i have to plan my dream wedding for my religion class and i have a few questions.
how many readings are there during a catholic wedding? and what are some common ones?
how many songs do i pick to play?
what is the traditional wedding march called? and is it usually played at a catholic wedding?
Here is a little wedding timeline, I’ll fill in songs and readings as I find them. You can really use any readings you want as long as they are in the right section of the bible.
The Entrance Procession – Song – The traditional wedding march is actually called the "Bridal Chorus." It is by Richard Wagner. It depends on the diocese if you can use that song. Our diocese does not let couples use that song because of how it was used in the opera "Lohengrin" A lot of people will use Canon in D by Pachelbel or Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach.
Opening Prayer – priest will do this but you get to chose it
Old Testament Reading –
Genesis 1:26-28, 31a
Genesis 2:18-24
Genesis 24:48-51, 58-67
Tobit 7:6-14
Tobit 8:4b-8
Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
Song of Songs 2:8-10, 14, 16a; 8:6-7a
Sirach 26:1-4, 13-16 (Thinking about this one maybe)
Jeremiah 31:31-32a, 33-34a
Responsorial Psalm –
Psalm 33:12 and 18, 20-21, 22
Psalm 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Psalm 103:1-2, 8 and 13, 17-18a
Psalm 112: 1bc-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7b-8, 9
Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5
Psalm 145: 8-9, 10 and 15, 17-18
Psalm 148: 1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-13a, 13c-14a
New Testament Reading
Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39
Romans 12:1-2, 9-18
Romans 15:1b-3a, 5-7, 13
1 Corinthians 6:13c-15, 17-20
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8a (One of the more popular ones and the one I am using)
Ephesians 5:2a, 21-33
Philippians 4:4-9
Colossians 3:12-17
Hebrews 13:1-4a, 5-6b
1 Peter 3:1-9
1 John 3:18-24
1 John 4:7-12
Revelation 19:1, 5-9a
Alleluia Verse
1 John 4:7b
1 John 4:8b,11
1 John 4:12
1 John 4:16
Gospel –
Matthew 5:1-12a
Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 7:21, 24-29
Matthew 19:3-6
Matthew 22:35-40
Mark 10:6-9
John 2:1-11
John 15:9-12
John 15:12-16
John 17:20-26
Wedding Vows – The traditional wedding vows. You can read them here – http://www.weddingclipart.com/guide/wedding-vows/Catholic-Wedding-Vows.html
Blessing of the Rings – Priest will say this for you but you can chose one of a number of ways it can be said.
Prayer of the Couple – this is optional
Prayer of the Faithful – traditional ones
Nuptial Blessing – again, there is a choice of these but the priest will say it
Final Blessing – priest will say!
Leave the Church! – Traditionally, most people use "The Wedding March" for this. It is by Felix Mendelssohn. Again, different diocese won’t let you use this because of it’s use in "A Midsummer’s Night Dream." Another good substitute is the Trumpet Voluntary.