My aim is to make the musical side of your wedding ceremony completely stress-free. From the moment your guests begin arriving until you walk back down the aisle as newlyweds, everything is carefully coordinated so you can simply enjoy one of the most important moments of your lives.

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​BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

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When do I need to confirm musician(s)?

As soon as possible.

If you would like additional musicians, please let me know as early as you can. Professional wedding musicians are in high demand and can be booked months, and sometimes years, in advance.

I cannot hold musicians indefinitely without confirmation, and availability cannot be guaranteed if left until close to your wedding date.

If you know you would like additional musicians, I strongly recommend securing them as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

 

When do I need to finalise my song choices?

I recommend sending me your song choices as soon as you have them. If you're unsure where songs should be placed within the ceremony, don't worry - I will guide you through this and help create a programme that works smoothly.

Your final song list should be confirmed no later than 4-6 weeks before your wedding date. After this point, changes may not be possible, particularly if additional musicians are involved. Music often needs to be arranged, transposed into suitable keys, distributed to musicians and rehearsed in advance.

Please do not send your ceremony booklet for printing until both your music selections and song placements have been approved by me and by your priest. The earlier your music is finalised, the more time everyone has to prepare and ensure everything runs perfectly on the day.

We don't want hymns at our church wedding. Is that possible?

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I completely understand that hymns may not be your first choice, and every couple wants their ceremony to feel personal. However, it is important to remember that a church wedding is a religious ceremony, and the music is expected to support the liturgy.

While some priests are more flexible than others, hymns or liturgically appropriate music are often required during certain parts of the ceremony, particularly during a Nuptial Mass. Contemporary songs are generally more suitable for the entrance, signing of the register, and recessional. In some cases, a special song may be possible as an instrumental piece.

Don't worry – this is where I can help. With over 20 years of experience working with churches, priests and wedding ceremonies, I will guide you through your music choices and help you create a programme that is both personal and appropriate for the setting. We will discuss all of your music selections together, and I will advise you on what is typically accepted and what may raise concerns.

If there is a particular song that I feel could be questioned because of its lyrics, style or placement within the ceremony, I will advise you to check it with your priest before making a final decision. My aim is to help you avoid any surprises or last-minute changes.

One of the key differences between a church wedding and a civil or non-religious ceremony is the approach to music. Civil and non-religious ceremonies generally allow much greater flexibility in song choices, whereas church ceremonies require music that is appropriate to the religious setting and the different parts of the liturgy.

Once we have agreed on a proposed music programme, it is then your responsibility to bring that list to your priest for approval. Please remember that the final decision on what music is permitted within the ceremony rests with the priest. Neither the couple nor the musician has the final say on this.

It is also important to understand that music policies can vary between parishes. Even if the priest celebrating your wedding is happy with a particular choice, local parish guidelines may still apply.

For this reason, I strongly recommend that you do not print your ceremony booklets until both you and I are happy with the music programme and your priest has approved it. This can prevent unnecessary expense and avoid disappointment should any changes be required.

My role is to help you create a beautiful ceremony while ensuring that your music choices work within the requirements of the church.​​

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​What time will you arrive at the church?​

I always arrive at least one to one and a half hours before your ceremony. This allows time to choose the most acoustically suitable location, meet any additional musicians, set up the PA system, run through your ceremony music, liaise with the priest and ensure everything is ready before your guests begin to arrive.

For this reason, it is important that the church is available for access before your ceremony.

When confirming your ceremony time, please be mindful that some churches may have other events taking place beforehand. Depending on the time of year, there may be a funeral, a First Holy Communion ceremony, a regular church service or even another wedding scheduled on the same day.

If your priest or parish office advises you of any events taking place before your ceremony, please let me know as soon as possible. This is particularly important if there are restrictions on church access or setup times.

If you are having additional musicians or a larger ensemble, adequate setup time is essential. Ideally, the church should be available for at least one hour before the ceremony to allow everything to be prepared properly and ensure a smooth start to your wedding.

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ENTRANCE MUSIC 

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Can I have separate entrance songs for the bridal party and the bride?​

Absolutely. Many couples choose one piece of music for the entire entrance, and this works perfectly also.​

If you would like two separate entrance pieces, the bridal party entrance should be instrumental.

Church entrances are very difficult to time precisely. Bridesmaids may walk faster or slower than expected, children can cause delays, and there is no way to predict exactly how long the entrance will take on the day. Instrumental music allows us to adapt naturally to these changes.

For this reason, I do not recommend having a sung piece for the bridal party followed by a second sung piece for the bride. In my experience, this rarely works smoothly.

The best options are:

• One piece for the entire entrance

• Bridal party: Instrumental piece / Bride's entrance: Instrumental piece

• Bridal party: Instrumental piece / Bride's entrance: Sung piece

These options create a seamless and elegant entrance while allowing the music to flow naturally with the pace of the procession.

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Do I need to worry about the length of my entrance song?

No. Please don't choose a song based on its length.

I will always finish the music naturally when you reach the top of the aisle. If your walk takes longer than expected, I can extend the music seamlessly. If you arrive sooner, I will bring the piece to a natural finish. That's all part of what I do.

