Planning the Music for Your Wedding Ceremony
For the music, most American wedding ceremonies have six major parts, each with their own special requirements:
1. The prelude
2. The wedding party's processional
3. The bride's processional
4. The interlude
5. The recessional
6. The postlude
If you do not want to choose individual songs for your ceremony, experienced wedding musicians will be able to play
appropriate songs in the right places. But picking out your own music can be more meaningful and satisfying. The first
decision you should make that will guide you in your choices is whether you want your music to be traditional and classic or
lesser-known but unique. The professional wedding musicians you hire should have a supply of music from both categories
in their repertoire.
The Prelude
The purpose of the prelude music is to welcome guests as they are being seated before the ceremony. It also should give a
cheerful yet subdued atmosphere, setting the stage for the solemnity of the event. The prelude generally begins 15 to 20
minutes before the ceremony start time, and it often involves quite a few songs. Because of this, it's best to give the
musician(s) an idea of the genre of music you want and leave the individual song choices up to their discretion. Since the
prelude sets the tone for the rest of the ceremony, it's a good idea to base your genre choice on the type of music you will
be using later in the ceremony. Popular genre choices include Classical, Love Songs, Jazz, and Broadway, and these
genres can be mixed together within the prelude to suit your taste. Each of these genres has sub-categories (Baroque or
Romantic Classical music, old or new love songs, etc.), but it's safe to leave those choices up to the musicians unless you
have strong feelings one way or another.
The Wedding Party's Processional
The wedding party's processional marks the official beginning of the ceremony. It should have a slow but flowing feel,
ushering the beautiful bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party down the aisle. Perhaps the classic example
here is Canon in D by Pachelbel, but you should listen to various musical selections to find a song that strikes a chord with
you.
The Bride's Processional
The bride's processional can be an incredible moment, as memorable to everyone involved as the vows or any other part of
the ceremony. You should choose a very special song here. If you go with Classical music, the obvious traditional choice is
Wagner's Bridal Chorus ("Here Comes the Bride"). But any Classical piece that strikes you as particularly beautiful or
meaningful can be used here. If you're going with jazz, pop, or Broadway, use a song with beautiful music as well as lyrics
that are meaningful to you. Even if you don't have a singer at your wedding, the lyrics to a popular song will still play in
everyone's minds when they hear the melody.
The Interlude
The interlude can actually be many different moments in the ceremony, my very loose definition being any time there are no
words being spoken for a minute or more. For most ceremonies, the interlude is the unity candle, memorial candle, or rose
presentation. These are moments of quiet reflection, and the music you choose should encourage this mood. A popular and
appropriate unity candle choice is The Wedding Song, partly because the lyrics mention the word "union." Sweet Classical
favorites include Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach, Ave Maria by Schubert, and Meditation from Thais by Massenet.
The Recessional
At last, time to celebrate! The wedding officiant's pronouncement of husband and wife is followed by enthusiastic applause
and joyous recessional music as the happy couple leads the way back up the aisle. The song you choose should be bright
and upbeat, inviting everyone to celebrate your union. The top traditional choice for the recessional is Mendelssohn's
Wedding March. A close second and third are Beethoven's Ode to Joy and Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary. But any song with a
joyous feel that speaks to you will work well in this spot.
The Postlude
The postlude sets a pleasant atmosphere as guests are leaving. It can last between 10 and 30 minutes, so it's best to treat
the postlude like the prelude and simply give the musicians an idea of what you want. Experienced wedding musicians will
play postlude music that is refined but upbeat, adding the finishing touch to your beautiful ceremony.
Lastly, have fun with the process of choosing your music! You can make listening to possible ceremony music a wonderful
opportunity to slow down in the midst of your hectic planning and reflect on the love that you and your partner feel for each
other. Music has the power to express this beautiful sentiment to all of your friends and family during your wedding
ceremony, so take advantage of it!
Greg Lee music is proud to represent the most professional wedding ceremony musicians in Cincinnati.
