Guide to Music for your Wedding
Welcome! This page is designed to help you choose music that will serve to enhance this very special service. It is not necessary to have a specialized knowledge of music or of the wedding service—by considering the suggestions listed below, you will be well on the way to choosing just the right music.
Before the service: Generally, I play quiet music for fifteen or twenty minutes before the service begins, or when the wedding guests begin to enter the church. If there is a special selection you would like, I do my best to include it.
Processional:
For the Bridal Party: Unless the wedding is
very small, it is generally best to have separate processional music for
the bridal party. The piece chosen should be somewhat more subdued than
that chosen for the bride.
For the Bride: The first decision is whether
you want the "traditional" processional (Wagner's Bridal March
from Lohengrin, also known as "Here Comes the Bride"). If not,
you may wish to consider the following pieces:
- Air from The Water Music, G.F. Handel
- Rigaudon, A. Campra
- Trumpet Tune, H. Purcell
- Trumpet Voluntary, J. Clarke
- Entrance of the Queen of Sheba, G.F. Handel
- This day so full of joy, J.S. Bach
Recessional:
The "traditional" recessional
is Mendelsshohn's Wedding March.
You might also wish to consider the following
pieces:
- Hornpipe from The Water Music, G.F. Handel
- Rigaudon, A. Campra
- Trumpet Tune, H. Purcell
- Trumpet Voluntary, J. Clarke
- Fantasia in G, J.S. Bach
- Entrance of the Queen of Sheba, G.F. Handel
Communion:
The service includes Communion; I play quiet music while it takes place. If
there is a special selection you would like, I do my best to include it.
Hymns:
Unless the congregation is quite large or primarily consists of church-goers,
I would advise against including hymns. If you do decide to include one or
more hymns, choose ones that are likely to be well known to most of the guests.
The Rector will help you decide at which places in the service the hymns should
be sung. Suitable hymns include:
- Hymn 397: Now thank we all our God
- Hymn 410: Praise, my soul, the king of heaven
- Hymn 625: Ye holy angels bright
- Hymn 657: Love divine, all loves excelling
Soloists:
Effective wedding music may or may not
include a soloist. Be aware that the complexity
of planning (finding the soloist, arranging
rehearsals, choosing repertoire, etc.)
as well as cost (soloist and accompanist
fees, etc.) will increase. If you do choose
to include a soloist, the Rector will help
you decide the selections and when in the
service the soloist should perform.
