Wedding Ceremony Music Guide
How To Plan Your Wedding Music
Copyright 2009 Sally Fletcher
Published by Heavenly Harpist
P.O. Box 6776
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-609-8034
sally@heavenlyharpist.com
Pre-Ceremony/Prelude Music
Consider the mood for this time, usually quiet, mystical, preparing everyone for the beautiful vows which are going to be exchanged. The music can be classical, romantic love songs, religious, folk, celtic, or any combination of these. Some churches will not allow secular music, so check with your minister, priest, rabbi or other officiant.
Select the category (or categories). Tell the musician any favorites you want included, if you have any favorites. Then, the experienced professional musician will select appropriate music to set the mood. The mothers are the last to be seated before the processional.
Sometimes there is a special selection played or sung as the mothers are seated. This is usually when one of the parents or grandparents has a favorite. If there is no special request, the family will be seated with a continuation of the pre-ceremony music. If there is a special selection, the musician needs to be cued just before the families enter.
Processional Music
The processional actually begins after the parents are seated, when the groom and officiant come to the altar (or when they reach the altar). They may enter to the same music as the parents, or with silence. The groomsmen may also come in at this time, or they can walk down the aisle with the bridesmaids.
The processional music is traditionally majestic, grand and stately, performed at a slow walking pace. (The wedding party does not need to walk in exact time with the music, just at a comfortably slow pace.) The mood is set for expectancy of the profound commitment that will take place.