| As you plan your wedding, you may begin to wonder | | | | instrumental postlude as the guests depart, such as |
| what musical pieces you will need for the ceremony | | | | Kenny G’s The Wedding Song. |
| and reception. In contemporary American wedding | | | | After the ceremony, most couples will celebrate with |
| ceremonies, there are standard periods of time in | | | | loved ones at their reception. The reception |
| which you will need to select music for. The music | | | | traditionally, also has standard dances in which you will |
| you select will provide the ambience for your guests | | | | need to select music for. Conventionally, the wedding |
| and will set the tone for your entire wedding day. It | | | | party enters the reception area first, with the emcee |
| is imperative you select pieces that reflects your | | | | announcing their names and titles. During this time, |
| personal style and taste, and will create an | | | | background music is played. After the wedding party |
| atmosphere that you wish to embody for your | | | | has been announced, it is tradition to open the |
| special day. Although organ music is standard, many | | | | reception party with the newlywed’s first |
| brides are choosing to have harpists or string | | | | dance, followed by dancing with each other’s |
| quartets to replace the traditional standard. | | | | in-laws. There may also be a father-daughter dance |
| Wedding ceremony music is used to announce and | | | | and a mother-son dance. |
| accompany a specific order of events. Typically, the | | | | The bride and groom should discuss with the selected |
| ceremony begins with twenty to thirty minutes of | | | | DJ or band, the style of music they wish to have |
| prelude music. Usually this prelude music is meditative | | | | played during the meal and any special requests of |
| and soothing. This music fills the ceremony space | | | | favorite songs to play. Sometime during the end of |
| with tranquility as guests begin to slowly enter. Some | | | | the reception, the cake cutting ceremony will require |
| examples of popular prelude music include: | | | | background music. You will need to also discuss with |
| Bach’s, Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring or | | | | your musicians what to play. |
| Cantata 147, Beethoven’s Fur Elise, or | | | | If you are having difficulty deciding on which songs |
| Ackerman’s Prelude to the Bridal Suite. | | | | to play during your wedding, discuss this not only |
| After your guests have arrived, the time has arrived | | | | with your fiancé but also with family, friends |
| to begin the ceremony. It is customary to have the | | | | and the DJ or band. The musicians you have selected |
| ushers accompany the mothers and grandmothers | | | | will be able to offer you insight on which songs are |
| down the aisle at this time. Generally, there is special | | | | appropriate, which songs are most popular, and offer |
| music for this procession and seating. Some common | | | | some suggestions to you. |
| music pieces for this is Canon_in_D, by Johann | | | | Remember though, this is your day, and if a certain |
| Pachelbel or Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F 1st by | | | | song is meaningful to you, then you should include it |
| Bach. | | | | in your ceremony – even if it is different from |
| Once the mother of the bride assumes her seating | | | | the norm. |
| position, the processional begins with the bridesmaids, | | | | In summary, here is a list of musical pieces you will |
| followed by the maid of honor, the flower girl and | | | | need to select for your wedding: |
| ring bearer, and finally the bride accompanied by her | | | | Ceremony Music: |
| father or other figure who is giving the bride away. | | | | |
| For over one hundred years, the traditional wedding | | | | 1. Prelude Music |
| march has been Wagner's Bridal Chorus from | | | | 2. Processional music for the mothers and |
| Lohengrin, often called Here Comes The Bride. | | | | grandmothers |
| However, other processional marches have been | | | | 3. Processional music for the groomsmen & |
| used including, Jeremiah Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary, | | | | clergy (if walking down the aisle) |
| and Water Music (Suite #1) by Handle. | | | | 4. Processional music for the wedding party & |
| After the procession, depending on your particular | | | | bride |
| ceremony, you may need to select ceremony music | | | | 5. Recessional |
| or hymnal music, a solo or a short piece for the | | | | 6. Postlude And if needed, Interlude Music: |
| lighting of the Unity Candle, and/or communion music. | | | | 1. Ceremony / hymnal music |
| At the end of your service you will also need to | | | | 2. Unity Candle music |
| select a recessional piece, to march down the aisle as | | | | 3. Communion music |
| husband and wife. Usually, the recessional music is | | | | Reception Music: |
| lively and exciting. Some examples of commonly used | | | | 1. Background Music to announce bridal party |
| recessional pieces include: Mendelssohn's Wedding | | | | 2. First Dance |
| March from A Midsummer Night's Dream . Another | | | | 3. In-Law Dance |
| popular choice is Widor's Toccata from Symphony | | | | 4. Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Dance |
| No. 5 and The Carpenter’s We’ve Only | | | | 5. |
| Just Begun. The ceremony then concludes with an | | | | |