Things that happened at Weddings

[Hare]

Several amazing things happened at Saturday's wedding in my church

The congregation was quiet beforehand

The Bride was on time

Everything went according to plan

People sang

I was thanked by the couple for playing.

[johnquinn39]

Several amazing things happened at Saturday's wedding in my church

The congregation was quiet beforehand

The Bride was on time

Everything went according to plan

People sang

I was thanked by the couple for playing.

- This also happened at a wedding I played for a few weeks ago. I might add that the hymn texts were not illegally typed out.

Perhaps this might lead to a new thread. The SSG version of 'Scenes you seldom see'. Anyone care to get the ball rolling?

[Hare]

Rather than start a new topic, someone might be able to answer this here...

I have played in the past for Catholic weddings (and funerals for that matter) that were held in a nearby Anglican church if the Catholic church was going to be too small for the numbers attending. The priest I knew who did this regularly is now sadly deceased so I cannot ask him, but I know that he tended to do the deed first and ask episcopal permission afterwards - usually getting his knuckles rapped! (He was used to this, for various misdemeanoursand had a thick skin as a result so presumably thought the pastoral need outweighed the knickle-rapping.)

Does anyone know what criteria have to be met? Is there a national, or diocesan policy? (I am in Southwark Archdiocese)

The reason for asking is that my stepdaughter has just got engaged, and my church (her home) and her local church in London, are both too small.....

Any help appreciated!

[VML]

I haven't been directly involved in this kind of move for weddings and funerals, but I do remember some years ago a diaconate ordination in Glos took place in the very large Anglican church when the Catholic church was too small.

[organist]

Today was asked to only play 3 hymns Praise my soul, Jerusalem, Give me joy. String trio played beforehand and during register and congregation happily talked right through their playing. Interesting that it is more difficult to stop a trio than an organist! Bride came into some CD of the Beatles instrumental only. BUT the real insult is playing a CD of the Mendelssohn on an organ when there is an organist present perfectly capable of playing it. Keep music live! The violinist from Norwich from most unimpressed.

[VML]

[gwyn]

Today was asked to only play 3 hymns Praise my soul, Jerusalem, Give me joy. String trio played beforehand and during register and congregation happily talked right through their playing. Interesting that it is more difficult to stop a trio than an organist! Bride came into some CD of the Beatles instrumental only. BUT the real insult is playing a CD of the Mendelssohn on an organ when there is an organist present perfectly capable of playing it. Keep music live! The violinist from Norwich from most unimpressed.

It's our fault, we tolerate this. Our P.P. simply says "No" to CDs.

Occasionally I play for CofE weddings and funerals where the clergy are inclined to tolerate almost anything. Some of the stuff that brides have galumphed up the aisle to have been hideous, and will prob, in years to come become meaningless to the couple.

[JohnM]

Just found this thread and it takes me back to a wedding last year.

A couple of minutes before the wedding is due to start, as agreed, I went to suggest to the groom that we light the candle in memory of his dad. He agreed this would be a good idea, but has a special candle and doesn't know where it is, so, from the front of church, he phones the bride! The candle is on top of the fridge at home, so he gets his car keys out and goes home to collect it!

It is quite enough to be waiting for the bride, but for the groom to nip home at the point when everything was supposed to be starting! (He was back twenty minutes late, the bride was 45 minutes late!) It is not good for your nerves.

[alan29]

One wedding I played at recently had a very "officious" wedding planner who supervised the service as well as the reception. One of her bright ideas was to have at the start, a procession of the bridesmaids before that of the bride and her dad. They came down the aisle in pairs walking that strange slow march that you see in Hollywood films. I had been told that they would be accompanied by a CD "As you won't know the music." So I amused myself in the run up to starting the CD by playing Pachelbel's Canon and extending it (they were late) with my own variations. Signal comes to stop playing ...... CD start ....... Pachelbels Canon
They had a CD at the signing of the register of some mindless Einaudi-style piano noodling. On the way out one of the guests stopped me and asked "Can you actually play anything, or was it all CDs? "
I just took the money and "ran."