Planning Your Ceremony
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Planning your wedding ceremony is a fun and joyous task! We encourage you to dive in and get fully involved in this process together. This page will walk you through the different aspects of the ceremony (or liturgy) and explain the planning process. You can also look through your reading options here and listen to the music choices here.
Liturgy Planning
In deciding to be married in the Catholic Church, you have chosen to celebrate your marriage within the beautiful, sacred traditions of the Catholic Church. In consultation with your presiding priest, you may choose to celebrate your marriage within the Nuptial Mass (with Communion) or with the Liturgy of the Word only (no Communion).
You and your fiancé will select the readings, petitions, and music (including the processional music, psalm, Alleluia, Communion song if desired, song to Mary if desired, and recessional music). Our favorite options are available to read and listen to on this website. If you wish to have something other than what is on this website, please talk with the Director of Liturgy and Music at your parish. Secular or popular music is best saved for your reception.
The Director of Liturgy and Music at the parish where you are being married will help you plan your marriage ceremony and arrange for musicians. After reading and listening to the options for readings and music, please fill out the Ceremony Planning Form with your choices, and then contact the Director of Liturgy and Music at the parish to set up a meeting. Please contact them at least 3-4 months before the wedding.
Old St. Mary – Matthew Lawrenz: mlawrenz@ffpmke.org or 414-271-6180
Our Lady of Divine Providence – Claire Stasiukevicius: cstasiukevicius@ffpmke.org or 414-264-0049
Ss. Peter and Paul – Tom Koester: tkoester@ffpmke.org or 414-962-2443
Three Holy Women – Lee Gwozdz: lgwozdz@ffpmke.org or 414-271-6577
Wedding Musicians
The parish where you are being married provides an organist/pianist (typically the Director of Liturgy and Music) and singer (cantor) included in the fee to the church for your wedding.
For a separate additional fee that you would pay directly to the musicians, wedding couples can choose to also include additional singers and instrumentalists of which options can include:
- Duo of singers (male/female)
- Quartet of singers (soprano/alto/tenor/bass)
- Choir of 8 singers
- Trumpet
- Violin
- Flute
- Harp
- Brass quartet
- Timpani (kettledrums)
The Director of Liturgy and Music at your parish can assist you to hire extra singers and/or instrumentalists for your wedding and provide you with a cost chart for each of the above options.
If you have a family member or friend who you would like to involve in the music for your wedding day, these arrangements must be approved by the Director of Liturgy and Music at least 6 months in advance. Visiting singers are welcome to sing a prelude and/or the song to the Blessed Mother. All musicians must be competent, know their music, and demonstrate a professional and prayerful approach to the ministry of a Sacred Musician.
Wedding Programs
After your meeting, the Director of Liturgy and Music at your parish will provide an order of worship for you to use in your wedding program. This order of worship will include the spoken and sung responses so that your guests may enthusiastically participate in the celebration of your marriage. Below is an example of a wedding order of worship as it would be provided to you.