Wedding Music

Selections are available to listen to here before you make your decision. 

On the occasion of a wedding day, there is shared a solemn, life-long promise, a covenant with each other and with God, witnessed by God's people, friends and relatives. The wedding ceremony is to be planned as a memorable and joyful religious experience for all. 

That solemn promise is witnessed in a special, holy place - the parish church. All plans and preparations give honor to the occasion, that unique moment in life. Since all else is carefully chosen and planned, one would want to be just as careful and particular in the choice of texts and music within the wedding liturgy. Welcome the assistance of your parish priests and musicians in this regard. 

Here are some considerations when choosing music for your wedding.

From the document “Sing to the Lord” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

11. Within the gathered assembly, the role of the congregation is especially important. “The full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else, for it is the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit.”

220. Particular decisions about choice and placement of wedding music should be based on the three judgments...: the liturgical judgment, the pastoral judgment, and the musical judgment. Additionally, music should reflect the truth that all the sacraments celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Christ. Secular music, even though it may emphasize the love of the spouses for one another, is not appropriate for the Sacred Liturgy. Songs that are chosen for the Liturgy should be appropriate for the celebration and express the faith of the Church.

Music chosen should be appropriate for Sunday Mass, which is the "source and summit" of our faith, reflecting the Paschal Mystery as defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: 

Christ’s work of redemption accomplished principally by his Passion, death, Resurrection, and glorious Ascension, whereby “dying he destroyed our death, rising he restored our life” (1067; cf. 654). The paschal mystery is celebrated and made present in the liturgy of the Church, and its saving effects are communicated through the sacraments (1076), especially the Eucharist, which renews the paschal sacrifice of Christ as the sacrifice offered by the Church (571, 1362–1372). (P. 891)

In order to assist you, we have put together some guidelines to help with your planning. As always, we are available to answer any questions you may have.

As with all liturgies at St. Hugo of the Hills, the Church Music Office wants and needs to play an important role in the planning of the liturgical music for your wedding. As noted above, due to the sacredness of the occasion and setting, music whose text is not sacred or liturgical is not appropriate and therefore it cannot be used before, during or after your wedding. (Standard classical instrumental music is usually exempt from this). 

Since sung prayer is of great importance in Catholic liturgy and because of the specialized training and knowledge of procedures required, a cantor from St. Hugo's will lead all sung liturgical music selections, in particular the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, parts of the Mass (when the liturgy is a Mass), as well as solo pieces appropriate to the occasion. If there is a friend or relative who would like to sing for the liturgy, they are most welcome to sing one or two selections during the liturgy. Rehearsal time is available one hour prior to the liturgy. In accordance with the Church's liturgical documents, pre-recorded music is not permitted.

Also, because of the large number of difficult experiences with outside musicians, we strongly recommend that all instrumentalists be liturgically trained at the church, and have experience making music at St. Hugo. Using musicians who are used regularly here at St Hugo's will be of great benefit to you also as there will be less rehearsal time, saving you extra charges. The church organists have a very complete list of musicians who have had such training and experience here at St. Hugo. The list offers a very wide range of outstanding local musicians including, but not limited to, classical guitar, string players, trumpet players, flautists, and vocal and instrumental ensembles. We only use very good musicians who have played in the Symphony, Opera or other top-venue sites. You should have no problem selecting music and musicians appropriate to the liturgy, under the guidance of the church organists. 

Fee Schedule (fees must be paid at least 72 hours prior to the wedding)

Organist: $300

Cantor: $200

Additional Instrumentalists: $200/musician (there will likely be an additional charge for harpists)