Navigation

 

Toolbox

 

More

 

Ceremony music

Ceremony music is music performed throughout a wedding ceremony. This includes but is not limited to: prelude/seating, processional, bridal entrance, and the recessional.

Contents

[edit] Ceremony Musicians

Solo ceremony musicians include:

  • Harpist
  • Pianist
  • Organist
  • Violinist
  • Flutist
  • Classical guitarist

Ensemble musicians include:

  • String trio
  • String quartet

[edit] Prelude/Seating

Prelude music is played as guests arrive and are ushered to their seats for the ceremony.

Popular prelude music selections include:

  • Air On A G String by Bach
  • Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
  • Spring by Vivaldi (from Four Seasons)

I-Music:

  • "Joy" by George Winston

[edit] Processional

Processional music is played as the wedding party walks down the aisle.

Popular prelude music selections include:

  • Canon in D by Pachelbel
  • Largo by Handel
  • Air by Handel (from Water Music Suite)

I-Music:

  • "Here, There & Everywhere" by David Benoit

[edit] Bridal Entrance

The bridal entrance music is played as the bride begins to walk down the aisle.

Popular bridal entrance music selections include:

  • Here Comes the Bride by Wagner (classical music fans may note that this tune's appearance in the opera is not entering the church; rather, it is the procession from the church to the...bedroom, frankly. If you have opera fans on the guest list, another option that would inspire less giggling would be "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral," a similar work also from Lohengrin.)
  • Canon in D by Pachelbel
  • Trumpet Voluntary by Clark

I-Music:

  • "Here, There & Everywhere" by David Benoit (Bride & Father enter when the string quartet begins)

[edit] Recessional

Recessional music is played as the newly married couple walks back down the aisle followed by their wedding party.

Popular recessional music selections include:

  • Ode to Joy by Beethoven
  • Wedding March by Mendelssohn
  • Trumpet Voluntary by Clark

I-Music:

  • "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" by Natalie Cole

[edit] Tips

Hiring

One of the easiest way to find professional musicians is through the union; see the band page for more information. Before beginning the hiring process, have a clear idea in your mind of what type of music you want, even if you don't have specific tunes nailed down. Do you want your entrance to be accompanied by a fanfare, or something quieter? How fast do you expect the recessional to be? If you're strictly a top-40 music fan but want classical music at your wedding, take an evening to listen to online samples at Amazon or iTunes (searching for wedding music on either will bring up a wealth of options) to get an idea of what's out there; on the other hand, if you're strictly a top-40 music fan, there's no reason you can't use top-40 from an iPod!

Make sure you take into consideration the space your ceremony will be in. You don't need to be an acoustic expert to understand that the size of the sound needs to relate to the size of the space: a harp will get lost outside, and a brass ensemble in a low-ceilinged room will rattle your teeth.

Once you have a sound in your head, try to match it with samples from the local musicians' union. Keep in mind that if you hear a woodwind quintet playing the prelude, strings for the processional, and brass at the recessional, that's going to require hiring three ensembles--a better bet is to find music you like that's all in the same general family (or, again, consider using recordings). If you are requesting special songs the ensemble you've selected doesn't normally play, you may also have to pay for a rehearsal (typically half again the fee for the ceremony).

Another option is to hire local students. Most college-level music majors, particularly harpists, trumpeters, and string players, have probably been playing in family weddings for years. Visit the website of the music department of the nearest university, and simply email one of the instructors for the instrument you're looking for, and ask if they can suggest any of their students to play a wedding. From that point on, however, the students should be treated as professionals: they may ask for less money, but you should still expect to sign a contract.

If you are marrying in a church, the best person to bring in to play the organ is by definition that church's organist; he or she will be most familiar with the strengths, weaknesses, and other quirks of the instrument, and will doubtless have an idea of the repertoire that best features that instrument in that space. That being said, you should not feel pressured into a particular set of songs if they don't appeal to you.

Ceremony music can be particularly personal and meaningful if you have friends or family members who can participate in this way. Even if your niece's flute skills aren't quite up to the standards you expect for your recessional, she could certainly supply prelude music as guests are finding their seats. Having a groomsman suddenly step out of line to fetch his guitar might seem surprising, but it does reinforce that the attendants are real people, with real talents.

[edit] Weddingbee Posts

Retrieved from "http://wiki.weddingbee.com/Ceremony_music"