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Church Music Only?

pjseabeepjseabee member
100 Comments
in Catholic Weddings
Is there ANY chance I'll get to walk down the aisle of a Catholic church to Etta James "At Last"?!  From what I've been reading so far (Live 8 hours away from cermony site, so communication w/priest is very limited at this point) it sounds like the music has to be all hymns, and some places dont even allow the tradtional wedding march?!

I'm so down on the wedding planning right now.  Someone please lie to me & tell me I'll get my way.  It's just me, entering the church for goodness sake!  I don't really get why that has to be a hymn.
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Re: Church Music Only?

  • meltoinemeltoine member
    Sixth Anniversary 500 Comments First Answer
    edited December 2011
    Sorry, but it has to be a hymn. Marriage is a sacrament, and as such it must follow the proper form to be valid. The Wedding March is a protestant song, not a hymn, so that's usually not allowed either. Some parish allow non-liturgical, instrumental music, but I can't imagine any parish letting you use pop music. 
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  • BrassyClarinetBrassyClarinet
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Our church has specified that it cannot be secular music.  I'm pretty sure that's uniform.
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  • samurai21samurai21
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    The wedding march isn't allowed also because of the Opera that it was originally written for and the theme behind it.

    And yes, I would be prepared to not be walking in using At Last. For what it's worth, I've worked non-catholic ceremonies that used At Last to walk in and unless you're aisle is really long or your entire WP and you are walking in with that song it's a tricky song to use without having a weird cut off at the end or weird entrance because it's so slow.

    There are so many beautiful hymns whether sung or with only the instrumental playing, so hopefully you'll fins something that fits the bill!

    EDIT: I re-read it and some bad grammar slipped in and was bugging me!
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  • kathjack95kathjack95
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In addition to what everyone else has already said, many churches won't allow you to use pre-recorded music of any kind. So in all probability you won't be getting your way on this one.
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  • Theresa626Theresa626 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Maybe it could be the first dance? 

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  • EKobrenskiEKobrenski
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I don't think any Catholic church will allow pop music, but they def allow non-hymn classical music.  I am walking in to Canon in D, which I don't think is religious.  Honestly, I am not very religious, but having pop music in a church just doesn't seem to "fit". 

    Also, they are letting us do the traditional Wedding March to leave the church.  I didn't ask about the "here comes the bride" one, but I assume they would have allowed that too. 
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  • samurai21samurai21
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Not all churches allow non-hymn classical music, so it really is all about asking the priest/musical director at your church. The church we're getting married at is very strict that all music be sacred in nature (ie:only liturgical music) and nothing can be pre-recorded.
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  • EKobrenskiEKobrenski
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.weddings.com/Sites/Weddings/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_church-music-only?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:17b9d425-6d4a-4ce3-b5b9-1120db4bf298Post:5feaa64f-cd0d-47df-bf33-efe5dda9e719">Re: Church Music Only?</a>:
    [QUOTE]Not all churches allow non-hymn classical music, so it really is all about asking the priest/musical director at your church. The church we're getting married at is very strict that all music be sacred in nature (ie:only liturgical music) and nothing can be pre-recorded.
    Posted by samurai21[/QUOTE]

    Sorry, I should have said some def. allow it, not all.  
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  • Riss91Riss91 member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    We used classical music (non-hymn) for the processionals/recessional. I know some people have gotten away with using a classical version of a pop tune (my SIL used the theme from Zelda) but they definitely took a chance that the priest/muscial director would not permit it. I think the song you're hoping to use is too recognizable as a pop tune. I would try to find something classical instead.

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  • samurai21samurai21
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I figured that's what you meant, but just wanted to make sure the OP didn't get her hopes up too much since some churches can be pretty strict.
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  • Bec20Bec20 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    You may be allowed to have the song, but I wouldn't count on it.  Some churches DO allow you to have pop music though... my cousin had a few performed at his wedding and my mother's best friend walked down the aisle to "The Rose" 20 years ago.
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  • e_jakielae_jakiela
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    My BMs and I will walk up the aisle to the "wedding song" by paul stookey... it was hard to get the monsignor's approval, but when he heard the lyrics he agreed... all other music must be religious

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