WEDDING CEREMONY MUSIC
Church, Civil, Humanist & Spiritual Weddings
Adding music to your ceremony is a great way to personalise and put your own stamp on your wedding. I recommend that you include songs that you and your fiancée both love. Your wedding day is all about the two of you after all!
For some people, choosing songs will be easy. If that’s you, you probably have a song or songs in mind while reading this. Maybe it’s a song that brings back a fond memory of you and your partner. Maybe it’s the song you always envisioned yourself walking down the aisle to.
For others, choosing just a handful of songs for your ceremony from the hundreds and thousands that are out there can be more difficult. If this is you then here are some tips:
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What kind of music do you like? Do you like what’s currently on the radio? Are you a country music fanatic? Do you like the buzz of Irish traditional music or prefer a slow ballad? Make a list of your favourite songs, artists and genres and listen to them. Then choose the songs that stand out to you.
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How do you want your wedding ceremony to feel? If you want a more lighthearted, relaxed and fun feel, go for some light, upbeat pop music eg. All About You McFly, Everywhere Fleetwood Mac, Everlasting Love Love Affair. If you prefer a more formal and elegant atmosphere, choose some of the tried and tested, timeless classics like A Thousand Years Christina Perri, Songbird Fleetwood Mac, Can’t Help Falling in Love Elvis.
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If you still can’t decide, check out my list of song suggestions below.
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For pricing information, click here.
Church Ceremony
For your church wedding ceremony you will need about 10-12 pieces of music. See the guide below to know where the music is placed throughout the ceremony.
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Generally, you can choose any songs you like for the Entrance, Signing of the Register & Exit. The rest of the mass is usually hymns.
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Some priests may insist that you use only religious music for your ceremony (including the Entrance, Signing of the Register & Exit) while others might allow you to use songs or ballads during the mass instead of hymns. Therefore, all music should be approved by your priest before the wedding.
Hymns
Psalms
Here I Am Lord
Song of Ruth
On Eagle's Wings
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Gospel Acclamations
Seinn Alleluia
Celtic Alleluia
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
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Hymns
As I Kneel Before You
When Love is Found
Cloud's Veil
Shout to the Lord
Let There Be Love Shared Among Us
You Are Mine
Make Me A Channel of Your Peace
How Great Thou Art
Ave Maria
Amazing Grace
The Prayer
You Raise Me Up
A Mhuire Mháthair
Ag CrÃost an tSÃol
Lady of Knock
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Civil, Spiritual & Humanist Ceremonies
For shorter ceremonies like Civil, Humanist or Spiritual weddings, you should choose between 3 to 5 songs.
*Please note for HSE civil ceremonies, your music cannot contain any reference to religion or God. For example, songs with lyrics containing the words "God", "bless", "Heaven" etc would not be allowed. (This rule does not apply to spiritual or Humanist wedding ceremonies.)
Song Suggestions
Rascal Flatts - Bless the Broken Road
Ronan Keating - This I Promise You
James Vincent McMorrow - Higher Love
Christina Perri - A Thousand Years
Birdy - Wings
Chantal Kreviazuk - Feels Like Home
The Lumineers - Ho Hey
Ed Sheeran - Photograph
Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud
Ed Sheeran - Perfect
Ellie Goulding - How Long Will I Love You
Ellie Goulding - Your Song
Eva Cassidy/Fleetwood Mac - Songbird
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold
Fleetwood Mac - Landslide
Jason Mraz - I’m Yours
Kodaline - The One
McFly - All About You
Lifehouse - You & Me
Shania Twain - From This Moment
Take That - Rule The World
Bruno Mars - Marry You
Van Morrison - Crazy Love
Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Mary Black/Christy Moore - Bright Blue Rose
U2 - Beautiful Day
U2 - The Sweetest Thing
U2 - All I Want is You
Elvis - Can’t Help Falling in Love
The Beatles - All You Need is Love
Lionel Ritchie - You Are My Destiny
Bob Marley - Is This Love
Shane Filan - Beautiful in White
Hall & Oates - You Make My Dreams Come True
James Arthur - Say You Won’t Let Go
Picture This - Never Change
Picture This - Take My Hand
Christy Moore - The Voyage
Derek Ryan - God’s Plan
Calum Scott - You Are the Reason
The Greatest Showman - A Million Dreams
John Legend - All of Me
Jack Johnson - Better Together
Rose Parker - One Wish
Counting Crows - Accidentally in Love
Cat Power - Sea of Love
Angus & Julia Stone - The Wedding Song
Wicked - For Good
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
The Corrs - Runaway
Johnny Cash - Jackson
Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Islands in the Stream
Cyndi Lauper - True Colours
Rebecca Ferguson - Nothing’s Real But Love
Ella Henderson - Yours
Shania Twain - Still the One
Love Affair/U2 - Everlasting Love
The Cranberries - Dreams