Catholic Wedding Mass

Hi 07 Brides!
An '08 'er needs a lil help
Just met with my priest last nite and i forgot to ask him how many readings i can have, as well how many songs i need to pick....can anyone give me an idea of the number of each i need, as well as what songs/readings you used.....

I was also wondering how the unity candle works....ive seen it where the mother's and then couple lights it....any thoughts on that?

Thanks for all of your help!

are you having a full mass? I'm just going to pretend you are, so you'll have all the info. Also, one you do precana, you'll get a book that details everything about the readings.

OK, so you need a first reading and a second reading. Then, you pick a gospel. You'll also have your prayer of the faithful, so you can pick another reader for that. For songs, you need:

Prelude and Bridal Party Processional Music
Bride's Entrance Music (something like Canon in D)
Responsorial Psalm (this can be read or sung)
Unity Candle Lighting Song
Presentation of the Gifts song
Communion hymn
Recessional Music

As far as the unity candle, you can do either the couple lights it, or the mothers light it and then the couple. I've seen it done both ways. We're planning on doing just us (not the mothers).

Hope this helped!

in addition to the above post, you can have the consecration of the Eucharist sung (the holy holy, christ has died, the amen, and the lamb of God). your organist and cantor will probably automatically do this for you, but there are different settings and tunes for this, so ask them to pick one for you or you can request one you like.

also, many catholic brides present flowers to the Virgin Mary's statue... many people have a Marian hymn here such as Ave Maria, Immaculate Mary, Hail Holy Queen, etc. etc. etc. Also, depending on how long your line is for communion, you may want to two songs.... i needed two as we had well over a hundred people receive.

This is what I had for readings:

1st reading- Sirach 26:1-4, 13-16
2nd reading- 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8A
Gospel Acclamation- 1 John 4:8, 11
Gospel- Mark 10:6-9
Prayer of the Faithful

I had readers for the 1st and 2nd and the Prayer of the Faithful. Father did the Gospels.

Songs:

We had 3 prelude songs:
The Servant Song, God Is Love, and When Love is Found.
Seating of the Mothers- All I ask of You
Bridal Party- Cannon in D
Bride's Processional- Trumpet Voluntary
Responsorial Psalm- I Haved Loved You
Candle Lighting Ceremony- Christ Be Our Light
Presentation of the Gifts- All That We Have
Sign of Peace- Let There Be Peace
Communion Song- We Have Been Told
Presentation to the Blessed Mary- Ave Maria
Recessional- Traditional Wedding March

As for the lighting of the candle... My Mom and DH's Dad lit the tapers and then we took the tapers and lit our candle. (DH Mom didn't want to do it)