Catholic Wedding Mass in Ireland: Order of Service

 
 
 

If you’re planning on getting married in a Catholic Church in Ireland it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the running order of the wedding ceremony.

Make sure to chat to your parish priest too, to confirm that you know exactly what to expect on the big day.

Below you will find the running order for a full Catholic wedding mass, including communion. We’ve also included common practices such as the lighting of candles, but this is not a mandatory part of the ceremony.

Guide:

  • The rites in bold are the parts of the mass where music is most commonly featured.

  • Any mass parts marked with an * asterisk and underlined can be sung, but are optional.

Catholic Wedding Mass Ireland
Ceremony Running Order

 

Introductory Rites

  • Entrance Rite: The Wedding Procession (MUSIC)

  • Greeting

  • Lighting of individual candles (MUSIC)

  • Penitential Rite

  • * Gloria: “Glory to God in the highest…”

  • Opening Prayer

Liturgy of The Word

  • First Reading

  • Responsorial Psalm (MUSIC)

  • Second Reading

  • Gospel Acclamation: “Alleluia…” (MUSIC)

  • Gospel

  • Homily

The Celebration of Matrimony

  • Address and Statement of Intentions

  • Exchange of Consent/Vows

  • Blessing and Exchanging of Rings

  • Lighting of Marriage Unity Candle (MUSIC)

  • Prayer of The Newly Married Couple

  • Profession of Faith/Creed “I believe in one God…”

  • Prayers of The Faithful

Liturgy of the Eucharist

  • Offertory Procession/Presentation of Gifts - MUSIC

  • Eucharistic Prayer

  • * Sanctus: "Holy, Holy"

  • * Memorial Acclamation

  • * Great Amen

Communion Rite

  • * The Lord's Prayer: “Our Father…”

  • Nuptial Blessing

  • * Sign of Peace

  • * Lamb of God

  • Communion - MUSIC

Signing of The Registry

  • Signing the Marriage License - MUSIC

Concluding Rite

  • Blessing

  • Dismissal: “Go in peace…”

  • Recessional - MUSIC

NB You can choose as much or as little music as you would like to enhance your wedding ceremony, but if you’ve opted for a religious service its important that your musical choices are suitable to be performed in a church.

Certain dioceses may have stricter rules regarding the performance of secular music than others. You may have to have your musical choices approved by the priest conducting the ceremony. Don’t worry though, an experienced musician will be able to advise you of suitable options.

As a gospel choir, Rejoice is uniquely positioned to offer a wide range of wedding ceremony music from gospel, to contemporary worship, to traditional hymns.

You can view a selection of our repertoire here: www.rejoice.ie/wedding-music

 

Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash

Carmel Whelan