Dear Brides and Grooms,
This wedding ceremony music guide is designed to help you select and organize ALL your wedding ceremony music. We’ve made selecting your ceremony music a simple and easy process. This is our proven step by step process that has helped hundreds of couples get the perfect music for their wedding ceremony.
The first step in this wedding ceremony music guide is to talk to your wedding officiate to establish the overall ceremony time schedule and ceremony program. Your wedding planner or officiant can help you suggest the order of your bridal party.
So, it’s important to finalize the program and create an order of the people who will walk down the aisle during the Processional BEFORE you start selecting the music later in this wedding ceremony music guide. Creating your ceremony is like preparing a good meal – you can’t skip the order.
Which of the descriptions most closely matches your wedding ceremony?
Important information if your ceremony is scheduled to be outside:
First, if inclement weather conditions prevail, an alternate site must be arranged. Inclement weather includes, but is not limited to: rain, drizzle, excessive heat (above 90 degrees), or cold (below 60 degrees).
If possible, avoid placing the musicians in direct sunlight to protect the instruments. A shaded area is ideal. Please ask if you have any questions.
In certain cases musicians will bring and set up a special tent for their protection. Secondly, an additional $50 deposit will be added to your remaining balance and will be returned back to you if there was no need for the tent.
QUESTION 1:
Let us know if you have hired additional musicians (church organist, vocalist, etc.) we will be performing with please send us their contact email if possible.
QUESTION 2:
Is there a party planner or somebody from the venue who will be helping you at the ceremony site? Send us their email as well, please. The more prepared and coordinated with everything the better.
This is music played as your guests enter the ceremony room and are seated. Usually, this begins 15 minutes prior to the start of your ceremony.Selection of classical, or other styles of music. The musicians will be in place 30 minutes prior to the start of your ceremony.
Note: Music for Prelude typically works the best if you give us some freedom to choose appropriate musical numbers. Let us feel and work with the crowd on the spot. However, if you specifically tell us something that you want or don’t want, or provide us with any other info like “my guests are from France or Italy will be there” or “my favorite song is ____,” or “my family loves______.” We’d be more than happy to accommodate you as much as possible.
Once all the guests are seated, the actual service begins with the bridal party walking down the aisle.
Note: Seating of parents and grandparents could open your processional.
The processional is divided into 2 parts: One song for the bridal party and one song for the bride.
Moreover, when you are pronounced as man and wife, you both come down the aisle and exit the room. Congratulations! The musicians will continue to play until all your guests have left the room.
Music begins as your guests enter the ceremony area prior to the start of the actual service. Pick 2-4 songs or DRM can select these songs for you. In your program simply write “Selection of Classical Music”.
| 1. W.A.Mozart | Voi, Che Sapete from opera The Marriage Of Figaro |
| 2. W.A.Mozart | Allegro from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik |
| 3. F.Schubert | Serenade from Schwanengesang, #4 |
| 4. E. Elgar | Salut d’Amour, Op.12 |
| 5. F. Mendelssohn | On Wings Of Song |
| 6. P.Tchaikovsky | Melody |
| 7. F.Kreisler | Liebesleid |
| 8. I. Albeniz | Tango in D |
| 9. M.Oginski | Polonez |
| 10. J. Ivanovici | Danube Waves |
| 11. M.Glinka | Romance “Ya Pomnyu Choodnoe Mgnovenie” |
| 12. G. Bizet | Habanera (from Carmen) |
| 13. Louiguy | La Vie en Rose (French) |
| 14. J. Strauss, Jr. | Vienna, My City Of Dreams |
| 15. A.Vivaldi | Allegro from Four Seasons: Spring |
| 16. A.Vivaldi | Largo from Four Seasons: Winter |
| 17. G.F. Handel | Air from The Water Music |
| 18. J.S.Bach | Air from Suite #3 in D major |
| 19. J.S.Bach | Arioso from Cantata #156 |
| 20. C. Debussy | Reverie |
| 21. J. Massenet | Meditation from opera Thais |
| 22. W.A.Mozart | Romanza from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik |
| 23. W.A.Mozart | Menuetto from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik |
| 24. W.A.Mozart | 2nd movement from Sonata in C major |
| 25. W.A.Mozart | 1st movement from Sonata in A major |
| 26. F.Schubert | Andante from String Quartet in A minor |
| 27. C. Saint-Saens | The Swan |
| 28. N. Rimsky-Korsakov | Scheherazade Theme |
| 29. A. Borodin | Nocturne (from String Quartet #2) |
| 30. E. Satie | Gynopedie No.1 from Trois Gymnopedies |
| 31. Enya | Only Time |
| 32. J. Lennon | In My Life |
All the guests are now seated. Your bridal party is now escorted down the aisle, followed by the bride. Select 1 Song for the Bridal Party and 1 Song for the Bride. For additional songs to choose from, select from #13-32.
