Selecting Music for Your Ceremony

By Lisa Carlson

You can perfectly envision the moment you’ll begin the walk down the aisle and into your new life: the perfect location, gorgeous dress, the flowers. Now even the flower girls have completed their walk down the aisle, the music stops, and your processional has begun.

It’s the moment you’ve dreamed of for so long, finally here. What music will usher you down the aisle to the love of your life? What will he be feeling when he hears the music?

There are so many choices for today’s couples. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all the choices, here are a few thoughts to help make the ambiance of your most special moment truly memorable, and truly personal.
First, are you a person who likes tradition, or someone who likes to forge new ground? Does a wedding without Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” at the end feel like a birthday without singing “Happy Birthday” or Hanukkah without latkes? I know some who can’t stand the thought of the popular wedding music choices at their wedding. But for some they are as dear as “Silent Night” at Christmas time, as comforting as a “welcome home” hug, and as full of anticipationand excitement as a child’s birthday wish coming true.

If you’re a tradition lover, your choices will be relatively easy. The vast majority of couples choose the Mendelssohn “Wedding March” for the recessional.

In my experience, the most popular choice for the bride’s processional is the Pachelbel “Canon in D.” The second most popular choice is the traditional Wagner “Bridal Chorus” (“Here Comes the Bride”). I have played some weddings where both are played: the Pachelbel Canon for the wedding party and the Bridal Chorus for the bride.
Just about everyone wants music that’s joyful and lively for the recessional, at the end of the ceremony, so that’s an easy place to start considering additional possibilities. Here are a few alternatives to Mendelssohn you may wish to consider:

• “La Rejouissance” from “The Fireworks Music” by Handel
• “Trumpet Tune” by Purcell
• “Trumpet Voluntary” by Clarke (also called the “Prince of Denmark’s March”)
• “Gigue” from Suite #3 in D Major by J.S. Bach
• “Allegro” from “Spring” from “The Four Seasons” by Vivaldi
• “Hornpipe” from “The Water Music” by Handel

The list above works well for almost any instrument combination, and all are popular choices. Of course, some couples might choose a popular tune, a show tune, a hymn, or maybe a Celtic or Jazz piece – you name it! Here are a few truly alternative examples I’ve experienced:

• “Do You Hear the People Sing” from Les Miserables by Claude-Michel Schonberg
• “Carolan’s Concerto” by Turlough O’Carolan
• Medley of: “One Hand, One Heart” from “West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein, “And This is My Beloved” by Robert Wright and George Forrest,” “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” by George Gershwin, and “All I Ask of You” by Andrew Lloyd Weber.
• “Hallelujah Chorus” from “The Messiah” by Handel
• “Everyone” by Van Morrison
• A medley of traditional Scottish tunes played by the bride’s grandfather on bagpipes
• “Get Happy” by Judy Garland

There are too many possibilities to list here, but you get the idea! Your musicians may have additional ideas and will be able to advise you on whether a particular choice works well for a particular instrument combination, so do be sure to talk with them, particularly if considering an unusual option.
The bride’s processional is probably your most important musical choice.

The first question: would you like your processional to be of the fanfare variety (like the Wagner “Bridal Chorus”) or the flowing variety (more like the Pachelbel Canon)? Do you fantasize a regal and stately entrance following a trumpet style musical introduction? Or do you prefer the simple but elegant glide?
Here are a few popular options for either the bride or the wedding party:

For a regal, fanfare style processional:

• “Trumpet Voluntary” by Clarke
• “Trumpet Tune” by Purcell

For a more flowing processional:

• “Air” from “Water Music” by Handel
• “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by J.S. Bach
• “Sheep May Safely Graze” by J.S. Bach
• Theme from “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven

Below are a few possibilities that I’ve experienced that are more uncommon:

• “Carol of the Bells”
• “Leezie Lindsay” traditional Scottish folk song
• “Meditation” from “Thais” by Jules Massenet
• “If We Hold On Together” from “Land Before Time”
• “All I Ask of You” by Andrew Lloyd Weber
• “Sinfonia” from “Cantata 156” by J.S. Bach

For music during the ceremony - for candle lighting, communion, or a reflective moment - you may already have a choice in mind that really speaks to you both as a couple. Or you may wish to ask a religious leader or your musicians for specific additional recommendations. Below are a few pieces I’ve found to be popular for such a moment:

• “Simple Gifts”
• “Amazing Grace”
• “On Eagle’s Wings” by Michael Joncas
• “The Rose” by Amanda McBroom
• Virtually any hymn that fits the mood

And a few others that I’ve experienced:

• “Fannie Power” traditional Celtic tune
• “Sarabande” from Partita for Solo Flute by J.S. Bach
• “Sicilienne” from Sonata in E flat for Flute and Piano by J.S. Bach

It’s my view that the most important elements of planning music for a wedding are:

• Consider whether there’s a special piece of music – a tune, a song, a classical piece – that resonates with you and/or your partner, or that has special meaning for a family member or friend. If so, work with your musicians and your officiant to include that music in some way in your ceremony. A special tune on your wedding day may put a hum on your lips and in your heart, and in the hearts of friends and family, for many years to come!

• Ask advice from the musicians you’ll be working with. They may be able to easily guide you toward music you’ll love that works well for their particular combination of instruments. Also, if a selection you love isn’t workable for a particular instrumental combination, they may be able to steer you toward another selection that’s similar.
• Be aware that the music establishes the background feelings that will color your ceremony and your memories. Select music that resonates for you in the way you’ll want to remember forever.

Lisa Carlson is based in Central Vermont and freelances as a flutist throughout Vermont, as soloist or in duos, trios, or a quartet with a variety of instrumental combinations. She maintains a web site at www.lisaflute.com as well as a wedding music blog at www.lisaflute.com/weddingblog.

Related: See an online list of Vermont professional wedding music providers wedding music in Vermont

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