicus

• Ave Verum Corpus

  • Elgar

  • Mozart

• Mozart, Laudate Dominum

Instrumental music

Sanctus

• Sanctus Mass VIII Missa De Angelis (Latin)

• Sanctus Mass XV (English)

Agnus Dei

• Sanctus Mass VIII Missa De Angelis (Latin)

• Sanctus Mass XV (English)

Communion

Hymns

• Any of those listed under Offertory

• Any hymn that references the Blessed Sacrament

Chant

• Ecce sic benedicetur – Communion chant from Missa Pro Sponsis

Solo Piece for the Cantor

• Any of those listed under Offertory

Flowers to Mary

Any setting of

• Ave Maria

• Salve Regina

• Another Marian antiphon

Recessional

• Clarke, Prince of Denmark's March

• Handel, La Rejouissance

• Handel, Alla Hornpipe (works well with strings)

• Widor Toccata (organ only)

Choral pieces - For quartet or larger choir

Any of these could be used for Processional, Offertory, Communion, or Recessional

• Durufle, Ubi Caritas

• Willan, Rise Up My Love

• Ave Verum Corpus

  • Mozart

  • Byrd

  • Elgar

• Ave Maria

  • Gallus

  • Saint-Saens

  • Daniel Knaggs - setting written for our church

• Faure, Cantique de Jean Racine

Polyphonic Mass setting

• Palestrina, Missa Brevis

• Byrd, Mass for 4 Voices