If you’ve never been to a wedding and have just started your planning, you may not be aware of the fact that there are many music options for your wedding. Discover when to change the music and which options are the most popular.
If you have just started planning the music for your wedding ceremony, you may have recently discovered that not all weddings have the same music and that there are many different music options for your ceremony. Additionally, you may have learned that different songs are often used to announce a change in the wedding, such as the entrance of the bridal party or the candle lighting ceremony. These are all important changes that should be considered when planning the music for your wedding ceremony.
Prelude
The prelude is the music that will play before the wedding starts. When planning the music for your wedding ceremony, it is best to keep the prelude light and cheery so that guests are entertained but can still converse. Some options could include “Allegro from the Water Music Suite” by George Frederick Handel, “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy, or “Prelude in Db Major” by Frederic Chopin.
Processionals for the Bridal Party
A change in music is often used to announce the entrance of the bridal party and it is something you should consider while planning the music for your wedding ceremony. A few options could include “Sonata Pathetique” by Ludwig van Beethoven, “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel, or “Yedid Nefesh,” which is a traditional Jewish song.
Processionals for the Bride
As you may know, a music change often occurs when the bride enters the ceremony and there are many options you can choose from, including the traditional “Bridal Chorus” by Richard Wagner, “Trumpet Voluntary” by Jeremiah Clarke, or “Simple Gifts,” a Shaker Hymn.
Interludes
If you have any plans for candle lighting or other common ceremony traditions, you may want to announce the change of activity with music. Interlude options like “Ave Maria” by Franz Schubert, “Greensleeves” or “Nocturne from a Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Felix Mendelssohn are all great options to choose from when planning the music for your wedding ceremony.
Postlude/Recessional
This is the music that will play once the bride and groom announcement is made by the officiate. “Ode to Joy” by Ludwig van Beethoven, “Autumn from the Four Seasons in Allegro” by Antonio Vivaldi, or the “Wedding March from a Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Felix Mendelssohn are all great finishing options to choose from when planning the wedding music for your ceremony.
