Catholic churches make some of the most beautiful and meaningful wedding ceremony venues! The historic St. Anthony of Padua in Atkinson, Illinois, is no exception.
Midway between Geneseo and Annawan, and close to the Quad Cities, it’s an easy location for your guests to access as well. Abby and Reed were married here on a lovely June Saturday afternoon.
Having your wedding in a house of worship entails following their musical guidelines. In this church, they allowed only sacred music during the Mass. The prelude as guests entered the sanctuary and were seated included traditional hymns, with “Blest be the Tie That Binds” as the final selection as the families of the bride and groom were seated.
The wedding party entered to “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” and the bride chose “For the Beauty of the Earth” as her processional music.
Without a cantor, the Mass parts were spoken or chanted by the priest. I played “Ave Maria” by Franz Schubert for the presentation of roses to the Blessed Mother, then “Taste and See” and “One Bread, One Body” during the Eucharist.
The Mass concluded with Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” for the recessional as the couple and their guests filed out of the church.
I continued with upbeat classical and sacred music for the postlude until all of the guests had exited and were off to the reception in the Quad Cities.
I play for weddings in all venues in Illinois, Iowa, and throughout the Midwest. Visit my website ~ Quad Cities Wedding Musician ~ to find out more!
