Wedding Music
The Marriage Rite is a Sacrament of the Church, a solemn exchange of vows between a bride and a groom, and an act of worship on the part of all those present to offer thanks and praise for God’s blessings on the couple’s life together as husband and wife. Therefore all of the music during the wedding liturgy reflects the sacred nature of the ceremony and must be taken from sacred or religious music repertoire.
Music at worship is a form of sung prayer and must relate to the glory of God and reflect the redeeming grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All music at your wedding ceremony should follow that principle, and your favorite popular music should be reserved for your reception.
The wedding fee, paid upon contract confirmation, includes the services of a Cathedral Basilica cantor. In addition to singing the parts of the Mass, your cantor may also serve as a vocal soloist. If you are interested in having a choir sing at your wedding, you should contact the Cathedral Music Office at 314-373-8228. The Cathedral Singers, a professional chamber choir of the highest standards, is available for $1,200. For repertoire questions or more information, please contact the Cathedral Music Office.
For your wedding at the Cathedral Basilica, one of the Cathedral Staff Organists will play. The fee for the organist is $275.00, which includes a planning meeting with your organist and their services at the ceremony itself. You should schedule your planning meeting approximately 3 months prior to your wedding date. To schedule your planning meeting, please call the Music Office at 314-373-8227. Also, while the cantor fee is included in the stipend given to the Cathedral, the organist’s fee is not. The organist’s fee, made payable to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, will be required prior to the scheduling of your planning meeting.
If you would like additional musicians to participate in your wedding, the Music Office may be able to help contract some of the finest professional musicians in the area, who have performed at the Cathedral on a regular basis. Particularly popular are trumpet, violin, harp, a string quartet, or brass ensemble. The fees vary from instrument to instrument, and you may call the Music Office for additional information. If contracted, fees for the services of additional musicians, vocalists, or choirs are due in full by the wedding rehearsal.
The use of outside musicians/vocalists must be approved by the Director of Sacred Music. References and an audition may be requested. Singers should be professionally trained and experienced singing in large spaces and liturgical settings. Amateur musicians may better perform at your wedding reception. Music selections must be made with or approved by the Director of Sacred Music. If additional meetings or rehearsals with the organist are required, there may be an extra fee.
You should schedule your planning meeting approximately 3 months prior to your wedding date. To schedule your planning meeting, please call the Music Office at 314-373-8228. Also, while the cantor fee is included in the stipend given to the Cathedral, the organist’s fee is not. The organist’s fee, made payable to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, will be required prior to the scheduling of your planning meeting. The fee for the organist is $275.00.
Prior to your meeting with the organist, you are encouraged to listen to the pieces of music set aside for weddings at the Cathedral Basilica. You will find those selections by clicking here.