Introduction
There is nothing better than music to add dignity and to create the right atmosphere at your wedding. Music sets the mood during your ceremony and sets the pace throughout your evening celebrations. Deciding which music should be played at your wedding and whether it should be played by musicians or by a DJ is one of the more important decisions you need to make when planning your big day. Hit the right notes and your wedding day will be enjoyed and remembered by all.
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Music for your church ceremony
If you are getting married in a church, you should discuss with your minister the music you would like played. The minister will usually have a list of suitable pieces that can be played according to the organist's ability and the type of organ in the church. With the minister's approval, you may be able to have a competent friend or relative play for you and/or have your own choice of music played. It would also be possible to arrange to have professional musicians attend and play for you, although you will probably need at least a quartet to give the required strength and depth to the traditional 'orchestral' music played during a church ceremony. It is for this reason that a church organ is so suitable although your choice of music may be restricted subject to the competency of the church's organist.
There are four sections of your church ceremony that you need to consider music for. They are:
The Prelude,
The Processional,
The Signing of the Register and
The Recessional.
We have listed below many of the popular pieces that are played during each section. |
The Prelude
This is music that is played while guests congregate in the church and wait for the bride to arrive. The music sets the mood for the ceremony to come and should be positive and joyous. Unless you have particular music in mind, the organist will usually play a selection while your guests assemble. Popular music played during the prelude include:
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Holsworthy Church Bells by Wesley
Voce Sapete by Mozart
Nimrod from Enigma Variations by Elgar
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
Greensleves by Williams
Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
Ave Maria by Schubert
Ave Maria by Gounod
The Swan by Saint Saens |
The Processional
This is music played for the bride's arrival and the bridal party's procession down the aisle. One piece of music is chosen, which should be stately and regal and last the duration of the bridal party's journey to the groom at the altar. The most popular pieces of music played during the processional are:
Wedding March from Lohengrin (aka Here Comes The Bride) by Wagner
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke
Grand March from Aida by Verdi
Trumpet Voluntary by Stanley
Trumpet Minuet by Hollins
Trumpet Tune by Purcell
Trumpet Tune by Charpentier
I Was Glad by Parry
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Morning from Peer Gynt by Grieg
Spring from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi
Winter from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi |
The Signing of the Register
During the time spent in the registry, the organist will be willing to play any suitable music of your choice, whether traditional or modern. You may wish, for example, to have some music played that has a special meaning to you both. This is also the appropriate time where you can make your ceremony unique by arranging to have a friend, relative or group entertain your guests by singing or playing your own choice of music and tunes. If you propose doing this, please get your minister's approval before you make any bookings. If you opt for the church organist to play traditional music, the following pieces are popular:
Ave Maria by Schubert
Ave Maria by Gounod
Air on the G String by Bach
Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
Flower Duet from Lakmé by Delibes
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
Exsultate Jubilate by Mozart
Laudate Dominum by Mozart
Three Clock Pieces by Haydn
Panis Angelicus by Franck
Wacht Auf by Bach
Clair De Lune by Debussy
Air from the Water Music by Handel
The Lord Bless You And Keep You by Rutter
Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart |
The Recessional
As you leave the registry and walk arm-in-arm down the aisle as husband and wife, you will want the organ to bellow out music that is triumphant, joyful and celebratory. Traditional recessional music includes:
Wedding March from a Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn
Toccata from Symphony No 5 by Widor
Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke
Overture from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Pomp and Circumstance March No 4 by Elgar
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Bridal March by Hollins
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
Carillion De Westminster by Vierne
Rondeau by Joseph Mouret
Grand March from Aida by Verdi
Grand March from Le Prophete by Meyerbeer
Fanfare by Whitlock
Ode to Joy by Beethoven
March from Scipio by Handel
Hallelujah Chorus , from Messiah by Handel
Finale from Symphony No.1 by Widor
Maestoso from Symphony No 3 in C by Saint Saens Please note, some ministers may object to playing Wagner's Bridal March from his opera Lohengrin because it celebrates a marriage that collapses in betrayal no more than 20 minutes after it is sung! While Mendelssohn's Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream accompanies a pretend wedding.
Finally, you will need to discuss your ideas with your church organist to ensure that the music you like is suitable for the organ and is within the playing ability of the organist. If you do use the services of your church organist, your minister will advise you of the cost, which will usually be between $50 and $100. |
Hymns for your service
Please refer to our article Hymns For Your Service for a comprehensive guide to choosing hymns for your wedding service, which includes the words of over 40 of the most popular hymns.
