Weddings

Weddings are important and joyous milestones in the lives of those who are blessed to have them. Below you will find a list of ceremonial music that is pre-approved that James is ready to play, to make your special day that much more special.

Please read before you make your selections:

Some music can function as a processional or recessional, whereas other music may be best suited for only one or the other portion of the ceremony. Processionals (entrance music) are sometimes slower and more dignified, whereas recessionals (exit music) are often louder / faster / more joyous. Depending on your preferred selections, it may be necessary to reorder them to best suit the flow of the liturgy.
Certain titles are shared by more than one piece of music (e.g. "Trumpet Tune" or "March"). Please be sure to include the composer’s name in your selection, for example, “Trumpet Tune in D by David Johnson”.
The suggestions below are non-comprehensive, and many more options are available. If there is a specific piece that you would like James to play that is not listed below, you may type it in to a box below, however special selections require screening and adequate time to learn. You are not guaranteed a special selection. When choosing your music, please remember you are choosing music for a sacrament taking place in a church. Consequently:
1. Secular music (ie- songs from your favorite bands / artists / movies) should be programmed at the rehearsal dinner or reception. Any requests for pop/rock/movie songs at your ceremony (even as instrumental) will be automatically denied. (cf. Tra le Sollicitudini, §5)
2. Bridal Chorus by Wagner (“Here comes the bride”), and Wedding March by Mendelssohn, while popular, will not be played at the cathedral due to their geneses as pieces for opera/theater whose original contexts are not befitting a Catholic sacrament.†1 Pachelbel’s Canon in D, while permitted, is discouraged, since this piece is of limited musical interest and has been heard at countless other weddings. Let’s work together to make your wedding more unique!
James’ fee is $300 and it is to be payed via cash (preferred) or check prior to the event. James’ fee can be submitted directly to him or turned into the parish office (the week prior to the event). You may also pre-pay for James’s services here, via this website.
1. Please note: third-party musicians may not be engaged without James’s prior approval. If outside musicians / cantors are engaged, an extra $50 fee is required to cover the correspondence, arranging, and warmup/rehearsal which is necessary.
2. James will play & sing, unless other arrangements are requested. If cathedral cantors are desired, their fee is $125 (each) which must also be paid in advance to the parish office. (Use of parish cantors does not incur the aforementioned $50 fee.)

Processionals (Entrance)

Also:

Trumpet Tune in C by David N. Johnson

Processionals OR Recessionals (Entrance or Exit)

Also:

Trumpet Voluntary by John Stanley
Prelude in Classic Style by Gordon Young
Processional in Eb by David N. Johnson
Trumpet Tune & Air by Eric Thiman
Trumpet Tune by Frederick Swann

Recessionals (Exit-Only!)

Also:

La Rejoissance from Handel’s Water Music.
Fanfare by Jacques Lemmens
Toccata in G by Dubois
Toccata Brevis by Gawthrop
Tuba Tune by C.S. Lang

Bride

First Name

Last Name

Groom

First Name

Last Name

Email (primary contact)

Phone Number

Please provide a cell phone number so James can contact you in the event that details need to be discussed.

(###)

###

####

Date of Event

MM

DD

YYYY

Time of Event

Mass or Ceremony? (Liturgy of the Word only)

Please indicate whether or not your event will be a full Mass (with consecration and communion).

Mass

Ceremony Only (Liturgy of the Word)

Attendants' Processional

For weddings with a large coterie of attendants (bridal party, parents, flower girls, etc.) separate processional music is preferred. This music will be played more softly / with less pomp than the bride's processional music.

Bride's Processional

Psalm Choice

NB: a wide variety of Psalms may be chosen. Please specify the psalm number, AND refrain text. (Please include the lectionary number or the reference number (e.g. "C6") from the wedding preparation booklet.)

Gospel Acclamation Verse

Please include the desired gospel acclamation verse such as, "What God has joined together, let no man rend asunder." etc.

Will there be any special Marian devotion?

Example: it is common for couples to take flowers to Our Lady and pray for Her intercession, or to include the arras and rosary lasso if one or both of the spouses are members of the hispanic community.

Yes

No

Recessional

Additional Notes / Requests

Acknowledgement

By clicking this box, you acknowledge that you have read the guidelines above this form, as well as the St. Augustine wedding guidelines, and agree to the policies therein. You also agree that: 1.) payment will be rendered in advance, 2.) you will not engage outside musicians or cantors without prior approval from James, 3.) you will honor the extra $50 fee to cover rehearsal/arranging when 3rd-party musicians are engaged.

I Agree

†1 • We are cognizant of the fact that the Wagner & Mendelssohn pieces are occasionally performed at other churches. We cannot account for this decision on the part of other venues, however there is a long-established debate surrounding these two specific pieces, and certain dioceses have even formally banned them in the past. We wish to avoid all unseemliness and offer other music that is more befitting the sacrament of matrimony. One must also consider that these pieces are a cultural trope in popular media, which typically depicts weddings which are not catholic.