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Can we do a TikTok or Instagram-style song transition during the entrance?

I generally don't recommend this for ceremonies.

Many of the entrance "mash-ups" and song transitions you see on social media look fantastic, but they often don't reflect how a real wedding ceremony works. Some are edited after the event, some are staged for filming purposes, and many are not performed during actual church ceremonies.

The reality is that no one knows exactly how long your entrance will take on the day. Bridesmaids may walk faster or slower than expected, children may stop halfway up the aisle, and there can be unexpected pauses along the way.

Because of this, the music needs to remain flexible and follow what is happening in real time. Trying to switch from one piece to another at a precise moment is often difficult and can feel rushed or awkward if the timing doesn't go exactly to plan.

My priority is always to make your entrance feel natural, seamless and stress-free, rather than trying to match a pre-planned social media moment.

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How will I know when to walk up the aisle?

I coordinate closely with the priest, photographer, videographer and bridal party to ensure your entrance music begins at the right moment. There are often subtle signals and cues between all of us behind the scenes before the ceremony starts, and I will only begin the music once everyone is ready.

Once the bridal party hears the music begin, they can start their walk up the aisle at a comfortable and steady pace, allowing the entrance to flow naturally and seamlessly.

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DURING THE CEREMONY ​

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What happens during the Lighting of the Individual Candles?

This takes place at the beginning of the ceremony, just after you reach the top of the aisle.

Some priests will say a few words of welcome first, while others will invite you straight to light the candles. The whole moment is very short, usually around 40-60 seconds.

Because of this, I generally recommend an instrumental piece. If you would prefer singing, it will usually only be a verse or chorus before you return to your place at the altar.

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What is the Responsorial Psalm?

The Responsorial Psalm takes place after the First Reading.

It is a sung scripture reading and is a required part of the church ceremony. I will sing the Psalm on behalf of the congregation, creating a calm and reflective moment before the Second Reading.

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What is the Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia)?

Just before the Gospel is read, I will sing the Alleluia.

This is a short hymn that welcomes the Gospel and is an important part of the church ceremony.

Please click below for an example of an Alleluia 

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What happens during the Lighting of the Unity Candle?

The Unity Candle is usually lit after your vows and exchange of rings.

It symbolises two lives joining together in marriage. Like the Individual Candles, this is a very short part of the ceremony, so an instrumental piece or a short sung section works best.

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What is the Offertory Procession?

The Offertory takes place after the Prayers of the Faithful.

This is when the bread and wine are brought to the altar. In many weddings, family members or close friends are invited to bring the gifts forward.

A suitable hymn is sung  or instrumental piece is played during this part of the ceremony as the gifts are presented and prepared.

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What is the Sign of Peace?

The Sign of Peace is a moment when the priest invites the congregation to offer peace to those around them.

Not all priests include this part of the ceremony, so it is worth checking with your priest in advance.

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What happens during Communion?

Communion is often one of the most reflective parts of the ceremony.

Music is performed while guests receive Communion, helping to create a peaceful and prayerful atmosphere. Depending on your ceremony, this may include hymns, classical music or instrumental pieces.

I generally recommend choosing two pieces of music for Communion. This is usually the perfect amount for most church weddings and allows enough music to cover the distribution of Communion comfortably.

The exact timing will depend on the size of your congregation and how many guests choose to receive Communion, but in most cases, two pieces is the maximum that will be required.

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What happens during the signing of the register?

If the register is signed during the ceremony, your chosen music will be performed while the paperwork is completed.

This is often one of the most personal parts of the ceremony and is usually where there is the greatest flexibility with music choices. Many couples choose contemporary, non-religious or particularly meaningful songs for this moment (subject to any guidelines from your priest).

I generally recommend choosing two pieces of music for the signing of the register.

However, it is important to remember that the timing of this part of the ceremony is largely determined by the photographer and videographer, as this is when most of the formal photographs are taken. Sometimes this process can take several minutes, while other times it can be completed very quickly.

For this reason, while I recommend selecting two pieces, there is no guarantee that both will be performed in full on the day. If the signing and photographs are completed sooner than expected, we may need to move directly to the next part of the ceremony. This timing is outside of my control and can only be judged in the moment.

My priority is always to ensure that the music flows naturally with the ceremony as it unfolds.

 

LEAVING THE CHURCH 

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What music is played as we leave the church?

Your exit music (recessional) is the music played as you walk back down the aisle together as a married couple.

This is usually a joyful and uplifting piece of music. Instrumental music often works best as guests are clapping, smiling and celebrating as you leave the church. ​

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Final Note 

Planning your ceremony music can feel overwhelming at first, especially if you've never attended many church weddings or are unfamiliar with the different parts of the ceremony.​

Please don't worry if you don't have all of your music choices decided straight away. That's completely normal.

With over 20 years of experience providing music for church wedding ceremonies, I will guide you through the process, help you choose music that suits both your ceremony and your personal style, and advise on where each piece works best.

My goal is to make the music planning process as simple and stress-free as possible, while ensuring everything runs smoothly on the day.

If you're ever unsure about a song choice, hymn, ceremony requirement or music placement, just ask. That's what I'm here for.