Music is an essential element to both the ceremony and the reception. You can completely transform a space with the right music choice. Unfortunately, coming up with a strong and memorable play-list for the ceremony alone can be difficult. Next comes choosing an exit song to conclude the ceremony, a song for the bridal party entrance at the wedding reception, and the first dance song. Once that's over and done with, you still have the Father-Daughter dance, the Money Dance, and the reception play-list.
The wedding songs requires a lot of careful thought and deliberation. While the classics are always a great choice for the wedding ceremony, it can be a tad cliché. There are many contemporary songs that would give your ceremony distinction and still help you retain the traditional essence. The key is to set your wedding apart without going overboard. And attempting to do this in a subtle manner is the best way to go about it. Break up the ceremonial monotony with some cool melodies by your favorite jazz musicians or folk singer. Add in some Enya and maybe even a tune from your favorite movie. Keep it light and happy.
In a standard ceremony, the music is divided up into 4 parts:
- Interlude
- Prelude
- Processional
- Recessional
The Interlude is the time during which all of the wedding guests are waiting for permission to enter the chapel and take their seats. Set up some speakers in and around the outside area and play music. If you're having your wedding ceremony at a country club or banquet hall, make sure there are chairs set up for the waiting guests so that they can relax while listening to the tranquil ambiance of Nat King Cole and Corrine Bailey Rae. This is a nice and necessary touch for the wedding ceremony. The prelude is the music you play while all of the guests are being seated for the ceremony. Many couples like to play classical music during this period – which is always a safe choice. Try Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Beethoven, or Chopin. For something a little more current, some suitable mezzo-soprano picks are Jewel, Enya, Amy Lee, and Sarah McLachlan.
The moment when the bridal party and the bride makes their entrance is the processional. Essentially, the processional is divided into two parts: the bridal party, and the bride. The wedding songs you choose for the bridal party should be low-key and harmonious. Canon in D by Pachelbel is a great choice. For the bride's entrance it's imminent that you change it up a bit. Some terrific song picks for the bride are:
- “The Prayer” by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli
- “Trumpet Voluntary” by Clarke
- “Waltz of the Flowers” by Tchaikovsky
The recessional begins right after the bride and groom kiss as husband and wife. This is the moment that you and everyone else has been waiting for, so end it with something fun and lively. Some examples are:
- “All You Need is Love” by the Beatles
- “I'm a Believer” by Smashmouth
- “A Moment Like This” by Kelly Clarkson
In addition, there are a few areas in which you may want to consider playing a song, such as during the Unity Candle ceremony and the wedding vow exchange. For more inspiration, check out “Wedding Vows” under the Resource Section.