Preparing for Your Wedding Liturgy

General Information

Many questions arise when beginning to plan music for your Wedding Liturgy. To help you get started in this process we have compiled the following:

  • General Information
  • Music Planning CD, available from the Music Office.
  • Answers to frequently asked questions

After reviewing this information, contact the Music Office to make arrangements for your Wedding music.

Wedding Music Online

The Music Office has recorded and compiled a selection of music samples appropriate for use in the wedding liturgy. This collection is by no means an all inclusive list; however, it can serve as an effective starting point by either helping you identify titles to pieces with which you may already be familiar, or by introducing you to new pieces you may wish to use. To listen, follow the links in the right hand column of this page, or choose one of the following links: Wedding Music Online: Introduction, Instrumental Selections and Vocal Solos and Congregational Refrains

Musicians for the Wedding Liturgy

An organist and cantor/vocalist from the parish staff are automatically assigned to your wedding. Should you wish to use additional musicians, for example flute, violin, trumpet or vocal ensemble, the Music Director will make the necessary arrangements for you. In an effort to maintain the highest musical and liturgical standards, all musicians are arranged for and hired through the parish music office. Professional instrumentalists and vocalists not associated with Queen of All Saints are not permitted. When using additional musicians, it is important to make arrangements early in the planning process, as we draw on some of the finest professional musicians in the city who maintain very active performance schedules. If necessary, the Music Director can help you determine which musicians can be most effective in terms of the specific pieces of music you choose, or in creating the musical “environment” you desire.

Fees

Fee information will be provided by the parish office when you make arrangements to schedule your wedding. The basic music fee includes the services of the organist and cantor/vocali/st already assigned to your wedding, as well as all consultation and planning time. Additional instrumentalists and vocalists will be provided, at your request, for a corresponding fee. In the event of special and unusual circumstances, fees will be adjusted accordingly.

Final Step

Once music and musicians have been selected, the parish Music Director will review each of the details and, when completed, give final approval. Arrangements for payment for additional musicians should be made at this time. We recommend that final details be confirmed no later than two weeks before the Wedding date. Please note that all music and musicians are arranged and approved by the Music Director in advance of this time.

Contacting the Music Office

After you make initial arrangements with one of the parish priests, please call Ken Sotak or Paul Scavone in the Music Office. At this time, they can tell you about the resources available to you, offer a time-line for deciding on music and musicians, and answer any questions you may have.