How to Select Your Wedding Music

Prelude Music

Often 15 minutes before your ceremony start time, it’s lovely to have music performed while guests are being seated. If you do not have particular requests for this music, select a category of music you would like performed, such as light classical music or popular love songs.

You may wish to choose a special selection for the seating of the mothers and grandparents, which occurs just before the start of the ceremony. Give your ceremony that extra special touch by having the music be a request that is a favorite of those being seated.
Parents’ Favorites: Sunrise, Sunset, Air on a G String by Bach, Air from Water Music, Bach’s Arioso, Pachelbel Canon, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring

Processional Music

Your ceremony officially begins when the officiant and the groom approach the altar. The bridesmaids (along with the groomsmen who may join them) enter while this selection continues. Traditionally, this is a majestic piece played at a pace that is easy to walk to. However, you may choose to create a different ambience for your wedding: perhaps gentle or contemplative. No matter, the selection should flow at an easy walking tempo. This piece ends when the entire wedding party reaches the altar.
Bride’s Favorites: Pachelbel Canon, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Dance of the Blessed Spirits, Air from Water Music

The Bride's Entrance

Traditionally, the bride enters to fanfare music (such as the well-known “Wedding March”) that announces her arrival. Other music may be chosen to suit the bride's taste, as long as it sounds good played at an easy walking pace. This piece ends when the bride reaches the altar. Occasionally, when the wedding party is small, the bride may elect to enter to the same piece of music as the maid or matron of honor.
Bride’s Favorites: Pachelbel Canon, Traditional Wedding March, Trumpet Voluntary by Purcell or Clarke, a favorite romantic love song

Ceremony

You may also select special pieces to be performed during the ceremony proper such as any of the following highlights: lighting of the unity candle, communion, or a scriptural or poetry reading. These selections usually have special meaning to the bride and groom. Remember, additional music added within the ceremony tends to lengthen the ceremony. Therefore, the selections ought to be shorter. (How long can you look adoringly into each others eyes???!)
Wedding Couple’s Favorites: All I Ask of You, Hawaiian Wedding Song, Hymne, other favorite love song, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, Ave Maria

Some couples request music performed lightly as background during the entire ceremony. This is quite common here in the Islands and the harp can play quietly enough that it blends in beautifully with what else is going on without taking away from the ceremony and spoken word.

Recessional Music

Traditionally, the bride and groom, now husband and wife, leave the altar to the tune of a triumphant and/or joyful, rather quickly-paced piece. The wedding party recesses out immediately after to the same selection. However, you may choose to create a different ambience for your recessional: perhaps romantic or flowing.

Bride & Groom Favorites: Traditional (from Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”), Spring (from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”), Ode to Joy (from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony) Water Music selections (by Handel)

Post-Ceremony Music

As guests leave the ceremonial area, lively music accompanies their exit. As with pre-ceremony music, if you do not have particular requests, choose the category of selections you would like performed.

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