Music

WEDDING MUSIC SUGGESTIONS

I have discovered that people are not comfortable in silence – they either become subdued or they fill the vacuum with sound of their own. For this reason and for your own purposes in seeking to create the atmosphere of your choosing in your wedding, you might want to include some music even in intimate wedding gatherings.

Your choice of music may have considerable effect on the atmosphere you are able to create for your wedding. Choose it carefully so that it blends seamlessly with other aspects of your wedding theme and program. Whatever choices you make should express your personality as a couple and accord with the message you want to communicate to each other and to your assembled guests.

Music before the service sets the tone and atmosphere and permits people to greet each other and talk a little without having their voices stand out in silence.

Couples need not feel restricted to piano or organ music. Perhaps there are family members who sing or are proficient in an instrument or two, or even just good at maneuvering a sound system. An item or two of special music may give friends and family an opportunity to contribute their gifts and express their love in the occasion. Feel free to use what you have, or to hire what you want for your wedding.

Processional music may add to the pageantry of the progression.

Silence during the signing of documents may prove stressful to the assembly since signing can sometimes take more time that expected. A solo or special music number is always appreciated at this time and helps to cover necessary conversation among signers during this process.

Recessional music as the bridal party exits need not be as ceremonious as the processional. There is usually a sense of elation as the ceremony completes and the couple is announced—the recessional may freely express this sense of delight and release.

Various types of music may be employed in a wedding ceremony, depending on the personality of the couple and what they want to communicate to each other and to their family and friends. Ideally the service will be recognized as a distinct expression of who you are and who you want to be for each other. I find this an especially enjoyable part of framing wedding ceremonies, as couples teach me about the music that is available for weddings.

Modern technology has made wedding music more creative and less expensive. You might use live soloists and musical groups, or a recorded sound medium. With modern remote controls it is easy for even the groom to control music selections during a service, or the playing of recorded music can be entrusted to a responsible, attentive person. In park settings a battery powered “ghetto blaster” may be just the ticket.

Suggestions for music choice follow—I continue to collect them from the experts and couples who work with me to plan their unique moments of commitment. Perhaps you will be my teacher in helping to build this list of music possibilities.

Despite the fact that it has so small a part in the lives of most of us, it is intriguing how classical music has and still does ascend to prominence in so many wedding ceremonies. Maybe it is due to the dignity that it in injects into the atmosphere wherever and however the wedding is held. For many weddings, however a more contemporary style of music is more appropriate. Since the ceremony is yours, your Officiant will be responsive to your wishes. His experience will be helpful in aligning what you want to communicate with the music you want to include and the timing of various parts of the service.

Feel free to be creative according to your tastes and intentions. Perhaps pursue a theme appropriate to who you are as a couple. Check the Ceremony Planner Sheet on this Site for appropriate placement of music components in the service.

MUSICAL SELECTION EXAMPLES

Listed first below is modern music separated into suggested placement in a wedding ceremony.

Following that is a list of classical music separated into traditional placement in wedding ceremonies.

These are only suggestions where these songs may appropriately be placed in your wedding.

As well, the Pre-ceremony category includes a lot of songs that could be used anywhere in your wedding. I just couldn’t decide where to put them. They might fit for music as people enter, for any portion of the ceremony, after the ceremony, or in the reception. The key is that you create a music list that increases your enjoyment of your wedding and that of those who attend.

Musical selections listened to and downloaded from the internet, purchased from music stores or, better still, borrowed on CD from your local library’s music section. Enjoy the adventure of discovering your unique combination of sounds.

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MODERN MUSIC
(1950s to present)

It may be that you will see, in a song, things that I do not see, so you may want to use a song where I have not placed it. My rule of thumb here: “If we disagree, you’re right. It’s you wedding and it ought to be what you want it to be.” My attempt at helpfulness should not be construed as an attempt to control you or your wedding.

