Planning Your Wedding Service
Text Box: Suggested List of Wedding Ceremony Repertoire The Prelude: When guests start arriving at the ceremony site.  "Air" from Suite No.3 in D, J.S. Bach “Cantabile” from Concerto in D minor, A. Vivaldi “Bist Du Bei Mir” (If Thou Be Near) J.S. Bach “Eidelweiss” from The Sound of Music, Rodgers and Hammerstein "Greensleeves" Traditional Carol “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”, J.S. Bach “Largo” from The Four Seasons-Winter, Antonio Vivaldi “Minuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits” from Orpheus, C.W. Gluck “One Hand, One Heart” from West Side Story, Leonard Bernstein  “Pavane” Gabriel Faure The Processional: When the bridal party and the bride make their entrance.   “Air and Minuet” from Water Music, G. F. Handel “Air” from Water Music, G.F. Handel "Bridal Chorus" from Lohengrin, Richard Wagner (Here comes the bride…) "Canon in D" Johan Pachelbel "Spring" from Four Seasons, Antonio Vivaldi "Trumpet Voluntary" Jeremiah Clarke “Wedding Processional” from The Sound of Music, Rodgers and Hammerstein The Ceremony: When the bride and groom are married. “Ave Maria” Bach-Gounod “Ave Maria” Schubert "The Wedding Song" (There is Love) “Panis Angelicus”, Cesar Franck The Recessional: Departure from the ceremony site. “Hornpipe” from Water Music, G.G. Handel “Trumpet Tune and Air”, Henry Purcell "La Rejouissance" from Music for the Royal Fireworks, G.F. Handel "Hallelujah Chorus" "Wedding March" from Midsummer Nights Dream, Felix Mendelssohn "Ode To Joy" from 9th Symphony, Beethoven “Prince of Denmark’s March”, Jeremiah Clarke “Rondeau” Jean Joseph Mouret

How to incorporate music into your ceremony

When thinking about music, wedding services can generally be divided into four sections—The Prelude, The Processional, The Ceremony, and The Recessional. Use as much or as little music as you like-there is no general rule.  As a part of your consultation, I will walk through your ceremony with you and help you to select appropriate pieces based on your personal tastes. 

 

Below is a list of some of the most popular selections for each part of the service, but no request is too extreme!  I played one ceremony years ago where the bride wanted Bach and the groom wanted Jethro Tull, so they chose a balance of both for the Prelude!  There are many CD samplers on the market.  It’s usually a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the music unless you have something specific in mind.  Be sure to check with your house of worship prior to your consultation, as many times there are strict guidelines about what can and cannot be used during your actual ceremony. 

 

If you need more suggestions, or want to hear samples of more music, click here to go to Wedding Music Central, where you can find lots of great resources!