Catholic Wedding Songs for Every Part of the Ceremony

What songs can you play at a Catholic wedding?

At a Catholic wedding, the music during the ceremony should be sacred: hymns, psalms, classical pieces and instrumental music suited to worship. Popular secular songs, including most pop love songs, are usually saved for the reception. Favorites include Pachelbel's Canon in D for the processional, "Ave Maria" for the Marian devotion, "Here I Am, Lord" and "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace" as hymns, and "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" as the recessional. Every parish has its own guidelines, so always plan the music with your priest and the parish music director.

Prelude music

The prelude plays for 15 to 30 minutes while guests are seated.

1. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", J.S. Bach, 1723: gentle and flowing.
2. "Air on the G String", J.S. Bach: a calm, beautiful string piece.
3. "Sheep May Safely Graze", J.S. Bach: a pastoral favorite.
4. "Panis Angelicus", César Franck, 1872: a serene setting of a Eucharistic hymn.
5. "Meditation" from Thaïs, Jules Massenet: a tender violin solo.

For more, see our wedding prelude songs.

Processional songs for a Catholic wedding

6. Canon in D, Johann Pachelbel: the most popular processional of all.
7. "Trumpet Voluntary" (Prince of Denmark's March), Jeremiah Clarke: a stately, joyful entrance.
8. "Rondeau", Jean-Joseph Mouret: bright and regal.
9. "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba", George Frideric Handel: lively and festive.
10. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", J.S. Bach: a gentle alternative.

Some parishes do not allow Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" ("Here Comes the Bride") or Mendelssohn's "Wedding March", because both come from secular stage works, so ask before you plan around them. For more, see our processional songs and songs to walk down the aisle to.

Responsorial psalms for a Catholic wedding

After the first reading, a cantor sings the responsorial psalm and the congregation sings the refrain. The psalms most often chosen for weddings are:

• Psalm 33: a song of praise for God's goodness filling the earth.
• Psalm 34: an invitation to experience God's goodness, also sung at Communion.
• Psalm 103: praise for God's mercy and kindness.
• Psalm 112: a blessing on those who live by God's commands.
• Psalm 128: the classic wedding psalm, a blessing on a faithful household and family.
• Psalm 145: praise for God's compassion toward all creation.
• Psalm 148: the whole of creation joining in praise.

Hymns for the preparation of the gifts

11. "Here I Am, Lord", Dan Schutte: one of the most loved modern Catholic hymns.
12. "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace", Sebastian Temple: a setting of the Prayer of Saint Francis.
13. "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling", Charles Wesley, 1747: a classic hymn about God's love.
14. "Ubi Caritas": an ancient chant about charity and love, sung in many settings.
15. "The Servant Song", Richard Gillard: a gentle hymn about serving one another.

Communion hymns for a wedding Mass

16. "One Bread, One Body", John Foley: a favorite Communion hymn.
17. "Gift of Finest Wheat", Robert Kreutz: written for the 1976 Eucharistic Congress.
18. "Panis Angelicus", César Franck: a beautiful solo for Communion.
19. "Taste and See": a setting of Psalm 34 often sung during Communion.
20. "Be Not Afraid", Bob Dufford: a comforting hymn of trust.
21. "On Eagle's Wings", Michael Joncas: a hymn of God's protection.

Ave Maria and the Marian devotion

Many Catholic brides lay a bouquet at a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary after Communion or after the vows, asking for her prayers for the new marriage, while a soloist sings a Marian hymn.

22. "Ave Maria", Franz Schubert, 1825: the most popular choice.
23. "Ave Maria", Bach and Gounod, 1853: a melody laid over Bach's first prelude.
24. "Hail, Holy Queen": a joyful traditional Marian hymn.
25. "Immaculate Mary": the hymn sung by pilgrims at Lourdes.

Recessional songs for a Catholic wedding

26. "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee": Henry van Dyke's hymn set to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy".
27. "Hornpipe" from Water Music, George Frideric Handel: bright and celebratory.
28. "Hallelujah Chorus", George Frideric Handel: the ultimate joyful exit.
29. "Toccata" from Symphony No. 5, Charles-Marie Widor: a thundering organ finale.
30. "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty": a rousing hymn the whole church can sing.

For more, see our wedding exit songs.

The order of a Catholic wedding Mass

A Catholic wedding can take place within a full nuptial Mass or in a shorter ceremony without Communion, often chosen when one spouse is not Catholic. A nuptial Mass usually follows this order: the prelude and processional; the Liturgy of the Word, with a first reading, the responsorial psalm, often a second reading, the Gospel acclamation and the Gospel; the Rite of Marriage, with the vows and the exchange of rings; the Liturgy of the Eucharist, with the preparation of the gifts, the Eucharistic Prayer, the Lord's Prayer, the nuptial blessing and Communion; and the recessional. The Mass parts, such as the Holy, Holy and the Lamb of God, are usually sung in the setting your parish knows.

Can you have secular songs at a Catholic wedding?

Most parishes ask that music during the ceremony be sacred, because the wedding is an act of worship. Some allow an instrumental version of a favorite love song in the prelude, but songs with romantic lyrics are almost always saved for the reception, where you can play anything you like for the first dance. If a song has special meaning to you, ask your music director whether it can be played before the ceremony begins.

How to plan the music with your parish

• Meet the parish music director early, ideally six months before the wedding.
• Ask which pieces the parish allows and whether you must use the parish organist and cantor.
• Choose your readings first, then match the psalm and hymns to them.
• Pick hymns your guests can sing, and print the words in the program.
• Time the processional to the length of the aisle and the size of the bridal party.

Unity candle and special moments

Where the parish allows it, some couples light a unity candle after the vows or present flowers to their mothers, and a short instrumental or a quiet hymn like "Ubi Caritas" or "The Servant Song" fits these moments well. Keep each piece brief so the liturgy keeps its flow, and let the organist or a string player soften the music as the moment ends.

Songs for the reception

Once the ceremony is over, the music can turn personal. Many Catholic couples choose a faith-filled first dance or a parent dance with a spiritual song, and then celebrate with everyone's favorites. For ideas, see our Christian wedding songs and gospel songs.

A song written for your marriage

Your ceremony music belongs to the Church's tradition, but your reception can have a song that belongs only to you. A personalized song can tell the story of how you met, the faith you share and the promises you are making, for your first dance or as a gift for your parents and grandparents. It also makes a meaningful anniversary gift years later.

How to create a personalized wedding song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: classical, acoustic, pop and more.
2. Add your names.
3. Share three memories or details about your story.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give your love story its own song: create a song and hear four previews for free.