Planning your wedding ceremony music should be a fun process to personalize your wedding.  For many, it can be overwhelming and brides and grooms often don’t know where to start.  In another Music Remembrance article you can find information on Choosing Music Ensembles for the Wedding Ceremony. This article guides you through the process of choosing your wedding music style and ensemble.  Once you have selected your ensemble then it is just a matter of selecting the music.   These tips will help you select your wedding ceremony music and have it run smoothly.

Knowing the different events that you will need music for at your wedding ceremony is the first step.  Following are the main events of the wedding ceremony that most brides and grooms use music for and some tips in selecting the music for each.

Prelude (Also Called Seating Music)

Any music ensemble that you select for your wedding should provide prelude music while your guests are being seated as part of their wedding ceremony music fee.  I recommend, for an average size wedding, that the musicians be in place to start the prelude 1/2 hour before the ceremony begins.  They should start performing as the first guests arrive.  The wedding music ensemble should have enough music to perform should the ceremony starts late.

Seating the Mothers

 A piece is usually selected to be performed during the mother’s entrance.  This entrance most commonly takes place  immediately preceding the wedding ceremony.  This piece is often continued while the groom (also possibly groomsmen) and officiate take their place. (Know that this order can vary. At some wedding ceremonies the groom and wedding officiate take their place before the mothers.)  A piece that is somewhat subdued is usually selected for this, thus saving the drama for the bridal party and bridal processionals.

Music For the Bridal Party Processional (Entrance) 

The bridal party includes the flower girls, ring bearers, bridesmaids (and groomsmen if they are escorting the bridesmaids) and any pets in the ceremony.  It is most typical to select one song for the entire bridal party.  For large bridal parties and/or very long aisles, some brides and grooms will select one song for the flower girls and ring bearers and another song for the brides maids.  The music for the bridal party can either be lively or subdued depending on the tone that you would like to set and if you want a dramatic contrast for the bride’s entrance.

Music for the Bridal Processional (Bride’s Entrance)

Select one special song for your moment.  In general, I suggest that this be the most dramatic piece out of all your wedding ceremony music.  This can often be preceded with a fanfare for an added dramatic effect.

Music for Unity Candle, Sand, Crystal, Coin or Wine Ceremonies, Rose Presentations or Similar Event in the Ceremony Requiring Background Music

 If you use music for these ceremonies you will want to select soft subdued music.This will keep the music in the background of the event and allow your guests to hear the words spoken.

Music for the Bridal Party Recessional (Return Down the Aisle at the Conclusion of the Wedding Ceremony)

Most brides and grooms choose to use one piece for this event.  A joyous piece to celebrate this wonderful occasion is most commonly selected.

Postlude

The postlude consists one or two pieces that can be played immediately following the recessional if your guests have not finished exiting the ceremony site. You can choose to keep the mood celebratory or give more of a feeling of closure for the ceremony by selecting somewhat more subdued music.

For traditional classical pieces for each segment of the wedding ceremony visit our article in our Music Remembrance blog.

Have fun planning your wedding ceremony music to make your special day personal and memorable.