For the music, most American wedding ceremonies have six major parts, each with their own special requirements:
1. The prelude
2. The wedding party's processional
3. The bride's processional
4. The interlude
5. The recessional
6. The postlude
If you do not want to choose individual songs for your ceremony, experienced wedding musicians will be able to play
appropriate songs in the right places. But picking out your own music can be more meaningful and satisfying. The first
decision you should make that will guide you in your choices is whether you want your music to be traditional and classic or
lesser-known but unique. The professional wedding musicians you hire should have a supply of music from both categories
in their repertoire.
The Prelude
The purpose of the prelude music is to welcome guests as they are being seated before the ceremony. It also should give a
cheerful yet subdued atmosphere, setting the stage for the solemnity of the event. The prelude generally begins 15 to 20
minutes before the ceremony start time, and it often involves quite a few songs. Because of this, it's best to give the
musician(s) an idea of the genre of music you want and leave the individual song choices up to their discretion. Since the
prelude sets the tone for the rest of the ceremony, it's a good idea to base your genre choice on the type of music you will
be using later in the ceremony. Popular genre choices include Classical, Love Songs, Jazz, and Broadway, and these
genres can be mixed together within the prelude to suit your taste. Each of these genres has sub-categories (Baroque or
Romantic Classical music, old or new love songs, etc.), but it's safe to leave those choices up to the musicians unless you
have strong feelings one way or another.
The Wedding Party's Processional
The wedding party's processional marks the official beginning of the ceremony. It should have a slow but flowing feel,
ushering the beautiful bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party down the aisle. Perhaps the classic example
here is Canon in D by Pachelbel, but you should listen to various musical selections to find a song that strikes a chord with
you.
The Bride's Processional
The bride's processional can be an incredible moment, as memorable to everyone involved as the vows or any other part of
the ceremony. You should choose a very special song here. If you go with Classical music, the obvious traditional choice is
Wagner's Bridal Chorus ("Here Comes the Bride"). But any Classical piece that strikes you as particularly beautiful or
meaningful can be used here. If you're going with jazz, pop, or Broadway, use a song with beautiful music as well as lyrics
that are meaningful to you. Even if you don't have a singer at your wedding, the lyrics to a popular song will still play in
everyone's minds when they hear the melody.
The Interlude
The interlude can actually be many different moments in the ceremony, my very loose definition being any time there are no
words being spoken for a minute or more. For most ceremonies, the interlude is the unity candle, memorial candle, or rose
presentation. These are moments of quiet reflection, and the music you choose should encourage this mood. A popular and
appropriate unity candle choice is The Wedding Song, partly because the lyrics mention the word "union." Sweet Classical
favorites include Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach, Ave Maria by Schubert, and Meditation from Thais by Massenet.
The Recessional
At last, time to celebrate! The wedding officiant's pronouncement of husband and wife is followed by enthusiastic applause
and joyous recessional music as the happy couple leads the way back up the aisle. The song you choose should be bright
and upbeat, inviting everyone to celebrate your union. The top traditional choice for the recessional is Mendelssohn's
Wedding March. A close second and third are Beethoven's Ode to Joy and Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary. But any song with a
joyous feel that speaks to you will work well in this spot.
The Postlude
The postlude sets a pleasant atmosphere as guests are leaving. It can last between 10 and 30 minutes, so it's best to treat
the postlude like the prelude and simply give the musicians an idea of what you want. Experienced wedding musicians will
play postlude music that is refined but upbeat, adding the finishing touch to your beautiful ceremony.
Lastly, have fun with the process of choosing your music! You can make listening to possible ceremony music a wonderful
opportunity to slow down in the midst of your hectic planning and reflect on the love that you and your partner feel for each
other. Music has the power to express this beautiful sentiment to all of your friends and family during your wedding
ceremony, so take advantage of it!
Greg Lee music is proud to represent the most professional wedding ceremony musicians in Cincinnati.
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