Hello!
If you have made your way to this form, then you are getting married at Mother of Divine Mercy Parish (Sweetest Heart of Mary). I am your music director, and I will be helping you plan and coordinate music & photography/videography!
I know that wedding planning can be a stressful process, so the purpose of this form is hopefully to keep planning your liturgy as simple as possible. Everything needed to plan a breathtaking program of sacred music can be completed here, all from the comfort of your computer or smartphone!
Please send me your first draft as early as possible—even if some selections are tentative! If you already know what you want, you can complete everything now. You can return to your existing submission as your plans develop. Please finalize your music selections and notify me of any changes at least two weeks before your wedding. Your music balance is also due two weeks before the wedding. Requests for musical changes after this deadline may sometimes be accommodated, but must be confirmed with me and cannot be guaranteed.
As Director of Music at our parish, I will be at the center of your music planning and also to optionally provide videography services (more on that later) and coordinate with your photographers. For the "organist" fee of $350 I will provide music that you select on our magnificent pipe organ and also as a professional singer, be able to provide vocal music as well. All wrapped up in one! Star String Quartet requires a $250 reservation deposit, which is credited toward your total. When you make your selections, I will send you an invoice. It will say it's coming from "Weiler Creative Media" which is my piano/media business. It will list your selections along with the prices. This does not mean that these are set in stone, it's just a way for me to keep track of everything for you and to give you documentation. No advance payment is required for my music services. If you are able, a down payment of $100 is appreciated to help spread out the cost; it is credited toward your music balance. You will be able to pay via credit card through the invoice directly, but you can also avoid the credit card surcharge Square adds by paying directly through Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle. Information is on the form.
***IMPORTANT - DO NOT INCLUDE any music fees, including the Organist Fee, with the payment to the church. You will be able to pay me directly, and include the amount for all the musicians that will be playing/singing for you! I'm happy to offer that convenience!
As stated on our website, please do not hire any musicians before we connect.
Now let's talk about a few common topics:
REHEARSALS:
I do not attend wedding rehearsals. The rehearsal is for the wedding party and the priest to work with our top-notch wedding coordinators. Keep in mind, music rehearsal cannot be a part of your wedding rehearsal at the church - by request of the volunteer coordinators in charge of making sure the rehearsal covers all it needs to so that you are ready for your wedding!
REPERTOIRE:
The online form will respond accordingly to which liturgy you select (different musical needs depending on your liturgy!) In some places, suggestions are pre-filled if you don't have any preferences. These pieces, a mix of traditional and contemporary sacred music, sound amazing on our historic organ and suit the acoustics of our grand space. Please finalize your music selections and notify me of any changes at least two weeks before your wedding. Your music balance is also due two weeks before the wedding.
IF YOU CHOOSE "OTHER" and enter your own title, be aware that there may be a $50 surcharge. I will need to be sure it is appropriate for the sacred space, of course, but also, if approved, I will have to determine the time it will take for me to prepare it. There would be extra practice time involved, or even purchase of scores (sheet music). It may be something that is already in my repertoire, in which case I wouldn't charge extra, I would probably just add it to the list! This is how the list has grown over the years, so if you have a hymn that you love, or a particular piece of "classical" style music, don't be afraid to put it down! Just remember that part of what goes with getting married in a 130-year-old traditional Catholic church is that the requirements for music are held to, and music that may even be allowed in other churches may not be approved for Sweetest Heart of Mary. I will work with you as best as I can, though, as I completely understand how personal music is and will do what I can to make your vision come true if it's possible!
Most of these pieces are interchangeable, though there are certain combinations of pieces that work particularly well during the procession, as one piece flows nicely into the other (the 3 listed, for example are all in the same key of D!)
We try our best to honor personal requests for favorite hymns, assuming they suit the parameters of acceptable and appropriate music for the Catholic Liturgy. Music associated with the Holy Mass, or any liturgy in the church, must be sacred. Pop music, theatrical or film scores are to be avoided, and cannot be approved for use for weddings. Here are a few examples of songs that have been requested over the years that are not in keeping with the musical guidelines for the Holy Mass given to us by the Archdiocese of Detroit:
"Bridal Chorus" (from Lohengrin, by Wagner)
"Hallelujah" (by Leonard Cohen)
"All I Ask of You" (from Phantom of the Opera by Lloyd Webber)
Music from "Star Wars"
"Can't Help Falling in Love" (and other such contemporary pop music)
-------------
MUSICIAN OPTIONS AND FEES:
You will be given first some options for your "core" music team. This is various combinations of Organist, singer and violin, the most common requests for music in the church! Then there will be some options for special additions to the team to make it even more spectacular! Part of getting married at Sweetest Heart of Mary is having access to the professional musicians that provide the music at the parish. Take advantage of this opportunity, this is really one of the best ways to enhance the experience for everyone that attends your wedding!
Options for the "core" team:
- Organist and Singer - $600
- Organist, Singer & Violin - $900
- Organist and Violin (organist will sing as required by the liturgy) - $650
- Organist only (organist will sing as required by the liturgy) - $350
OPTIONAL EXTRAS:
Schola Wedding Vocal Quartet (Choose "core team" options A or B, and add $400 to bring in the additional singers!)
Trumpet - (can be added to any core team for an additional $200)
Star String Quartet — add $600 to a core team that already includes violin. A $250 reservation deposit is required and is credited toward your total.
PAYMENT options. I will send you an invoice for your choices when you submit your form, but this is only for your records, and to provide as many means of payment as possible. There is a surcharge for paying the invoice directly with a credit card, but it is available! The easiest way is to just Venmo me! I would greatly appreciate a $150 "down payment" to get things started - this is particularly helpful to get my family through the seasons where there are no weddings at the church! It is not required, of course. The form will ask you for your preferred method of payment so I can know where to look!
- Venmo - send to @rweiler73 (verification - 4237)
- ZELLE - Attached to my phone number 248-892-4237
- Cash App - send to @rweiler73
- PayPal - send to "ronald.r.weiler@gmail.com" (please specify "family and friends" so I get the full amount).
- Apple Pay Cash - send to 248-892-4237
- Invoice Directly - there is a small "convenience fee" if you use a debit/credit card.
Please finalize your music selections and notify me of any changes at least two weeks before your wedding. Your music balance is also due two weeks before the wedding.