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
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| 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://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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