Catholic Ceremony Timelines...

I haven't figured our out yet, but for FBIL's wedding it was like a regular church mass and halfway through they exchanged vows.

I just want whatever is going to be simple and get it over with. It wasn't my idea to have the church wedding and I'm just hoping I don't burst into flames when I walk into the church! I'm a bad, bad catholic! LOL

We're having a full mass, unity candle lighting, and blessed mother adoration (basically, the cantor is gonna sing Ave Maria and we're putting a basket of flowers in front of Mary's statue).

We just went through the book and picked out all of our readings and prayers etc. We'll know more of the timeline when we meet with our Deacon next week.

I googled Catholic Wedding Program Templates and was able to use that as a guide to personalize my ceremony. We did the "light" version in that we didn't have a full mass since DH & his family aren't Catholic. I did include a note about traditions and that the priest would guide everyone on what to do. Good luck!

I'm right with you! I didn't even want a Catholic ceremony and said i would do it if we dont have a full mass...well, we found out that not having a full mass really isnt an option at our church, and since I am a horrible catholic I have no idea what to even do!

Did the church give you anything to use as a guide? Ours gave us this booklet that had all of the "approved" wedding readings and prayers in it, it made it A LOT easier to plan.

@LJ411....they did give a book of readings to chose from, but (and I've only flipped through it) I dont see anything that resembles a schedule and have had to assume it pretty much follows what I've found on Google...and we found out the music director is pretty ornery and doesn't even do much for the ceremony music (which i am totally lost regarding) until about a month before....I can pretty much fumble through the readings part and fill in with something that we agree on, but the music is the big one as I have no idea what to use and where to use it!

@ LJ411: I have a friend getting married in July and her church won't let her do a unity candle. I guess every church is different.

So, our music director had a bunch of couples in the church last week and played different selections for us. Not everything we picked is religious.... here's our selections if it helps

Bridal Party Entrance - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

My Entrance - Cannon in D

Wedding Hymn - O Perfect Love (this is going to be played during the unity candle lighting)

Ave Maria - for Blessed Mother Adoration (this can also be played to seat the mothers before the service, or so the music director says, I think its weird though lol)

Exit Song - Allegro Maestoso

The entrance songs and exit songs are all classical pieces and are all on youtube if you want to take a listen

Ours tries to discourage the lighting of the unity candle, but since i had already ordered it and it arrived a couple days before we met with the priest and deacon we will be using it

Most Catholic weddings I've been to follow the same format: processional, liturgy of the word (readings), vows, liturgy of the eucharist (and I think this is where presentation of the flowers to the mothers and/or Mary occurs), then recessional.

My church gave me a booklet and a CD for the songs. As for songs, you'll need songs for the seating of the parents and the processional, the responsorial psalm, lighting of the candle (if you're doing one), presentation of the gifts, communion, presentation of flowers (if you're doing one), and then the recessional. Most churches I've encountered are really picky about what songs they allow you to play, so I would make sure you get their approval before getting set on anything. I googled "Catholic wedding ceremony songs" for an idea of what most churches allow.

@LJ411...THANK YOU! That will help out a lot, I will definitely be checking them out after work today!

@Ruth - yea, we were specifically told its not a Catholic tradition, but if we want to do it we can. I've always liked them so we're doing it.

@Maltese - you are most welcome!! I still have the sheet with everything he suggested on it, if you want when I get home tonight I can send all of his suggestions to you.

Here is the outline we used...

Welcome to our Wedding -- Joe and Tina, April 26, 2014

Processional -- "Name of Song," Composer

Liturgy of the Word

Opening Prayer

First Reading -- Book of the Bible Chapter: verse, reader name

Responsorial Psalm -- Name of Psalm, reader name

Second Reading -- Book of the Bible Chapter: verse, reader name

Gospel Acclamation

Gospel -- Book of the Bible Chapter: verse, reader name

Homily by Father William F. Wegher

Sacrament of Marriage

Exchange of Vows

Blessing and Exchange of Rings

Prayer of the Faithful, reader name Response: Lord Hear Our Prayer

Presentation of the Gifts, names

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Eucharistic Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Nuptial Blessing

Sign of Peace

Communion -- “Name of song,” Composer

Final Blessing

Recessional -- "Name of Song," Composer

Hope that helps!

Perfecto! I tried to Google "Catholic wedding ceremony for Dummies" and wasn't having much luck!

We are having a non-mass (no communion) ceremony by an Old Catholic Church monsignor. The steps are identical to a Roman Catholic ceremony, but we can and have elected no communion:

Greeting

Opening Prayer

Old Testament Reading

Responsorial Psalm

New Testament Reading

Gospel Reading

Homily

Exchange of Vows

Blessing & Exchange of Rings

Intercessions

The Lord’s Prayer

Sign of Peace

Closing Prayer

Final Blessing

Dismissal

How was Saturday, speaking of Catholic-ishnesses?

LOL....@Tina: IT WAS AWFUL! So boring and ridiculous. It was all stuff that FH and I talk about on a weekly basis. I can see where it would be useful for someone 21 or so getting married though. The deacon that was running it let us out an hour early (after 7 hours) but it totally could have been cut down to 6 hours with no problem! I'm so glad we got it all done in one day though...if we had split it up I don't think I would have wanted to go back after the first session!

I wish I had known--we went to St. Louise a couple of years ago and did it with a counselor and it was wonderful.

Or maybe it was beverages we celebrated with after each session. Whatever, you did it--YAY!

Here's what we did, music-wise:

Mothers-Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

Bridesmaids (guys were already up there with priest) - Canon in D

Me - Prince of Denmark's March (Trumpet Voluntary)

Didn't have a cantor but we did Ave Maria for our Flowers to Mary and Bridal Prayer for the Unity Candle. Our priest was actually encouraging us to do the unity candle since its a Methodist tradition & DH is Methodist. I can send you my program if you want...just Pm me