Planning Your Wedding Music

What would a wedding be without music? You stand in the foyer of your church in a beautiful wedding gown that seems to flow into forever. You watch the regal procession of your wedding party down the main aisle of your church. Now it is your turn to begin your climactic walk. Your guests stand facing you, eagerly awaiting your entrance. You take the first step, but WAIT! Where’s the music!

Could you imagine walking down the aisle to nothing but the sound of your own heart beating? This example illustrates the importance of music to your wedding ceremony. Not other single element of your celebration has the power to move your guests and engage the emotions of all in attendance the way beautiful classical music does.

Music has been an integral part of weddings for as long as there have been weddings. Music defines the mood and sets the pace of this joyous event from the arrival and seating of the guests to the climactic recessional finale. This being so, your selection of music and musicians is one of the most important decisions you will make in planning your wedding. The selection of music should go hand-in-hand with the organizing of the wedding ceremony itself. Typically, a wedding is divided into four distinct components, each with its own distinct feel and personality. Keeping this in mind, music should be selected which defines and enhances the specific mood and atmosphere that you wish to create with each component. We hope the following summary will assist you in planning your wedding music.

While the Prelude music plays, the ushers escort your guests to their seats. The groom’s mother, father, and finally the bride’s mother are the last people escorted to their seats.

   

SETTING THE PACE - THE PROCESSIONAL

Your ceremony begins with the entrance of the wedding party. Normally, the ushers lead the procession, followed by the bridesmaids, maid of honor, the ring bearer, and the flower girl(s). The music should have a clearly audible cadence of rhythm so that it is easy for you and your attendants to keep time while walking.

In planning your Processional music, you should have a general indication of the time required for the entire processional from start to finish. With this information at hand the Atlantic Chamber Players can assist you in selecting the pieces which will be played, and help you determine the appropriate order for those selections. This will allow your musical ensemble to gracefully segue from piece to piece when multiple pieces are used, and artfully extend or shorten the music to fit your ceremony.

The musicians will know beforehand whom to look to for cues; typically this will be a wedding consultant or attendant. Alternatively, cues can be events (e.g., the Prelude ends and the Processional begins when the bride’s mother is seated and/or the doors are closed).

Music should be majestic and played with a quick tempo. Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, Handel’s Hornpipe and Mendelssohn’s Wedding March are all appropriate favorites used to proclaim your union to your guests.