Pre-Vatican II Weddings

[elgar]

I’ve been listening to a recording of my in-law’s wedding ceremony from 1948 (scratchy 78rpm) and am a little perplexed about a few things. I’m not old enough to remember anything pre-V2, and would appreciate help from forum members who might be able to answer some questions.

This was a Catholic wedding with communion. The music consisted of 2 vocal solos with organ accompaniament. One being “On This Day O Beautiful Mother” and the other being the Bach-Gounod “Ave Maria,” which I was told was frowned upon by the priest because he preferred the usual Schubert. There was no choir, no singing of the Mass Ordinary, biblical readings (unless it was in latin) or homily.

The organist (a nun, I was told) played something non-descript as prelude music. The Processional was the Wagner “Here Comes the Bride”. She doodled softly at various points while the priest spoke in latin. She continued this during the consecration. Was any or all of this typical of Catholic weddings of this time period. I’m looking forward to your comments.

 

[Will_S]

I can’t tell you about what is “usual” for pre-Vatican II weddings as I’m (far) too young to know about that. But it sounds like it was a low Mass with some music played over the Mass. That sort of thing is frowned upon now, but perhaps it was usual at the time. There had to be readings, but they would have been done in Latin too.

In a traditional wedding, the actual wedding takes only a few minutes for the exchange of vows, and blessing and exchange of rings, right at the start, and then is (usually) immediately followed by the nuptial Mass.

 

[gus]

I was married in 1965 right around Vatican ll .
The only thing I remember is my wife and I (only) were granted the right to drink from the chalace.
I think it became the norm in 1971
The epistle, gospel,and homily were always in English to the best of my memory.
We had an organist,and singer