Planning the Music for Your Wedding Ceremony
by: Courtney Lawhn
Planning the Music for Your Wedding Ceremony
It’s safe to say that out of all the events for which
you will gather your friends and family to celebrate your marriage,
the wedding ceremony itself will be the most meaningful and,
hopefully, memorable. Music plays many vital roles in the ceremony,
from providing flow and ambiance to highlighting the deeper
emotional meaning. Many former brides and grooms remember the
songs played at their weddings for the rest of their lives,
and they can relive that romantic day when hearing those songs
again.
Since music is so important to your wedding ceremony, I always
advise hiring one or more live, experienced, professional musicians
to handle it. Qualified, well-researched musicians will be
able to tailor the music in real time to fit what is going
on in your ceremony, which will help one part flow effortlessly
into the next. Also, you’ll find it truly ties together
all of the visual and verbal elements, from the flowers to
the vows, with timeless style and class.
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.
The best starting point for specific ceremony music ideas is
the repertoire list on the website (or in paper form) of the
musicians you are hiring. The songs listed there are usually
ones that the musicians are requested to play frequently and
that the musicians know very well. Talk with your musicians
as far in advance of the ceremony as possible about your musical
selections. This way, if you have a special request that is
not in the musicians’repertoire, they may be able to
accommodate it.
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!
Chicago harpist Courtney Lawhn
Chicago harpist Courtney Lawhn has performed with the most
prestigious Classical ensembles in Chicago –the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Grant
Park Symphony Orchestra –and she brings her experience
to weddings and other events throughout the metro area.
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