MODERN PRE-CEREMONY SONGS

Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You / Frankie Valli
Deep Purple
Do You Remember When We Met (Sea of Love) — Robert Plant
Don’t Blame Me – Everly Brothers
Embraceable You — Nat King Cole
Everything – Michael Buble
Everything is Love – Amy Sky
Chapel Of Love – Dixie Cups
Heart and Soul – Bee Wain
Hold Me —  Mel Carter
I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You – Elvis
I Love you – Jo Stafford
I Only Have Eyes for You  — The Flamingos
I Promise (Wedding Song) – CeCe Winans
I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
It Seems We Talked Like This Before
It’s You Love – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
Kenny G – easy listening background
Let It Be Me – The Everly Brothers
Let There Be Love – Nat King Cole
Life Could Be a Dream — The Overtones
Little Anthony – Luther Vandros, Sergio Mendes,
Love of My Life –
Make Me Tell You I’m In Love With You – Mel Carter, Clay Aiken
Marry Me – Amanda Marshall
Mine at Last
Power of Two – Indigo Girls
Reach Out for Me – The Four Tops, Dionna Warwick,
She’s So High Above Me – Fast Ball
Side By Side
So Much in Love – The Tymes
Speak Softly Love by Al Matino
Waiting On An Angel – Ben Harper
The Way You Look Tonight / Frank Sinatra
The Wedding Song – Darla Day / Paul Stookey
We Go Together – Olivia Newton-John
Wedding Song – Paul Stookey – (folk ballad)
Why? Because I Love You – Frankie Avalon
You Stepped Out of a Dream – Glenn Miller
You’re a Wonderful One – Marvin Gaye

 

MODERN PROCESSIONAL SONGS

Always – Frank Sinatra
At Last – Etta James
Bless the Broken Road – Rascal Flatts (country)
Because You Love Me / Celine Dion
Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You / Frankie Valli
Day by Day I’m Falling More in Love with You –Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis
I Only Have Eyes for You  – The Flamingos
Let It Be Me / Jerry Butler and Betty Everett
Love is a Many Splendered Thing – Four Aces
Only You  — The Platters
Somewhere Over the Rainbow — Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
The Angels Must Have Sent You
The Luckiest – Ben Folds 
The Wedding Song – Kenny G 
Unchained Melody – Righteous Brothers
Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
When I Fall in Love / The Lettermen
When You Say Nothing At All – Allison Kraus Or Keith Whitley
You Light Up My Life / Debbie Boone
You Were Meant for Me

 

MODERN SIGNING SONGS

Always – Frank Sinatra
And Then It Happened – Jay and the Americans
Baby I’m Yours – by Van McCoy, sung by Barbara Lewis
Because I Love You – Dave Clarke Five
Because You Love Me / Celine Dion
Better Together- Jack Johnson 
Day by Day I’m Falling More in Love with You –Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis
Dream a Little Dream of Me
Endless Love — Mariah Carey, Luther Vandross
Feels Like Home – Chantal Kreviazuk
From This Day Forward – Isaac Surh
From This Moment – Shania Twain 
How Sweet It is to be Loved by You – James Taylor
I’m Everything I am Because You loved Me – Celine Dione

I Swear All-4-One

I Swear – Kenny Rogers / John Michael Montgomery (country)

Swear to God – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

It’s Wonderful! It’s Marvellous! That you Should Care for Me — Gershwin

Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You —  George Benson

Runnin’ Home to You — Grant Gustin

Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamikawiwo’ole
The Object of My Affection
The Way You Look Tonight / Frank Sinatra
The Wedding Song – Darla Day
This Magic Moment — Jay and the Americans
Together Forever —  Rick Astley
Turn Around, Look At Me – The Lettermen, Bee Gees, The Voques, Glen Campbell
Wind Beneath My Wings – Bett Midler
With this Kiss
Wonderful Wonderful – Johnny Mathis


MODERN RECESSIONAL SONGS

Always – Frank Sinatra
A Moment Like This – Kelly Clarkson 
At Last – Etta James
Baby I’m Yours – by Van McCoy, sung by Barbara Lewis
Come and Go with ME —  the Dell-Vikings
Dreamlover   (Take Me Away) / Moria Carey
Endlessly – Brook Benton
From This Moment On – Shania Twain
Glad All Over – Dave Clark Five
Going to Take a Sentimental Journey
Good Vibrations – Beach Boys 
How Sweet It is to be Loved by You
I’m A Believer – Smash Mouth
I Remember You – Frank Ifield, Diana Krall, Nat king Cole
It’s Wonderful! It’s Marvellous! That you Should Care for Me — Gershwin
Love – Frank Sinatra
Love and Marriage Go Together like a Horse and Carriage

Love Is the Sweetest Thing — Al Bowlly, Ray Noble

Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You —  George Benson

 

Out of My Head Over You – The Lettermen, Frank Sinatra
Remember – Me  and You – Turtles
Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
Up, Up and Away – Dave Matthews Band 
What a Difference a Day Makes —  Dinah Washington
Wonderful, Wonderful – Johnny Mathis

You Light Up My Life — Debbie Boone

I Can’t Get Enough of You, Baby  — Kiss

Painting the Clouds with Sunshine – Les Elgart

HUMOROUS 
Mule Skinner Blues (portions)– The Fendermen

CLASSICAL MUSIC

For those who want a regal, spiritual or church atmosphere for their wedding, traditional wedding music is ideal. Classical music seems to accord best for this atmosphere due to the dignity that it in inspires in the atmosphere of weddings. It may also prove valuable to transition from classical to modern, or modern to classical, depending on how you want to move the atmosphere of your wedding.

