Wedding Vows & Ceremony Discussions

Catholic Ceremony Music

FI and I met with our organist today to discuss the music for our ceremony.  He is a very talented singer, songwriter, and musician but he seems to be a bit stuck in his ways as far as options for each part of the ceremony goes.  For our mother's entrance he suggested "Gentle Woman".  Personally I am not a huge fan of that song, nothing really about it that sets me off with it, I just don't really like it.  I asked for alternatives and he didn't give me anything, he just wrote in our notes that he was going to use that for the mother's entrance.  I told him that I wanted the processionals to be only instrumental and he gave me a few options for the BMs and myself, we decided on Canon in D.  However, again for the mother's entrance he was firm on Gentle Woman. We double checked with our church and it is not a rule that we need to use Gentle Woman, our organist just really, really, really, likes the song.  I was just wondering if anyone has another instrumental option that would fit with the church guidelines but would be appropriate for a mother's entrance.  

Re: Catholic Ceremony Music

  • mrsbanany said:
    FI and I met with our organist today to discuss the music for our ceremony.  He is a very talented singer, songwriter, and musician but he seems to be a bit stuck in his ways as far as options for each part of the ceremony goes.  For our mother's entrance he suggested "Gentle Woman".  Personally I am not a huge fan of that song, nothing really about it that sets me off with it, I just don't really like it.  I asked for alternatives and he didn't give me anything, he just wrote in our notes that he was going to use that for the mother's entrance.  I told him that I wanted the processionals to be only instrumental and he gave me a few options for the BMs and myself, we decided on Canon in D.  However, again for the mother's entrance he was firm on Gentle Woman. We double checked with our church and it is not a rule that we need to use Gentle Woman, our organist just really, really, really, likes the song.  I was just wondering if anyone has another instrumental option that would fit with the church guidelines but would be appropriate for a mother's entrance.  
    Typically, the only criteria you have to worry about is whether the song is liturgically approved.  Some parishes are more flexible than others.  Our parish, for example, allows the song, "One Hand, One Heart" from West Side Story.  Ask the actual minister of music (who is probably different than the organist) for a wedding preparation book.  Most parishes offer them.  They contain options for readings, Prayers of the Faithful, and musical options.  Your organist should not be dictating to you what songs are played at YOUR wedding.

    This wedding site is very helpful.....
    http://catholicweddinghelp.com/wedding-planning/07-choose-music.htm
  • I assume you only have two mothers being escorted? That shouldn't take longer than 90 seconds, so I don't think you necessarily need another song. And I'd calmly tell your organist that you do not want "Gentle Woman". Fwiw, we had "How Beautiful" by Twila Paris for the mothers & bridal party.
  • http://www.myweddingmusic.com/processionals/

    my organist gave me a list of some options, which linked to this site so i could listen to them. 
  • Here's an informative article from a Catholic Church musician. http://rorycooney.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-ipad-doesnt-lie-volume-2-wedding.html
    Resist "Gentle Woman." Thoroughly inappropriate.
  • We are having a Catholic wedding and using Ave Maria for the mothers.  The chapel we're using is pretty limited on music choices (I assume to save the organist some work, but I'm not sure) so for the mothers we could use either that or extend Trumpet Voluntary, our bridal party processional, to include the mothers. 
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