Personalize Your Ceremony Music
To set the mood, music should be playing when the first guest arrives and as guests are seated. The music choice is entirely yours, but most couples prefer a romantic mood and select a style that suits them—classical, jazz standards, recognizable love songs, wispy piano tunes or live music provided by our music partner Ned Kantar Productions.
Parents of the bride and groom are last to be seated by the ushers and occasionally, the parents or bride and groom will request a special song. Keep it short or have your DJ fade it out once they reach their seats, so your bridal party isn’t kept waiting.
It’s customary for special music to be playing as the bridal party approaches the ceremony area, and there are a couple of ways they can enter the room. One option is for the groomsmen to appear from the side aisles, make their way to the front, and wait for the bridesmaids walking down the center aisle. Another somewhat more common option if for the groomsmen and bridesmaids walk down the center aisle together, as couples.
Popular music to play during the bridal party’s entrance include Pachelbel’s Canon in D, Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary, and Bach’s Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring.
The bride may enter the room on her father’s arm or between her mother and father. A special song should lead her down the aisle. Here Comes the Bride, Ave Maria, Prelude in C, or any of the ceremony music selections as listed in our online planner a common choices. As the bride arrives to the altar, the music softly fades.
The candle lighting ceremony is short, and the music will be, too. Brides should expect to hear no more than 60 seconds of their favorite song for this wedding rite. Choose background music or select a meaningful excerpt from your song.
There may be other special moments in your ceremony that you would like to include specific music. It might be a live singer, for example. You decide what these moments are. Remember to tell your other entertainment providers about these special guests.
As the ceremony comes to a close, let your personality shine with the recessional. Play some energetic traditional music or rousing contemporary tunes. If your ceremony is elegant, appropriate choices might include the Wedding March or Air on the G String.
Light-hearted music options include Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles or You’re My Best Friend by Queen. It’s not uncommon to play something heavier, too, so make this music yours.
Remember that the bridal party is right behind the bride and groom, and your guests will closely follow. They’re ready to stretch and talk. Another song or two will keep music playing while all your guests exit to head to the reception celebration!
