Priests will be hoping that brides marching up the aisle to the Titanic theme may become a thing of the past, with the launch of a new album of "suitable" wedding music tonight.
The Dublin Diocesan Liturgical Resource Centre has compiled an album of 26 tracks to help couples to identify what it sees as "appropriate" music for a church ceremony. It hopes it will help avoid some of the more embarrassing choices people have made in the past.
Waterloo, I Don't Know How to Love Him and Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? have been some of the more unsuitable choices requested by couples. One wedding guide website recommends the Britney Spears song Oops I Did It Again for couples with a sense of humour who are embarking on a second marriage.
Love songs from Bryan Adams, Chris de Burgh and Whitney Houston are regularly requested for wedding ceremonies.
"I suppose the most outrageous one was Help Me Make It Through the Night," said Father Pat O'Donoghue, organist and director of the centre. "Sometimes people just like a piece of music because they like it, without thinking of the words or meaning."
The Celine Dion song My Heart Will Go On, from Titanic, was still a very popular choice, yet the movie was about a ship that sunk. "It's not exactly a good start to a wedding and marriage," he said.
He has also found that people pick songs that have featured in celebrity weddings or on television weddings. They might also pick songs because of a sentimental attachment, yet they may be thoroughly unsuitable for a church ceremony.
Father O'Donoghue said parishes always tried to work with couples to ensure that the choice of music was suitable. However, if they insisted on an inappropriate song, then perhaps it could be played at the signing of the register.
He said it would make it easier for everyone if all parishes had a clear policy on the music in wedding ceremonies. However, while some parishes had well- established practices, others did not, he said.
Father O'Donoghue also encouraged couples to choose their wedding ceremony music early, so that if some choices were problematic, there would be time to find a solution.
The Wedding Album, which will be available from Veritas shops from late next week for €15, contains songs in a range of traditional and modern styles.
Church weddings: the playlist
Suitable ...
On Eagles' Wings
Morning Has Broken
Wherever You Go
Lord of the Dance
Set your Heart On The Higher Gifts
Tabhair Dom Do Lámh
We Praise You O Lord
Ave Maria
Give Me Joy in My Heart
... and not so suitable...
God Give Me Strength
Alone Again, Naturally
Crazy
Theme from Titanic
Help Me Make It Through the Night
It's The End Of The World As We
Know It
By Myself
D.I.V.O.R.C.E.
Theme from Robin Hood
