Prelude Music is the music performed for 10-30 minutes while your guests are being seated and waiting for the wedding to begin. Because you're probably going to be busy--getting ready or taking pictures--you're not likely to hear much of the Prelude Music. Perhaps there's a special guest at your wedding who would enjoy hearing a certain piece of music that is meaningful to him or her. For the most part, though, people are likely to be chatting, so this music really will be in the background. You can give some guidelines (i.e., "no sad songs", "nothing too fast", "nothing by the Beatles", or "we can't stand [title] so please don’t play it") and leave the musical choices up to us...or you can make a list of selections you want us to play--it's up to you.
Prelude Music might include:
Bach: Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring
Handel: Air from the Water Music
Handel: Largo from Xerxes
Bach: Air on the G String*
Mozart: Romanza from Eine Kleine Nacht Musik
Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus
Massenet: Meditation from Thais
Bach: Sheep May Safely Graze*
Brahms: Theme from St. Anthony Chorale
Schumann: Traumerai
Bach: Sleepers Awake
Bizet: Intermezzo from Carmen
*Titles which are underlined are linked to our video sample performances
Seating of the Mothers/Parents/Loved Ones
If you're having your mothers, grandmothers or other family and loved ones escorted to their seats, you may wish to make this moment special by choosing to have music played while they are being seated. If you are also having them light the two candles on either side of your Unity Candle, one option is to combine
the two rituals into one, with one piece of music. Or, you might choose to keep these events separate, and pick music appropriate for each of them.
Any of the Prelude Music listed above could instead be used for the seating of your parents, grandparents or other loved ones. Here are some other selections we have performed for this event:
Bach/Gounod: Ave Maria
Schubert: Ave Maria
Simple Gifts (a Traditional Quaker hymn)
Be Thou My Vision (Traditional Irish)
Franck: Panis Angelicus Si Bheag, Si Mhor (Traditional Celtic)
Flower Duet from Lakme - Delibes
Largo from Xerxes - Handel
Lasia Ch'io Pianga - Handel
O Mio Babbino Caro from “Gianni Schicchi” - Puccini
You also may wish to choose a song which is meaningful or somehow special to the people being seated. You could even let them choose their own music, if you want to be especially generous!
Pre-Ceremony Candle Lighting
Before the ceremony officially starts, many couples opt to have special music while their mothers or other loved ones light the candles on either side of the Unity Candle. Often combined with the seating of the mothers, the beautiful tradition of the Unity Candle is more distinctive when music is used to draw the guests' attention to the often-overlooked lighting of the two candles which are later used to light the Unity Candle during the ceremony.
For this special rutual, one possibility is to use the same music which will later be performed for the lighting of the Unity Candle. This is a nice "thematic" touch; your guests are likely to recognize the music when it is played again during the ceremony. Or you could opt to have two different songs which are related, such as the Bach-Gounod and Schubert Ave Marias, or two movements from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. If you've had trouble deciding between two different songs for another part of the wedding, this could be the perfect time to employ one of those choices....or any of these:
Ave Maria - Bach/Gounod
Ave Maria - Schubert
Ave Verum Corpus - Mozart
Evergreen - Barbara Streisand
Flower Duet from Lakme - Delibes
Largo from Xerxes - Handel
Circle of Life - from The Lion King
Amazing Grace - Traditional
Simple Gifts (a Traditional Quaker hymn)
One Hand, One Heart - Bernstein
O Mio Babbino Caro from “Gianni Schicchi” - Puccini
In addition, all the music listed above, under "Seating of Parents" and "Prelude Music" would make excellent candle-lighting music. Also, please see "Giving of Roses, Lighting the Unity Candle", below.
Processional
You probably already know that the Processional is when the bride and wedding party "process" down the aisle. For the "process of processing", choose music that is comfortable to stride slowly to, that feels stately but also fits the mood of your particular wedding. Processants should try to walk in a slow, natural manner. Occasionally, we musicians contend with an over-enthusiastic wedding party virtually running down the aisle! With 2 or more musical selections for the processants, it can sound unintentionally comical when music changes rapidly from one selection to the next, so be sure to ask your bridesmaids and any other participants to enjoy their stroll down the aisle...and to do the same, yourself on this most solemn, joyous occasion.