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| A Civil Service |
Music for your civil ceremony
If you are getting married at an approved premise, you will be permitted to have either recorded or live music. If you intend having live music, you will probably need to adapt your choice of music to suit the musicians you engage, for example, a soloist will play a piece of music somewhat differently to say a string quartet. Therefore, discuss your choice of music with your musicians and arrange to listen to how your chosen tunes will be played.
Marriages at approved premises do not have the time constraints of register office marriages. Therefore, you have much greater freedom in deciding the number of pieces you wish played. Indeed, you may wish to replicate the format of a church marriage service and have a prelude, a processional and a recessional. You can even have music played at other points during the ceremony itself.
We have listed below many of the popular and traditional classical music pieces you may wish to consider playing during your service. The pieces are classified by their suitability for each section of a service that follows the same format of a church service. However, at a civil wedding, there are few restrictions on the type of music allowed (so long as it is non-religious and does not detract from the solemnity of the occasion). So if you have favourite contemporary pieces then go ahead and play them - don't be afraid to be adventurous!
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The Prelude
This is music that is played while guests assemble in the venue's marriage room until the bride party arrives and can last up to about 20 minutes. This music sets the mood for the ceremony to come and should be positive and joyous. Popular classical music played during the prelude include:
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
Pavane by Fauré
Meditation from Thais by Massanet
Chanson De Matin by Elgar
Morning from Peer Gynt Suite by Grieg
Salut D'amour by Elgar
1st Movement from Eine Kline Nachtmusik by Mozart
Minuet by Boccherini
Air from the Water Music by Handel
Air on the G String by Bach
Berceuse from Dolly Suite by Fauré |
The Processional
This is music played for the bridal party's procession into the marriage room. One piece of music is chosen, which should be stately and regal and last the duration of the walk to where the ceremony will be conducted. The most popular classical pieces of music played during the processional are:
Wedding March from Lohengrin by Wagner
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
Grand March from Aida by Verdi
Wedding March from the Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke
Trumpet Voluntary by Stanley
Trumpet Tune by Purcell
Air from the Water Music by Handel
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Salut D'amour by Elgar
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
Spring from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi |
The Signing of the Register
Whilst signing the register, there will be time for one piece of music to be played - maybe two pieces if you are having photographs taken during the signing. Suitable classical pieces to choose from are:
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Air from the Water Music by Handel
Pavane by Fauré
Meditation from Thais by Massanet
Air on the G String by Bach
Morning from Peer Gynt Suite by Grieg
Chanson De Matin by Elgar
Salut D'amour by Elgar
Dome Epais from Lakme by Delibes
4th Movement from Eine Kline Nachtmusik by Mozart
Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach |
The Recessional
As you leave the marriage room, walking arm-in-arm as husband and wife, you will want a piece of music that is triumphant, joyful and celebratory. Traditional recessional music includes:
Wedding March (from a Midsummer Night's Dream)
by Mendelssohn
Radetsky March by Strauss
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke
Trumpet Voluntary by Stanley
Trumpet Tune by Purcell
Spring from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi
Brandenburg Concerto No 3 by Bach
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Grand March from Aida by Verdi
Overture from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
3rd Movement from Sonata in D by Purcell Please note, you must get the prior approval of the superintendent registrar that will be officiating at your wedding for all music you wish to play during your service. |
Music for your reception
Whether you have a live band or a DJ, there are many types of music to choose from. However, it is important to consider the likely tastes and age range of your guests when deciding what type of music to have played at your evening reception. You will want a party atmosphere with as many of your guests dancing as possible. With a DJ this will be no problem at all since their repertoire is immense. If you are having a live band, your chosen musicians will need to have a good repertoire of middle-of-the-road dance music if you want to get all your guests swinging! Again, this should not be a problem to any musician or band that is experienced in performing at weddings.
For something a little different, why not start off your evening with a themed session that will appeal to all ages. Imagine the fun you and your guests will have if you arrange for a live band to run a barn dance or a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee).
At your evening reception, the bride and groom traditionally dance first on their own to a waltz. However, as ballroom dancing is not so popular these days, the newlyweds usually dance to a favourite romantic song. During the playing of this song, it is traditional for the groom to dance with his new mother-in-law and then with his mother, while the bride dances with her new father-in-law and then with her father. The best man also joins in dancing with the chief bridesmaid and the ushers with the other bridesmaids when the bride and groom first change. After the first dance, all the guests are invited to join the newlyweds on the dancefloor.
