Saint Paul Cathedral Parish welcomes all those engaged couples who are preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage and desire to get married at the Cathedral Parish. We encourage you to review carefully the “Policies and Procedures” document above that explains all the necessary steps in this important and blessed journey. Be assured of our prayers and our help in every way possible.

NOTE: If you would like to make a formal inquiry in regards to available dates, please contact the wedding office directly by calling 412-621-4951 Ext. 14 or emailing [email protected].

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding at St. Paul Cathedral Parish. This page is intended to provide you with the details necessary to prepare the music for your wedding. Couples may not make musical arrangements without first contacting the Wedding Office of the Cathedral.

This page contains:

• the basic principles to which the cathedral must adhere;
• an outline and explanation of the various musical elements of the liturgy;
• a selection list of musical choices for the liturgy;
• a wedding music worksheet on which you may write down your music selections;
• musical resources that the cathedral is able to supply, and related fees;
• an explanation of guest musicians’ policy, fees and schedule for rehearsals with guest musicians.

Several important points:

• Couples may NOT make any musical preparations or invite guest musicians to participate in their wedding without first contacting the Wedding Office of Saint Paul Cathedral Parish.
• The Music Staff of Saint Paul Cathedral is not obligated to work with any musicians booked without our knowledge, and any musicians booked without prior consultation with the Wedding Office will not be permitted to perform at any weddings at Saint Paul Cathedral.
• No one other than the bride and/or groom is permitted to coordinate music or wedding logistics. The Cathedral Staff is not obligated to communicate with anyone other than the bride and/or groom regarding music or wedding logistics for weddings at the Cathedral.
• For weddings celebrated in Saint Paul Cathedral Parish, the standard musician staffing is organist and cantor. The organist is a staff musician of the Parish, and their stipend is included as part of the regular wedding fees for couples. The cantors are appointed by the Cathedral Wedding Office; they are necessarily trained and active as cantors in the Parish with extensive experience with weddings. The assignment of a wedding cantor is a necessary and automatic process, and the cantor stipend is paid directly to the cantor and separately from the base Cathedral Wedding Fee Structure. The cantor fee is not included in the base Cathedral Wedding Fee Structure.
• The Cathedral Music Staff is required to maintain the principles prescribed in the official Church instruction on liturgy, as well as those outlined in the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s “Music for the Wedding Ritual: A Guide for Planning”.
• Music preceding and throughout the public celebration of the Sacrament must be that which befits the Church’s teachings, and must be perceived as prayer.
• Many websites are devoted to music for weddings of a secular or commercial nature and may not reflect the musical needs of Roman Catholic worship. The clergy and music staff of Saint Paul Cathedral together determine the music that is appropriate for weddings at the Cathedral and are not responsible for differing music guidelines in other parishes or churches.
• Music composed for theater or movie screen is generally not considered appropriate for a Church wedding.
• Requests for musical selections not listed in Cathedral guidelines are subject to approval by the Cathedral Director of Music.
• Before considering extra instumentalists: Please keep in mind that Saint Paul Cathedral is home of the world-famous 1962 Rudolf von Becherath pipe organ - one of the most important instruments on the continent. It is capable of rendering a wide range of musical affects (from grand, stately, and loud to quiet, lyrical, and meditative). The pipe organ is the primary instrument for all services at the Cathedral.

The following format is an outline of the musical elements of a Wedding Liturgy. These are the areas for which musical choices/selections need to be made. The compositions provided should be considered suggestions for use during your Wedding Liturgy. This list is not exhaustive, yet should serve as an example in your planning.

In the case in which your wedding is a Ceremony only (no Eucharist), the Preparation of the Gifts, Eucharistic Acclamations, and Communion are omitted.

Optional Rituals:

1. La Grace (Telemann)
2. ‘Air’ from the Water Music Suite (Handel)
3. ‘Air’ (J.S. Bach)

1. Ave Maria (Schubert)
2. Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)

The standard musical personnel assignments at a wedding in the Cathedral is organist and cantor.  Family members or friends are welcome to provide approved solo vocal or instrumental music at a wedding. Such vocalists should have experience singing sacred music in a liturgical setting. Guest vocalists are only permitted to sing solo repertoire for prelude, offertory, or post-communion. The remaining service music will be sung by the appointed Cathedral cantor. Guest musicians requiring accompaniment by the organist must supply the organ music. Rehearsals with guest musicians are scheduled 60min prior to the wedding start time, and an additional rehearsal fee of $125 must be paid directly to the wedding organist.

Guest soloists and instrumentalist are required to perform from the loft, in order to promote ease of collaboration with the organist.

Cathedral Cantor – $140.00 (standard)
Rehearsal Fee for Organist  – $125.00 (in the case of an extra musical rehearsal)
Additional musicians (see below)

Separate checks must be made payable directly to the musician.

Trumpet Player, Violinist, or Flautist – approximately $200.00. Professional instrumentalists fees vary depending upon the individual involved. For example, trumpet players from the Pittsburgh Symphony or Carnegie Brass maintain the standard fee of $200.00. Such musicians are sub-contracted by the Cathedral, and all associated fees are paid directly by the couple.

N.B. The fees for additional instumentalists and additional rehearsal fees for the organist (if needed) are not included in the base Cathedral Wedding Fee Structure.

All music fees are due two weeks prior to your wedding.