Most couples choose two pieces of music: one for the Bridesmaids, Flower Girls and Ringbearers and a separate piece for the Bride. This sets apart the entrance of the Bride. However, especially with smaller wedding parties, some people opt to have just one musical selection for everyone processing, occasionally asking the musicians to do a flourish or play a loud chord to announce the Bride's processional, when, traditionally, the guests are asked to stand.
The reason you hear--and we, the musicians of Sterling Strings of Shenango perform--the Pachelbel Canon and Wagner's ("Here Comes the Bride") Bridal March so frequently at weddings is quite simply that they work beautifully for Processional music. Wagner's Bridal March is an actual wedding processional from his opera, Lohengrin. As Tevye says in Fiddler on a Roof, "tradition!": the Canon has become one, and for a good reason: the repetition of the bass line and variations in the upper voices makes for a compelling yet stately accompaniment for the wedding processional. These two selections are chosen time after time; you cannot go wrong with either or both of them.
Obviously, for this very important part of your ceremony, one that is often the most memorable for brides, you should feel free to choose music that you enjoy, that you will be a welcome part of your happy wedding day memories and, if you are having a videographer, music you'll like hearing again as you watch the video of your big day. Here is a partial list of Processional music:
For Bridesmaids, Flower Girls and Ringbearers:
Bach: Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring
Handel: Air from the Water Music
The Flower Duet from Lakme - Delibes
The Rose - Amanda McBroom (Bette Midler)
Schubert: Andante from String Quartet in A minor
One Hand, One Heart - Bernstein
Mouret: Rondeau (Theme from Masterpiece Theatre)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Theme from Scheherezade ("The Young Prince and the Young Princess")
One Hand, One Heart - Bernstein
From This Moment - Shania Twain
Pictures at an Exhibition, Theme from - Mussorgsky-Ravel
Finlandia - Hymn - Sibelius
Or there may be music which is meaningful to the couple, such as a hymn, popular song or classical piece they both enjoy. We've performed some very
interesting music for processionals, from a song from Westside Story to--believe it or not--the theme from The Godfather!
During the Ceremony:
Giving Roses, Lighting the Unity Candle, etc.
Usually, people insert music if there's some kind of break in the speaking part of the ceremony, such as when they give roses to their parents or light a unity candle. Occasionally, a bride and groom will choose to have a brief piece of music performed in memory of a loved one, to have a dear friend or family member sing or play an instrument, or simply have music played because it's meaningful to them in some way. Sterling Strings of Shenango have accompanied a groom's father performing his favorite hymn, a friend of the bride singing Ave Maria, and have performed music, such as Ave Verum Corpus, in memory of the bride and grooms' mothers. This creates an interlude, offering some down time, or perhaps a period of reflection, during your ceremony, and is one of the many ways to make your wedding uniquely personal.
That being said...do remember to be considerate of your guests and mindful of your wedding party's comfort (and your own--remember you'll most likely be standing or kneeling!) and avoid musical interludes lasting longer than 2 minutes--3 minutes, tops. You can always choose to have part of a musical selection performed rather than the whole thing.
This need for consideration and brevity is also true when choosing music for lighting the Unity Candle or the giving of roses. Although, occasionally, due to an overly short wick, drafty church or windy outdoor wedding, the Unity Candle can be difficult to light (this provides a little merriment for guests and wedding party--not a bad thing!), keep in mind that it generally doesn’t take very long to light the candle or to walk over to your parents or loved ones and present them with roses. We'd suggest you either opt for music that is "short and sweet" or use only part of a song, such as a single verse or the song's chorus. Unless you request that we perform the whole song, we of Sterling Strings of Shenango will edit the music you've chosen for these rituals so that it ends appropriately, rather than continuing after you've returned to your places.
Some of the following selections are interchangeable, such as The Wedding Song, listed under Lighting the Unity Candle, which would work beautifully for Giving of Roses, too. Another option is to combine these two rituals into one, just as you may have chosen to do with regard to the Seating of Mothers and Pre-Ceremony Candle Lighting as described earlier in this article, and to choose one piece of music for both.