Classical music is classy but use on its own in a wedding may put a classical straight jacket on the atmosphere of a wedding. For my mind, I like it used sparingly in the processional, perhaps, but not throughout the ceremony, unless you are wanting regal atmosphere throughout. Most couples want something more attuned with their every day life so will want to include more modern music. This is appropriate at the signing and recessional, even ones that launch with a more regal classical processional.

So, here is a list of classical suggestions allocated according to their placement in a ceremony:

CLASSICAL PRE-CEREMONY SONGS

Air on G String / Bach
Arabesque No. 1 / Debussy
Dance of the Blessed Spirits / Gluck
He Shall Feed His Flock (The Messiah) / Handel
If with All Your Hearts (Elijah) / Mendelssohn
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring / Bach
Largo (Xerxes) / Handel
Let the Bright Seraphim / Handel
Messiah, Pastoral Symphony / Handel
Panis Angelicus / Franck
Sheep Mat Safely Craze / Bach
Sonata a 3 in D, Andante / Torelli
String Quintet Op. 13. Minuet / Boccherini
Trumpet Tune / Purcell
Water Music Air / Handel
Winter, Largo / Vivaldi

 

CLASSICAL PROCESSIONAL SONGS

Bridal Chorus (Lohengrin) / Wagner
Canon in D / Pachelbel
Canon In G (String & Harp) – Pachelbel 
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring / Bach
Lute Concerto in D. Largo / Vivaldi
On Wings Of Song – Mendelsohn 
Prelude To Deum- Marc Antoine Carpentier 
Sanctus (St. Cecelia) / Gounod
Trumpet Air / Purcell
Trumpet Tune- Stanley 
Trumpet Voluntary / Clarke
Wedding March – Here Comes The Bride- Wagner
Wedding March- Miranda Wong 

 

CLASSICAL INTERLUDE SONGS

Ave Maria / Schubert
Because / D’Hardelot
May the Grace of Christ / Stebbins
O God of Love / Niccum
O God, Our Help in Ages Past (St. Anne) / Croft
O Love Divine and Golden (Blairgowrie) / Dykes
O Perfect Love / Bradbury
O Promise Me / DeKoven
Savior Like a Shepherd Lead us / Bradbury
So Love I Thee / Grieg
Take Our Lives (Hendon) / Malan
Te Deum / Charpentier:
Trumpet Concerto. Adagio / Molter
When God Gave Me You / Lillenas

 

CLASSICAL SIGNING SONGS 

Ave Maria – Schubert 
Sheep May Safely Graze- Bach 

 

CLASSICAL RECESSIONAL SONGS 

Bittersweet Symphony- The Verve 
Spring- Four Seasons- Vivaldi 
Concerto for Two Trumpets in C, Allegro / Vivaldi
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (Cwm Rhondda) / Hughes
How Firm a Foundation / Early American
Trumpet Air / Purcell
Wedding March (Midsummer Night’s Dream) / Mendelssohn
Another One Bites The Dust – (-:

 

CLASSICAL  AFTER CEREMONY SONGS

Cantata No. 51,” Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen: Alleluia / Bach
Concerto Grosso, Op. 6/7, Hornpipe / Handel
Exsultate Jubilate. Alleluia / Mozart

This is the magic of music, creating whatever atmosphere you want for your wedding. Whatever you choose it is my hope that you will enjoy a truly sensation wedding, rightly amplified and embellished by music to astound, refresh and delight.

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Music Listening Centre

Listening to the musical selections available from the locations listed below should help you to determine the type of music you want for your wedding. On the basis of this understanding you may be download music from the internet, purchase it from music stores or, better still, borrow CDs from your local library’s music section. So much is available so easily to build your wedding into something truly exceptional–it’s like a treasure hunt–your treasure hunt to build your special day!

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SUGGESTED WEDDING MUSIC LISTENING SITES

http://www.weddingmusic101.com/

http://www2.lib.virginia.edu/music/guides/wedding/

http://www.ez-tracks.com/Wedding.html

http://danunger.net

http://www.pianobrothers.com/

http://beautifulbaroque.com/

http://www.new-wedding-traditions.com/

http://www.easyweddings.com.au/music/wedding_music.asp

http://celticweddings.bardscrier.com/

http://www.classicsonline.com/catalogue/product.aspx?pid=2315

 

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