Wedding Ceremony Music

You'll probably spend more time planning the music at your reception than the music for your service.  While you may not be in the church to hear the music played before your ceremony, you can have fun choosing the right pieces to set the mood for your service.

Few pieces - other than "Here Comes the Bride" are commonly associated with the wedding ceremony.  The music you choose is dependent on the instruments available, obviously.  If you're getting married at a church, most have an organist, pianist, or musical director who can help you choose appropriate music.  Many can also recommend singers or musicians you can hire for your service.  

In general ceremony music falls into four basic categories.  Let's take a look at each.

Prelude

The prelude runs from the time guests begin to arrive (or, really, from the time musicians start to play) until everyone is seated and the mother of the bride is ready to enter and be seated.  You can choose any style of music you want; most guests appreciate if the music is upbeat rather than heavy or dramatic.  If you'll have a solo or special musical performance, plan for it to occur at the end of the Prelude; near the end of the song is the perfect time for the mother of the bride to beseated.

Processional

The processional accompanies the wedding party during their entrance.  Most couples choose a "march."  Here are some of the more common processional choices:

• "The March" - Tchaikovsky
• "Ave Maria" - Schubert
• "Ode to Joy" - Beethoven
• "Waltz of the Flowers" - Tchaikovsky
• "Trumpet Voluntary" - Clarke
• "Trumpet Voluntary" - Dupuis (same name, different composer and tune)
• "Wedding March" - Mendelssohn
• "Bridal Chorus" ("Here Comes the Bride") - Wagner

The bride may choose to enter to the same music as the bridesmaids, or to a different piece.  (Or to the same piece played at a different tempo or level.)  In our experience, 80% of brides choose to enter to their own piece rather than to the same music as the bridesmaids entered to.

Ceremony

In most services, music will be played during the ceremony itself, but it depends on the length of the service and the activities planned.  If, for example, you and your fiancee plan to light candles, background music can set a nice mood.  There are no "traditional" service pieces per se, but here are a few pieces that are popular:

• "The Lord's Prayer" - Malotte
• "Panis Angelicus" - Franck (one of our favorites)
• "Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us" - Bradbury
• "The Bride's Prayer" - Good
• "My Tribute" - Crouch
• "Wherever You Go" - Callahan
• "The Wedding Song" - Stookey

Recessional

The recessional is when you walk back down the aisle; it's fairly brief (especially from your point of view, since you're the first ones out); and tends to be upbeat and stirring.  The recessional typically plays at least until after the grandparents have been escorted out.  Here are some possibilities for Recessional music:

• "Tocata Symphony V" - Widor
• "Trumpet Fanfare" - Mouret
• "Pomp and Circumstance" - Elgar
• "Russian Dance" - Tchaikovsky (clearly the king of wedding music)
• "All Creatures of our God and King" - Williams