Ceremony Music...I'm Confused

Lindze75

It was my understanding that the order of the music for our Catholic ceremony (no mass) would be:

Procession
Song after First Reading
Responsorial after Gospel
Song for Candlelighting Ceremony (optional)
Procession out

But I'm not clear if the song after the first reading is a responsorial song or if it can be anything.  There are two songs I wanted out vocalist to sing and I'm not sure where I can put those (Ave Maria & Amazing Grace).  Any suggestions/clarification would be helpful!
TIA

ring_pop

It's responsorial psalm - it can either be read or set to music.

(ETA: just to clarify - this is taken from the book of Psalms. Think of it as another reading.)

You can use the songs you want for the candle-lighting, or *maybe* the processional or recessional (though I'm not sure about the appropriateness of a sung Ave Maria for either).

Pirata13

Like ring_pop said, you can use them for the unity candle lighting, if you're doing that, or if you are putting flowers at the Blessed Virgin statue, you could do Ave Maria. Or have the Ave Maria sung before the procession begins.

chelley599

We are doing the Ave Maria when the mothers come in and are seated.  I love the hymn and wanted it in.  If you are having a full mass...what about the song during communion?

Lindze75

I think we'll do it for the Unity Candle.  Thanks for your help ladies.  I just wanted to make sure there wasn't another time for music that I'm not thinking of.  We aren't having a mass so we can't do it during communion and I'm not offering flowers to Mary.  It's my understanding that that's traditionally only done if you have remained a virgin to thank her for the strength she gave you to remain pure.

I have read about a gathering song, do you ladies know anything about that or have you seen it done?

ring_pop

You can have a gathering hymn sung immediately after the processional, before the ceremony begins, but most brides choose to skip that. Your church may also allow you to use a sung hymn as the processional - ask your music director.

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_ceremony-musicim-confused?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:4d95f353-bf87-4a90-a050-e34fc290aa8aPost:eefe8daa-01b4-438e-8f0e-f14b8d6f5f02">Re: Ceremony Music...I'm Confused</a>:

[QUOTE]We aren't having a mass so we can't do it during communion and I'm not offering flowers to Mary.  It's my understanding that that's traditionally only done if you have remained a virgin to thank her for the strength she gave you to remain pure.
Posted by Lindze75[/QUOTE]

Good grief... I certainly didn't use any elements of my wedding to announce my purity, or lack thereof.

Lindze75

Ok, I'll talk to our priest since there isn't a musical director.  We're getting married at a historical mission so it's a little different than a parish since they don't provide you with a priest, musicians or even refer you to any.  Pretty much if it's ok with the priest you bring in then it's ok. 

I know the flower to Mary/purity thing was a surprise to me too.  I went to a wedding last year and saw it for the first time.  When asking my mom and grandma about it that's the explaination they gave me.  Then it was like **cricket chirp** no mom and grandma I won't be doing that. LOL  Maybe it differs in different cultures - my family is from Portugal and that's how they do it there.....

ring_pop

Haha, fair enough!