Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti

Music. It's fantastic isn't it. There is so much music out there that i absolutely love. So picking wedding music shouldn't be a problem, right?

Wrong.

How on earth do i narrow the list down to just a couple of songs? I don't know how i'm going to do it. This might help though............

Selecting Your Wedding Ceremony Music

What music should you choose as you walk down the aisle? Remember, you don't have to stick with "Here comes the bride!" A quartet is a popular choice for your wedding ceremony but there are many others which can add to the ambience of your wedding day. These include:

• A string trio
• A woodwind instrument
• A soloist
• Traditional organ
• A harpist
• Piano
• A band
• Personal music player (such as an iPod)

You’re not limited to one option either - you may choose a quartet for your ceremony, a pianist for your cocktail hour and a band for your reception.

You can find wedding musicians on most wedding directories or in magazines. However you may have some talented friends, a talented local musician, or may even consider asking a university or college if their musicians are available to play at weddings.

Here’s a rundown of the ‘types’ of music chosen for your wedding ceremony.

Prelude

Typically you should choose 4-5 songs for when guests are entering the ceremony location. These provide background music and can set the tone for your event. A light-hearted celebratory tune will get guests into the mood. These songs are also known as the prelude and usually start about 20 minutes before the stated ceremony start time.

• Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring - Bach
• Can’t Help Falling In Love - Elvis
• Air On The G String - Bach
• Heaven (Candlelight mix) - DJ Sammy

Processional

Next up is choosing a song for your walk down the aisle, otherwise known as the processional. Some weddings may have a different song for the bridesmaids to the bride, signalling the importance of the bride’s entry and giving her a dramatic moment.

• Only Time - Enya
• Wedding March - Wagner
• Canon In D - Pachelbel
• Kissing You - Des’ree
• Wedding Processional From The Sound Of Music - Rodgers & Hammerstein
• Trumpet Voluntary - Jeremiah Clarke/Purcell

Interlude

During the ceremony, you might choose to have special songs play. Perhaps during the signing of the registry or during a special ceremony, such as the sand ceremony. You may even choose to have a close family member of friend sing a song that’s special to you. Known as the interlude, this part of the ceremony can be a great place to put more of your special songs that are personal to you.

• Ava Maria
• The Rose - Bette Midler
• Songbird - Eva Cassidy
• Sheep May Safetly Graze - Bach
• Clare De Lune - Claude Debussy
• Your Song - Elton John

Recessional

Walking back down the aisle is one of the happiest parts of a wedding day - the music should be upbeat, vibrant and celebratory! This is known as the recessional.

• Trumpet Voluntary - Clarke
• All You Need Is Love - The Beatles
• In My Life - The Beatles
• How Sweet It Is - Michael Buble
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
• A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

Prolude

As the guests leave the church or ceremony venue and gather outside, more music plays. This is known as the prolude. The songs picked for this should be joyous and with a happy beat.

• Love & Marriage - Frank Sinatra
• So Happy Together - The Turtles
• Better Together - Jack Johnson
• For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder
• My Baby Just Cares For Me - Nina Simone

Extra tips

Couples should keep in mind the tempo and length of the song as well as the length of your aisle. Have a backup plan if you’re using a CD or portable music player in case these fail. And listen to the lyrics of your chosen songs. Some just don’t work for a wedding! If you can’t do without a piece of music but the lyrics are inappropriate, consider using an instrumental version instead.