Choosing music for your wedding ceremony.

Music plays an important role in setting the tone for an event.   It has the ability to pull on your emotional heart-strings.   How many times have you been sad and yet when your favorite song comes on the radio your mood shifts?  I have CD’s I listen to when I am sad and CD’s I listen to when I am happy.   We use music as the sound-track to life.

The planning of the ceremony is often neglected until the very end of the wedding-planning process.  My advice to couples planning a wedding is this:  Make sure to use some of your resources to make your ceremony at least as special as your reception.  The ceremony is where the union of marriage begins!  Whether you choose music to accomplish this task or you find another way to make your ceremony stand out - do something!

Many people begin the process of choosing ceremony music somewhat unfamiliar to classical music.  These are your options:

Ÿ You can hand over the entire process to your musicians and let them choose the music.  Sometimes people will tell us the tone they want and we will stick with those types of songs.  Some people like soft, slow, and reflective songs and other people want fast, upbeat, and joyful songs.  Still others will request a mix of reflective and joyful.

Ÿ You can tell us what songs you know you want played and let us fill in the rest.  “I have always wanted to walk down the aisle to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D Major,” I would love for the mothers to walk down the aisle to Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” but the rest of the songs don’t matter to me.  You can just choose something.”

Ÿ You can listen to Wedding CD’s and other classical music and find songs that you like and choose every piece you would like played.  Most people assign “trio’s choice” to the prelude music and postlude music and others choose selections they would like us to play.  Often these types of CD’s are available at the library - or you can use on-line music download sites that allow you to listen to music before you purchase it.  www.musicnow.com is a good site and I am sure there are many others. 

The following songs are traditional songs chosen for the different parts of the ceremony:

Mother’s or Bridesmaid’s Processional

Largo from Xerxes	G.F. Handel
Meditation from Thais	J. Massenet
Ave Maria	F. Schubert
Ave Maria	J.S. Bach / Gounod
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring	J.S. Bach
Canon in D	J. Pachelbel
Arioso	J.S. Bach
Rondeau	J.J. Mouret
Ode to Joy	L.van Beethoven
To a Wild Rose	E. MacDowell
Air on a G String	J.S. Bach

Bride’s Processional

Trumpet Voluntary	J. Clarke
Canon in D Major	J. Pachelbel
Bridal Chorus	R. Wagner
Rondeau	J.J. Mouret
Allegro from “Spring”	A. Vivaldi
Trumpet Tune	H. Purcel

Recessional

La Rejouissance from “Fireworks”	G.F. Handel
Allegro from “Spring”	A. Vivaldi
Wedding March	F. Mendelssohn
Rondeau	J.J. Mouret
Hornpipe	G.F. Handel
Allegro Maestroso	G.F. Handel
Ode to Joy	L. van Beethoven
Finale from Water Music Suite	G.F. Handel
Hallelujah Chorus	G.F. Handel

Keep in mind we can prepare any song you would like - even if it isn’t on our list.  As long as we have time to find the sheet music and arrange it if necessary.  If there is a song that is special to you we can incorporate it into your ceremony music.  One thing to keep in mind is that some churches, like Catholic Churches, do not allow some songs (secular selections) to be played in the church.  We can help you navigate these rules.

Please visit our Sample Programs page to see what other brides have chosen.