The wedding ceremony should be the most meaningful and, hopefully, memorable as well. Music plays many vital roles in the ceremony, from providing flow and ambiance, to highlighting the deeper emotional meaning. Perhaps the sweetest of all the wedding day rituals is the first dance as a newly married couple.
Most American wedding ceremonies have six major parts, each with their own special requirements:
1. The prelude
2. The wedding party's processional
3. The bride's processional
4. The interlude
5. The recessional
6. The postlude Experienced wedding musicians will be able to play appropriate songs in the right places, if you do not want to choose individual songs for your ceremony. Consider picking out your own music can be more meaningful and satisfying. Make the decision: guide you in your choices is whether you want your music to be traditional and classic or lesser-known but unique. Wedding professional musicians you hire should have a supply of music from both categories in their repertoire. The Prelude
With the purpose of the prelude music you welcome guests as they are being seated before the ceremony; it also should give a cheerful yet subdued atmosphere, setting the stage for the solemnity of the event.
The prelude often involves quite a few songs, and generally begins 15 to 20 minutes before the ceremony start time. Thus, it's best to give the musician(s) an idea of the genre of music you want and leave the individual song choices up to their discretion.
It’s a good idea to base your genre choice on the type of music you will be using later in the ceremony, since the prelude sets the tone for the rest of the ceremony. Popular genre choices include Classical, Love Songs, Jazz, and Broadway, and these genres can be mixed together within the prelude to suit your taste. All genres have sub-categories (Baroque or Romantic Classical music, old or new love songs, etc.), but it's safe to leave those choices up to the musicians unless you have strong feelings one way or another. The Wedding Party's Processional
The wedding party's processional marks the official beginning of the ceremony and should have a slow but flowing feel, ushering the beautiful bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party down the aisle. You should listen to various musical selections to find a song that strikes a chord with you. The Bride's Processional
The bride's processional can be an incredible moment, as memorable to everyone involved as the vows or any other part of the ceremony. Choose a very special song: if you go with Classical music, the obvious traditional choice is Wagner's Bridal Chorus ("Here Comes the Bride"). Consider any Classical piece that strikes you as particularly beautiful or meaningful can be used here. If you're going with jazz, pop, or Broadway, use a song with beautiful music as well as lyrics that are meaningful to you. The lyrics to a popular song will still play in everyone's minds when they hear the melody, even if you don't have a singer at your wedding.
| 
