Wedding Ceremony Music

For some, choosing music for the wedding ceremony can be quite daunting. That said, here are some ideas for music you could have at your ceremony, starting with more contemporary pop tunes, followed by the more standard classical repertoire.

Contemporary/Pop Music for Ceremony

Bridal Entrance

You may be concerned about the length of the piece of music you choose for your bridal entrance - this is no problem as I can play it to fit the walk up the aisle exactly, as I can play the music until you reach the alter/front and come to a close at the nearest musical-sounding phrase. This way, I won't leave you stood there like lemons while I play the whole piece, and also won't suddenly, abruptly stop! If you plan to send your bridesmaids in before you enter, this can also be timed with the music, and if needed, a rough demo track can be provided free of charge (to pre-existing clients) in order for you to work out how to choreograph your entrance. Please email for details.

Music Ideas:

Always A Woman - Billy Joel
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
Love Actually Theme
Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
The River Flows In You

Please do not feel restricted by these choices, they are just to give you an idea of the "feel" of music you need. Generally, for the entrance it should be something that befits a grand entrance, and not a piece of music that brings the mood down . Remember, this is a happy occasion!

Special meaning is actually the key to the music in a ceremony, and makes it a more personal occasion, so try to think of a piece of music that perhaps you and your other half like - even if it's something that you wouldn't have thought would work. For instance, I recently worked out a "ceremony" version of Blink 182's "First Date", which was still the same song, but not so manic and it worked brilliantly without being "cheesy" or boring.



Signing of the Register

Songs like:
Love - John Lennon
The Man With the Child In His Eyes - Kate Bush
Mirrorball - Elbow
To Make You Feel My Love - Adele
Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel) - Billy Joel

...basically you'd be best off thinking of some nice love songs, but ones that have tuneful melodies. The average time for a register signing is around 10 minutes, and I can get through maybe 3 or 4 tunes in that time. If it takes longer, I can always keep playing other appropriate music to fill in until everyone is ready.

Exit Music

Ideas:
All You Need Is Love - The Beatles
You and Me Song - The Wannadies
It Must Be Love - Madness/Labi Siffre
The exit music is the one that will give your guests a lasting impression of the ceremony, so it's got to be a good strong tune with a bit of "umph" to it!

Traditional/Classical Wedding Ceremony Music

Here are some ideas for classical pieces - you can find lots by googling "wedding ceremony music" - there are several good websites with lists of popular choices.

Please note, if picking an obscure piece of classical music, it would be a good idea to let me know with as much notice as possible. Learning a pop song usually takes a few minutes, but some classical pieces can be technically very difficult and require lots of practice!

Traditional Bridal Entrance:
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (also works well as exit music)
Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary
Purcell's Trumpet Tune In D
Bach's Air on A G String
Handel's Air from Water Music
Pachelbel's Canon in D
Handel - Hornpipe from Water Music
Elgar - Nimrod

Signing of the Register: Debussy - Clair da Lune
Satie - Gymnopedies No.2
Delibes - Flower Duet
Shostakovich - Piano Concerto No.2

Exit: Widor's Toccata
Handel - Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah
Haydn - The Heaven's Are Telling
Mendelssohn - Wedding March