Giving of Roses/Flowers to Parents/loved ones:
Traditional: Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming
Barbra Streisand: Evergreen
Bach: My Heart Ever Faithful
The Flower Duet - Lakme
Bette Midler: The Rose
Simple Gifts (a Traditional Quaker hymn)
The Lighting of the Unity Candle:
Bernstein: One hand, one heart (from Westside Story)
Stookey: The Wedding Song ("There is love")
Mozart: 2nd movement from the Elvira Madigan Piano Concerto
Bach/Gounod: Ave Maria
Schubert: Ave Maria
Be Thou My Vision (Traditional Irish)
Franck: Panis Angelicus
Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus
Massenet: Meditation from Thais
Recessional?!
Unlike its economic sound-alike, this is a joyful and, often, relief-filled time as the wedding party files out at the end of the ceremony, to take pictures, greet guests, prepare for the reception, be pelted with birdseed or even just to get out
of those uncomfortable shoes for a moment! The music for the Recessional usually sounds celebratory, bright, lively and just plain happy. It's similar to Processional music but often on the faster side--funny thing: people tend to walk more quickly away from the altar than they do towards it! The traditional Mendelssohn Wedding March from Midsummer Night's Dream is lovely and appropriate, which is how it became "traditional", but we've performed a wide array of Recessionals, including Beethoven's Ode to Joy, the Beatle's "All You Need is Love", and slower, more inspirational choices, such as "Let there be Peace on Earth". Again, your personal and lasting enjoyment of the music you choose should be the deciding factor. Here are some titles to consider:
The Recessional:
Mendelssohn: Wedding March (traditional)
Handel: La Rejouissance
Vivaldi: Danza Pastoral from Spring, from The Four Seasons
Handel: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Lennon/McCartney(The Beatles): All you need is love
Haydn: London Trio #1 in C, either the 1st or 3rd movement
Mouret: Rondeau
As with the Processional, there may be music significant to the bride and/or the groom, music to which they've always envisioned walking away from the altar as a married couple, perhaps, or a song, hymn or classical piece that holds meaning for them. One of the more interesting and unusual recessionals we've played was a "fight song" from the college attended by the bride and groom. Now, that's being "true to your school"!
Postlude Music
You guessed it...the Postlude is to the end of the ceremony what the Prelude is to the beginning. As your guests file out after the Recessional music ends, you can continue the celebratory mood by using one or more of the pieces listed under "Recessional Music", or may wish to relax the formality with some Scott Joplin Rags or show music. Factor the following into your decision: are you receiving your guests at the ceremony site, and, if so, do you want background music as you greet them? Or would it be better if your guests headed over to the reception site while you take pictures at the ceremony venue? You can pick music to help energize your guests for their walk to the reception,or to provide atmosphere as they wait in line to congratulate you.
Handel's Water Music
Bach's Suite in B minor
Mozart's Rondo alla Turca
Scott Joplin: Rags
Music listed under "Recessional"
And, Finally...
The choice of music, like so much of a wedding ceremony, is entirely a matter of your personal "repertoire"--the soundtrack that accompanies you through your life. Not every one focuses as closely on music as we do at Sterling Strings of Shenango, but you'll often find that songs from the pivotal events of your life tend to stick with you--your high school or college graduation music, themes from your favorite TV shows, the music you danced to at your Prom, a song you heard on your first date with your finance...these all make impressions on us and color our experiences. Whatever the mood was when it was first heard, music can have a similar effect when we hear it again, even years later.
If you feel strongly enough about using a song for your wedding, even if you've never heard it used that way, ask Sterling Strings of Shenango about our very reasonable arranging fees. Occasionally you'll find something we want to add to our repertoire anyway and will arrange for free. For example, we recently played a wedding for a bride who requested the Celtic song, Si Bheag, Si Mhor. It is such a beautiful melody that we chose to arrange it for her at no charge and add it to our repertoire.
One last piece of advice...
For your big day, make sure your musical selections are "in tune" with your vision of your wedding. All the choices you make and advice you receive when planning a wedding can be overwhelming. No doubt about it: your special day will take a lot of work and thought to put together. But in the end, it'll be worth it, because your wedding will have your own personal touch. After all, choosing your music can be one of the most creative ways to make your wedding a truly personal celebration of your love!
The members of Sterling Strings of Shenango hope that this article has helped you understand some of the many musical options available to you, and that you've gotten some good ideas from us. If you have any questions, please visit our Contact Us page and drop us a line!
For more suggestions and samples, visit WedAlert.com, which has an exhaustive list of repertoire for wedding ceremonies and receptions, along with wedding music tools to help you select and organize your wedding music.