Choosing Your Wedding Ceremony Music

Not all songs are created equal. The type of wedding ceremony music that you choose will be quite different from the wedding reception music. There is also the consideration on the type of wedding you will be having - whether it is a traditional religious ceremony or a less formal occasion, such as a garden wedding or beach wedding. In this article, we are going to be looking at music choices that would fit into a more formal and religious atmosphere.

Wedding Ceremony Music - Graphic from morguefile.com

What Type Of Music Is Needed For Each Segment Of The Ceremony?

In a traditional wedding ceremony music arrangement, low-key instrumental music is usually played and begins about a half hour before the ceremony begins. This is called the Prelude. Most times, if you don't have any real choices in songs, the organist will play the typical wedding selections that other bride's and groom's have used. If you wish to pick your own Prelude songs, a few of the more popular choices are:

Canon in D by Pachelbel

Air From Water Music by Handel

Ave Maria by Bach

Greensleeves by David Chamberlain

Waltz (from Sleeping Beauty) by Tchaikovsky

We've Only Just Begun by The Carpenters

Tonight I Celebrate My Love by Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack

Breathless by Kenny G

You will then need to choose what music you would prefer for your Processional (as you walk down the aisle). Some brides will elect to have traditional instrumental music such as Canon in D, Ave Maria, and of course the tune that everyone knows: The Wedding March (Here Comes The Bride). However, more and more of today's brides are chosing tunes from popular song artists. Here is a short list of Processional songs that tend to be favorites:

Power Of Love by Celine Dion

What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong and Kenny G

Endless Love by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross

Grow Old With Me by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Look At You Girl by Chris Ledoux

From This Moment On by Shania Twain

Because you Loved me by Celine Dion

Only Time by Enya

This I Swear by Nick Lachey

Nadia's Theme by Barry De Vorzon and Perry Botkin, Jr.

During the ceremony itself, there will be breaks when you will need to provide solos, hymns or instrumental music, such as when you are signing the register. Some common wedding ceremony music pieces sung by soloists are:

Wedding (There Is Love) by Stookey

Ave Maria by Schubert

Evergreen by Barbra Streisand

One Hand, One Heart (West Side Story) by Bernstein and Sondheim

Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler on the Roof) by Harnick and Bock

Ode to Joy by Bethoven

Finally the ceremony ends and the bride and groom turn to leave to the sounds of the Recessional. Here you will want a vibrant, joyous song or instrumental to play. You may choose from classical music or the more popular pop songs of today. A few examples are:

Wedding March from a Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn

Overture from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart

Bridal March by Hollins

Ode to Joy by Beethoven

Nothings Going To Stop Us Now by Jefferson Starship

Beautiful Day by U2

Walking On Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves

Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis

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