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150 first dance suggestions
If you don't have a particular favourite song in mind for your first dance, here are 150 romantic suggestions. Those titles shown as hyperlinks will play a MIDI rendition of the song (not the real thing!). Please note, the quality of the sound you hear will be dependent upon your media player and the quality of your sound card.
A Million Love Songs - Take That
All I Ask Of You - Michael Crawford
All I Want Is You - U2
All My Life - Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville
All Out Of Love - Air Supply
All The Way - Frank Sinatra
Always - Atlantic Starr
Always And Forever - Luther Vandross, Heatwave or Eternal
Angel Of Mine - Eternal
Angels - Robbie Williams
Annie's Song - John Denver
As Time Goes By - from 'Casablanca'
A Whole New World - from 'Aladdin'
Babe - Styx
Beautiful In My Eyes - Joshua Kadison
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John
Can't Get Enough Of Your Love - Barry White
Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valley or Andy Williams
Colour Of My Love - Celine Dion
Close To You - Carpenters
Crazy For You - Madonna
Don't Know Much - Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville
Dreams - Gabrielle
Embraceable You - Nat King Cole
Endless Love - Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey
Eternal Flame - The Bangles
Every Breath You Take - Sting
Every Thing I Do, I Do For You - Bryan Adams
Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
From This Moment - Shania Twain and Brian White
Get Here - Oleta Adams
Glory Of Love - Peter Cetera
Groovy Kind Of Love - Phil Collins
Grow Old With Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter
Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart
Heaven - Bryan Adams
Hello - Lionel Richie
Here And Now - Luther Vandross
Here We Are - Gloria Estefan
Hero - Mariah Carey
How Deep Is Your Love - Take That
How Do I Live - Leanne Rimes
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - James Taylor
I Can't Help Lovin' You - Leo Sayer
I Believe I Can Fly - Roger Kelly
I Believe In You And Me - Whitney Houston
I Belong To You - Lenny Kravitz
I Do I Do I Do I Do - Abba
I Don't Want To Live Without You - Foreigner
If - Bread
I Finally Found Someone - Barbara Streisand and Bryan Adams
If You Don't Know Me By Now - Simply Red
I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles
I Get A Kick Out Of You - Frank Sinatra
I Got You Babe - Sonny and Cher
I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Michael Jackson
I'll Stand By You - The Pretenders
In My Life - The Beatles
I Swear - All 4 One
It Had To Be You - Harry Connick Jr.
It Must Be Love - Madness
I've Been Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner
I Wanna Know What Love Is - Foreigner
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
I've Had The Time Of My Life - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel
Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack
Kiss The Rain - Billy Myers
Lady In Red - Chris de Burgh
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Love Is All Around - Wet Wet Wet
Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
Lovely Day - Bill Withers
Loving You - Minnie Ripperton
More Than Words - Extreme
Moon River - Breakfast At Tiffany's and Andy Williams
My Eyes Adore You - Frankie Valley and The Four Seasons
My Girl - The Temptations
My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
My Love - Wings
Nobody Does It Better - Carly Simon
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
Now - Karen Carpenter
Now And Forever - Richard Marx
One Moment In Time - Whitney Houston
On The Wings Of Love - Jeffrey Osborne
Only You - Platters
Our Love Is Here To Stay - Nat King Cole or Frank Sinatra
Perfect Day - Lou Reed
Perfect Moment - Martine McCutcheon
Right Here Waiting For You - Richard Marx
Save The Best For Last - Vanessa Williams
Saving All My Love For You - Whitney Houston
Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
Solid As A Rock - Ashford and Simpson
She's The One - Robbie Williams
Someone To Watch Over Me - Frank Sinatra or Linda Ronstadt
Sometimes When We Touch - Dan Hill
Somewhere - from 'West Side Story'
Stand By Me - Ben E King
Stuck On You - Lionel Richie
Suddenly - Billy Ocean
Take My Breath Away - Berlin
The Best Is Yet To Come - Frank Sinatra
The One - Elton John
The Power Of Love - Jennifer Rush
These Arms Of Mine - Otis Reading
Three Times A Lady - Lionel Richie
Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Peobo Bryson and Roberta Flack
True - Spandau Ballet
True Love Ways - Buddy Holly
Truly - Lionel Richie
Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden
Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner
We Have All The Time In The World - Louis Armstrong
We've Only Just Begun - Carpenters
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
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