wedding ceremony

heavyheart

Hi everyone

Just wondering , is there anyway of sprucing up the wedding ceremony or do the churches insist on church themed music ? I would love to liven up the church part as it is a celebration but the last few wedding i have been to all i hear are people complaining cause they HAVE to attend the mass and its so boring ???
Any one any ideas of making it more ....fun ?? or different for want of better wording ?????????

Glowing

How about getting a gospel choir? They're usually really lively, and alter popular songs to make them 'holy'!

heavyheart

Glowing wrote: »

How about getting a gospel choir? They're usually really lively, and alter popular songs to make them 'holy'!

I think thats a fab idea , never even thought of it ..unfortunately thou, in our church you couldnt swing a cat so i dont think there would be room for them.. thanks thou ...
its small as in there there is just an aisle , no side area for seat and no balcony !!!!

fruitandnut

hi, i'm interested in hearing your replies too! but i was at a wedding a few years ago where there was a choir, (i'm not sure if thats the right word). they were young and lively and sang westlife, and the like. it was lovely. a real lively ceremony and a celebration!

barbiegirl

I think the priest has a lot to do with it. If the priest knows the couple then the ceremony tends to be much lighter hearted. Indeed if he's the type of priest full of the joys of life he will bring this with him, if however it's all hell and damnation and you can't remember the last time he smiled and he doesn't personalise things it can be boring.
Other areas to look at are the prayers of the faithful, talk to the priest and look at jazzing these up bit, also the choice of hymns, look at folk choir music and you'll get what you want, a kids choir is always excellent and of course the bride and groom smiling and being happy creates the whole day.
As to those who complain about the ceremony, the main part of the day, they should feel lucky to be invited and appreciate what it means to be present as you and your OH promise to love one another for ever in front of everyone.

P. Fogg

Anyone know of any lively wedding ceremony musicians? I've also been looking into Gospel choirs, but considering you need at least 5 people plus travel costs, it would cost ca. 1200 -1600 euro! Would like to keep ceremony music costs under 1000. We've already booked drinks reception and evening music, so no option for deals there.
We are marrying in a church near Gorey on a Friday next June and the priest is very relaxed. He told me we can have whatever music we like.
We really aren't into the traditional tenor/soprano singer or string quartet and I'm finding it really difficult to find anything else. We would like to have some singing and some musical instrument. Voices more relaxed than tenor/soprano and we'd like a mix of religious songs (one or two Irish songs would be great) and more contemporary songs.
If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be very grateful!!

zoobizoo

We had the Ballinteer Male Choir who did a few classics for us...

Flying Pickets - Only You
Beach Boys - God Only Knows
Beatles - All You Need is Love (as we walked down the aisle after the ceremony)

as well as more religious ones... .


If I was doing it again I'd have put a 90s dance tune in there at the end for me and my friends which would have left people smiling even more when they left the church...

Here Comes The Trio

P. Fogg wrote: »

Anyone know of any lively wedding ceremony musicians? I've also been looking into Gospel choirs, but considering you need at least 5 people plus travel costs, it would cost ca. 1200 -1600 euro! Would like to keep ceremony music costs under 1000. We've already booked drinks reception and evening music, so no option for deals there.
We are marrying in a church near Gorey on a Friday next June and the priest is very relaxed. He told me we can have whatever music we like.
We really aren't into the traditional tenor/soprano singer or string quartet and I'm finding it really difficult to find anything else. We would like to have some singing and some musical instrument. Voices more relaxed than tenor/soprano and we'd like a mix of religious songs (one or two Irish songs would be great) and more contemporary songs.
If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be very grateful!!

Depending on availability, you could try or Noreen Rabbette (Offaly), Aoife O'Neill (Cork), or Claire Heffernan (Limerick). They all have lovely relaxed voices and can accompany themselves on piano and regularly work with instruments such as guitar, ukelele or harp, and wouldn't cost near €1000, even with travel.

Also have an open mind about string quartets, we're a string trio and we play anything from Adele, Metallica, Stevie Wonder, Coldplay, Elbow, Daft Punk, Taylor Swift.... all mixed in with "church music" for every ceremony! We don't travel to Gorey mind you but I can shoot you some recommendations in the Leinster area if you do change your mind about strings. It doesn't all have to be classical!

mrsmags16

If you are having Mass why do you want it 'spruced up'? You either want a religious ceremony or you don't?

Queenalocin

P. Fogg wrote: »

Anyone know of any lively wedding ceremony musicians? I've also been looking into Gospel choirs, but considering you need at least 5 people plus travel costs, it would cost ca. 1200 -1600 euro! Would like to keep ceremony music costs under 1000. We've already booked drinks reception and evening music, so no option for deals there.
We are marrying in a church near Gorey on a Friday next June and the priest is very relaxed. He told me we can have whatever music we like.
We really aren't into the traditional tenor/soprano singer or string quartet and I'm finding it really difficult to find anything else. We would like to have some singing and some musical instrument. Voices more relaxed than tenor/soprano and we'd like a mix of religious songs (one or two Irish songs would be great) and more contemporary songs.
If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be very grateful!!

If it's near Gorey, you could head to Festival of Choirs on May 5th and see if you could find someone there. https://www.facebook.com/Festival-of-choirs-Gorey-2017-748175515355797/?fref=nf&pnref=story
There are some really good choirs and musicians in the area, the priest could probably give you some contact details.

Here Comes The Trio

mrsmags16 wrote: »

If you are having Mass why do you want it 'spruced up'? You either want a religious ceremony or you don't?

They didn't say they don't want a religious ceremony, I think they'd just like to personalise their ceremony somewhat. The Entrance, Signing of the Register and Recessional are all outside the Mass part, so I see nothing wrong with the couple having some of their favourite music in the church?

At one wedding I attended, a harpist sang Annies Song, which was the couples special song, when the bride entered the church. At another (in the same church) a couple of violinists provided the music.

Athena_A

I'd say most priests would be ok with you deviating from religious songs outside of the communion part of the ceremony.  Most weddings I've been too in a church had several modern songs.  Usually in a classical format but you still recognize it.  I have a violinist and I'm definitely not using only religious songs.  The priest doesn't mind at all, as long as you don't play Rage against the Machine or something !