Wedding Music

Planning the Music for Your Wedding

At Immaculate Conception, we take great pride in celebrating a liturgy that is not only suited to your personal desires, but is consistent and in keeping with Catholic Tradition.  Music is an integral part of that tradition, whether you are having a Scripture Service or a Eucharistic Mass for the celebration of your covenant.  A vocalist greatly adds to the celebration as some parts of the Ceremony are by tradition, appropriately sung (ie: the Psalm Response).

It is assumed, unless we are notified otherwise, that the parish organist is the musician for your ceremony.  It is the responsibility of the couple to contact the office to cancel his services if you are making other arrangements, a minimum of three months prior to the wedding date.  Failure to do so will result in charging for his services, even if they are not used. Our parish organist is Travis Catello, and he can be reached by phone at 603.888.0321, ext. 232, or by email using our contact form.  Travis can also assist you in secureing the services of a vocalist if desired.

In order to assist you in the planning of your ceremony, we offer the following guidelines:
          1.  The music chosen needs to be in keeping with Catholic Tradition
               and the celebration of the Sacrament.
          2.  Popular music, unless the lyrics are in keeping with a religious text or theme,
               is generally not allowed, so as to keep the Wedding a prayer experience,
               verses a secular observance.
          3.  Classical music, almost without exception, is not only appropriate but beautifully
               adds to the sacred nature of the celebration.
          4.  Any music choice that you are not sure of should be discussed with the organist
               or celebrant prior to confirming it in your program, or with any guest musicians.

To further assist you in choosing the music you may want to consider including in your ceremony, we have provided an outline below, that includes links to short sound bites of the various selections to consider for your ceremony.

Unless you choose the music selections, the organist will provide music in the appropriate places with classical organ music.

Music in your Ceremony.

PDF Wedding Music Selection Sheet

The following list will assist you in the placement of music and vocals during the ceremony.  We recommend that you print out the PDF page above, then listen to each selection and check off your choices.  The library of online sample versions of these selections has been added to help you become familiar with each musical piece.  (Where the sampling is available, the song is highlighted, and you can listen by simply clicking on the title.)

Contact information:
You can contact Travis Catello, the parish organist at 603-888-0321, ext. 232
              (all organ music samples below, are performed by Travis on the parish organ)
You can contact Donna Kraus, vocalist at 603-888-3767
              (for a sampling of Donna's vocals, you can select "The Irish Wedding Song")
You can contact Rosemary Johnson, vocalist, at 603-888-3468
              (for a sampling of Rosemary's vocals, you can select "Ave Maria - Schubert")
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     +   Prelude Selections
             These selections will be chosen by the Organist so as to appropriately fit in the time available before the Seating of the Mothers/Parents.

     +  Seating of the Mothers/Parents
              Instrumental
                 (     ) Ave Maria - Schubert
                 (     ) Ave Maria - Bach/Gounod
                 (     ) Rhosymedre - Vaughn Williams
                 (     ) Bist du bei mir - Bach
                 - or-
              Vocal
                 (     ) Ave Maria - Schubert

MUSIC FOR THE PROCESSION OF THE BRIDESMAIDS AND BRIDE.

        Procession of the Bridesmaids
              Instrumental
                 (     ) Canon in D - Pachebel
                 (     ) Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach
                 (     ) Arioso - Bach
                 (     ) Air from "Water Music" - Handel

         Procession of the Bride
              Instrumental 
                 (     ) Trumpet Voluntary - Clarke
                 (     ) Trumpet Tune - Purcell
                 (     ) Prelude to "Te Deum" - Charpentier
                 (     ) Riguadon - Campra
                 (     ) Canon in D - Pachelbel
                 (     ) Joyful, Joyful - Beethoven


MUSIC FOR THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

         Psalm Response
              Vocal selection
                 (     ) Where there is Love - David Haas
                 (     ) This Day Was Made By The Lord - C. Walker
                 (     ) I Have Loved You - Michael Joncas
                 (     ) This is the Day - Michael Joncas
                 (     ) Taste and See - Bob Hurd
                 (     ) Psalm 128 - "May the Lord BLess Us"
                 (     ) The Gift of Love

         Alleluia
                 (     ) Instrumental 
                 (     ) Vocal selection


MUSIC FOR THE RITE OF MARRIAGE / THE VOWS

     +  Lighting of the Unity Candle
              Instrumental
                 (     ) Largo from "Xerxes" - Handel
                 (     ) La Grace - Telemann
                 (     ) Canon in D - Pachelbel
                 - or -
              Vocal selection
                 (     ) Wedding Song  (There is Love)
                 (     ) Irish Wedding Song - Ian Betteridge
                 (     ) I Have Loved You - Michael Joncas
 

MUSIC FOR THE LITURGY OF EUCHARIST (OMITTED FOR A SCRIPTURE SERVICE)

     *  Presentation of the Gifts/Offertory
                A short instrumental selection will be chosen by the organist
                for this portion of the liturgy.

     *   Communion/Meditation
              Instrumental
                 (     ) Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring - Bach
                 (     ) Ave Maria - Schubert
                 (     ) Ave Maria - Bach/Gounod
                 (     ) Rhosymedre - Vaughn Williams
                 (     ) Sheep May Safely Graze - Bach
                 (     ) Bist du bei mir - Bach
                 (     ) Gift of Finest Wheat - Callahan
                 - or -
             Vocal selection
                 (     ) Ave Maria - Schubert
                 (     ) Panis Angelicus - C. Franck
                 (     ) When Love is Found
                 (     ) Send Us Your Spirit - Dan Schutte
                 (     ) One Bread, One Body - John Foley
                 (     ) Gift of Finest Wheat - Robert Kreutz
                 (     )  Jesus Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach
                 (     ) The Servant Song
 

MUSIC FOR THE DEPARTURE OF THE BRIDAL PARTY & GUESTS
  
         Recessional
              Instrumental
                 (     ) Wedding March - Mendelssohn
                 (     ) Joyful, Joyful - Beethoven 
                 (     ) Hornpipe - Handel
                 (     ) Trumpet Tune - Purcell
                 (     ) Trumpet Tune - Callahan
                 (     ) Trumpet Tune - Johnson
                 (     ) Trumpet Voluntary - Clarke
                 (     ) Trumpet Tune - Stanley
                 (     ) Rondeau - Mouret
                 (     ) Toccata from Symphony no. 5 - Widor

         Postlude Selections
              These selections will be chosen by the Organist so as to appropriately fit in the time of your guests departure.

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If you have any questions regarding the music for your ceremony, please do not hesitate to contact Travis, or the priest/deacon presiding at your ceremony.
Once again, congratulations on your upcoming wedding and life together.