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Wedding Ceremony Music

Music is an essential part of our daily lives, and it has the power to make your wedding ceremony a truly special occasion. Because so much depends on the music, you have to make sure you plan it carefully. The music you chose can make or break your event.

When choosing your wedding ceremony music, be sure you select music that corresponds with the formality of the wedding. Among other things, keep in mind the religious affiliation, and the length of the ceremony when planning the music. If you ceremony is held in a church, you can expect help from the church organist. Before you finalize your wedding ceremony music, there are a few important issues to consider.

3 Common Musical Categories

Classical – This genre of music conforms to an established form and appeals to critical interest and developed musical taste.

Examples of classical wedding music are:

"Canon in D" (Johann Pachelbel)
"Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin" (Richard Wagner) (also known as "Here Comes the Bride")
"Air" (from Water Music Suite), (George Frederic Handel)
"The Prince of Denmark's March" (Trumpet Voluntary in D major) (Jeremiah Clarke) "Guitar Concerto in D Major", Largo, (Antonio Vivaldi)
"Coronation March for Czar Alexander III" (Peter I. Tchaikovsky)
"Overture" (from Royal Fireworks Music), (George Frederic Handel)
"Promenade" (from Pictures at an Exhibition), (Modest Mussorgsky)
"Sinfonia" (from Cantata No. 156), (Johann Sebastian. Bach)
"Cantata No.29" (Johann Sebastian Bach)
"Prelude and Fugue in C" (Johann Sebastian Bach)
"Toccata" (from L'Orfeo), (Claudio Monteverdi)
"Romance from String Quartet" (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
"Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major" ("Elvira Madigan") (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
"Trumpet Tune in A-Major" (David N. Johnson)
"A Midsummer Night's Dream, incidental music, Op. 61 Wedding March" (Felix Mendelssohn)
"Winter," Largo or "Spring" Allegro (from The Four Seasons), (Antonio Vivaldi)

Sacred – Sacred music is dedicated to religious themes and symbols. It is music considered worthy of religious ceremony. Schedule a time to meet with the church organist before you begin selecting your ceremony music. Beware that some churches have very firm rules on what music is used in liturgical settings. The church organist should be well qualified to help you in selecting your wedding ceremony music.

Secular – Secular music is dedicated to non-religious subject matter. It is not necessarily forbidden during religious service, but you have to confirm with your house of worship that your chosen music is approved.

Examples of secular wedding music are:

"At Last" (Etta James)
"Only Time" (Enya)
"Come Away With Me" (Norah Jones)
"Appalachia Waltz" (Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor)
"Unforgettable" (Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole)
"It's Only Time" (Magnetic Fields)
"The Look of Love" (Dionne Warwick/Burt Bacharach)
"The Vow" (Jeremy Lubbock)
"Come What May" (Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor)
"Storybook Love" from the movie "The Princess Bride" (Willy DeVille)
"Wedding Processional" (from The Sound of Music) (Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein)
"Can't help falling in love" (Elvis Presley)
"What A Wonderful World" (Louis Armstrong)
"When I'm Sixty-Four" (The Beatles)