The Wedding Ceremony

The Wedding Ceremony There are many different styles & types of wedding ceremonies. The primary purpose of this page is to give you a brief outline of what is involved when choosing music for your ceremony. The essential sections of the wedding ceremony are the Prelude, The Processional, The Bridal Entrance & The Recessional. In many cases there are other selections that are chosen to be played during the ceremony such as at the candle lighting.
The Prelude This is the music that is heard as the guests are entering and being seated. The music here sets the tone and prepares everyone for the beginning of the ceremony. Classical and popular music can be played here. Music by Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi and popular composers works well.
The Processional Depending upon the size of your wedding party one or more choices can be made here. Special music can be selected for the seating of parents & grandparents. Then another piece can be played for the wedding party. If the group is large then two choices might be made. An example would be one piece for the groomsmen and another for the bridesmaids. Pachabel's Canon in D is the most famous choice here.
The Bride's Entrance At the end of the processional there is usually a short pause. This let's everyone know that she is about to enter and they usually will stand. The music here can be any number of different choices from classical to popular. The Wedding March or Trumpet Voluntary are popular choices.
The Recessional At the conclusion of the ceremony a piece that is joyous and upbeat is played to usher the Bride, Groom & Wedding Party out. It is a good idea to let the musicians know what the final words are at the ceremony so that they will have a cue to begin playing. Mendelssohn's Wedding March, Spring from Vivaldi's Four Seasons and Simintov & Maseltov are played at many wedding's.
Music Selections List: (click the song titles to listen)
The Processional
Wagner, Bridal Chorus (from Lohengrin)
Pachelbel, Canon in D
Vivaldi, Guitar Concerto in D major, Largo
Vivaldi, Winter, Largo (from the Four Seasons)
Clarke, Trumpet Voluntary
Gabieli, Canzon V
Handel, Overture (from Royal Fireworks Music)
Handel, Air (from Water Music)
Handel, See the Conqu'ring Hero
Handel, Larghetto (Xerxes)
Handel, Oboe Concerto, Adagio
Monteverdi, Toccata (from L'Orfeo)
Charpentier, Te Deum
Mendelsson, Sonata for Organ, Op 65, No 3
Purcell, Trumpet Tune
Telemann, Trumpet Concerto in D, Allegro
Mussorgsky, Promenade, (from Pictures at Exhibition)
Macdowell, To A Wild Rose
Beethoven, Path'etique Sonata
Satie, Guymnopedie No
The Recessional
Mendolsohn, Wedding March
Bach, Fugue in E-Flat Major (from St Anne)
Walton, Crown Imperial
Vivaldi, Spring Allegro (from the Four Seasons)
Vivaldi, Concerto for Two Trumpets in B, Allegro
Handel, Hallelujah Chorus (from the Messiah)
Handel, Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Handel, Hornpipe (from Water Music)
Handel, Hornpipe (from Concerto Grosso Op 6, No 7)
Beethoven, Ode to Joy
Telemann, Trumpet Concerto in D II, Allegro
Telemann, Trumpet Concerto in B, Allegro
Widor, Toccata
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No 4, Allegro
Bach, Badinerie
Cantata No 51
Dubois, Toccata (from Douze Pieces)
Haydn, String Quartet D-Major Op 64, No 5 Hob III
Haydn, String Quartet F-Major Op 50, No 5 Hob III
Schumann, Piano Quintet in E-Flat-Major, Op 44
Prelude/Interlude/Postlude/Incedental
Albinoni, Adagio "Giazotto"
Bach, In Dulci Jubilo
Bach, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (from BWV 147)
Bach, Sheep May Safely Graze (from BWV 208)
Bach, Air on a G String
Bach, Sonata No 2 in E-Flat-Major, Siciliano
Boellman, Toccata (from suite Gothique Op 25)
Vaughan-Williams, Hymn Prelude on Rhosymedre
Vierne, Carillon de Westminister
Gounod, Ave Maria
Schubert, Ave Maria (for Voice)
Handel, Ombra mai fu (from the opera Xerxes)
Handel, Let the Bright Seraphim
Handel, Pastoral Symphony
Puccini, Musetta's Waltz (from La Boheme)
Shubert, Ave Maria (for Organ)
Mozart, Alleluia (from Exsultate Jubilate)
Grieg, I Love You
Schubert, Du Bist die Ruhe (You Are My Joy)
Franck, Panis Angelicus (Oh Lord Most Holy)
Gluck, Dance of teh Blessed Spirits
Faure, Sicillienne Op 78
Faure, Apre's un Reve
Elgar, Chanson de Matin
Debussy, Arabesque
Bizet, Intermezzo from Carmen
Elgar, Salut d'amour
Grieg, morning from Peer Gynt
Debussy, Pre'lude 'a l'apr'es midi d'un faun
Boccherini, String Quintet Op 13, Minuet
Greensleeves, Traditional (arranged by Buck)
Saint-Saens, The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)
Massenet, Meditation (from Thais)
Mendelssohn, On the Wings of Song
Mozart, Piano Concerto No 21, Andante
Torelli, Trumpet Concerto, 2nd Movement
Mozart, Rondo in A-Minor K.511
Lizt, Dream of Love
Offenbach, Barcarolle
Chopin, Prelude No 15 in D-Flat Major, Op 28, No 15
Chopin, Etude in E-Major, Op 10 No 3
Chopin, Variations on Non Piu Mesta
Beethoven, Andante in F-Major
Beethoven, Menuet in G
Brahms, Waltz in A Flat
Saint Saens, The Swan
Mendelsson, Song Without Words
Rachmaninov, Vocalise
Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Debussy, Clair de Lune
Debussy, Arabesque No 2
Debussy, Petite Suite (excerpt) for Flute and Harp
Faure, Berceuse Op 16
Shubert, Impromptu in G-Flat Major
Grieg, Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, Op 65, No 6
Albeniz, Tango in D-Major
Schumann, Romance Op 94 for Violin and Piano
Bizet, Adagietto for Violin and Piano (from L'Arlesienne)
Ravel, Vocalise en forme de habanera
Popular, Contemporary, New Age, Traditional, Sacred, Rock and any other genre of music are available to choose from and use during the ceremony. Please consult with us for ideas.

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