| 33. J. Pachelbel | Canon in D |
| 34. J.S.Bach | Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring |
| 35. R. Wagner | Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin |
| 36. J. Clarke | Trumpet Voluntary |
This includes music during the lighting of the unity candle, presentation of flowers, concert pieces and any additional music during the body of the ceremony service. Select only songs which your ceremony requires.
| 37. J.S. Bach | Bist Du Bei Mir |
| 38. C. Franck | Panis Angelicus |
| 39. F.Schubert | Ave Maria |
| 40. L. Bernstein | One Hand, One Heart |
| 41. D. Foster | The Prayer |
| 42. Trad. American | Amazing Grace |
As you are pronounced man and wife and leave the ceremony. Select 1 song. Musicians will continue playing until all your guests have left the church or ceremony area.
| 43. F. Mendelssohn | Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream |
| 44. G.F. Handel | Hornpipe from Water Music |
| 45. J.J. Mouret | Rondeau from Sinfonies de Fanfares #36 |
| 46. L.V.Beethoven | Ode To Joy from Symphony #9 |
| 47. A.Vivaldi | Danza Pastorale from Four Seasons: Spring |
| 48. A.Vivaldi | Allegro from Four Seasons: Autumn |
| 49. H. Purcell | Trumpet tune |
| 50. J.S.Bach | March in D Major from Anna Magdalene Bach Notebook |
| 51. PROCESSIONAL Seating grandparents and parents | J.S.Bach Jesu of Man’s Desiring from Cantata #147 |
| 52. BRIDAL PARTY | J. Pachelbel Canon in D |
| 53. BRIDAL | R. Wagner Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin |
| 54. INTERLUDE | F. Mendelssohn On Wings Of Song |
| 55. RECESSIONAL | J. Clarke Trumpet Voluntary |
| 56. POSTLUDE | G.F. Handel Hornpipe from Water Music (orchestral suite) |
The order of Bridal Party is very important. It affects the choice and length of each song. The written out order will also help the musicians know when to change the music.
Once you’re done choosing the music for your ceremony, simply email your Ceremony Schedule and the order of your bridal party along with your music choices to Alex, alex.koffman@gmail.com.
Alex will check it over, fill in the gaps, and recommend any slight adjustments. Now your ceremony program is ready to be printed out for the guests! Good job!
During the week of your wedding, Alex will confirm all of the ceremony details and make sure there aren’t any last minute changes.
Towards the end of the Prelude music, right before the ceremony is about to begin, musicians would appreciate someone giving them a sign that all the people in the Processional are lined up and ready to start walking down.
Typically it’s about 10 to 30 seconds before the actual processional begins. This was the musicians will be able to finish the last Prelude piece and prepare for the Processional music for the Bridal Party. There will be a little pause before your Bridal Processional. Once the song for the Processional begins, walk down the aisle and enjoy!
You are welcome to call Alex if you have any additional questions at 847.274.3416, or email him at alex.koffman@gmail.com. He would be happy to help you! We hope you found this guide to be helpful!
We’re looking forward to making your ceremony perfect for your wedding!
Best Wishes,
Alex Koffman
Violinist Ceremony Music Consultant
DRS MUSIC, INC