Choosing Wedding Ceremony Repertoire
At first glance, choosing wedding ceremony music can be overwhelming for brides and grooms. Do not fear…with the endless amount of music available today, brides and grooms can help customize their wedding music to represent their style as a couple and the mood they are trying to portray. When you choose Michelle Brick Music, Michelle will walk you through every step of the way and offer suggestions to help you narrow down what you are looking for.
This page includes a small sample of our repertoire, but you need not feel restricted to just the pieces on the list. Feel free to contact Michelle Brick if you have other pieces in mind or if you’d like other recommendations. Keep in mind that some repertoire may not be available or appropriate for all instrument combinations. However, we will work with you in selecting the best choices for your big day. Custom arrangements are also available if the music is not available for sale. (A small fee may apply for custom arrangements).
If you haven’t already done so, you may want to consult with your officiant, church music director, cantor, wedding planner, etc. to discuss the appropriateness of musical selections as well as the number of selections and where they will fall within the ceremony. (See our FAQs for more info on the actual layout of wedding music within the ceremony and other helpful information) Here are a few general points to consider:
Prelude
This is basically welcoming music that helps set a mood as your guests arrive to take their seats. (It typically starts about 15-20 minutes prior to the ceremony.) Often times the couple gives us a general sense of the mood they would like to create; such as romantic, elegant, modern and allow us to put together a set-list for them. You are welcome to select specific pieces and artists you like too! This helps us to better customize music to fit your style.
Processional
Wedding ceremonies usually have 1-3 processionals. We recommend 2 processionals for an average size ceremony: one for the wedding party, and one for the bride. The first processional can be played for honored guests (parents/grandparents, etc) and bridal party and the second processional for the bride. Depending on the venue and/or size of your wedding party, you can also choose a third piece to be played for the honored guests as they walk in before the bridal party.
Music Within The Ceremony
Many wedding ceremonies have at least one or two musical selections during the actual ceremony. Often these selections serve as musical accompaniments to the candle lighting, sign of peace, communion, or other celebratory rites. Musical interludes can also be used as a moment of reflection within the ceremony.
Recessional
The grand finale! This piece is usually jubilant in nature, and is played as the bride and groom walk down the aisle as husband and wife.
Suggested Wedding Ceremony Repertoire
Below is a list of some of the most popular choices for wedding ceremony repertoire. It’s fairly easy to find recordings of these selections on YouTube and similar sites. (Many can also be found in the Audio and Video samples on this site) Please don’t feel confined to selecting music exclusively from this list! If there is something you would like that is not on the list, just contact us to find out if we can get it for you.
Bridal Party Processional
- Bach – Air on the G String from Suite #3 in D Major
- Bach – Arioso from Cantata #156
- Bach – Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring from Cantata #l47
- Bach – March in D Major from Anna Magdalene’s Notebook
- Bach – Sheep May Safely Graze from Cantata #208
- Gluck – Dance of the Blessed Spirits
- Handel – Air from Water Music Suite 1
- Pachelbel – Canon in D
Bride’s Processional
- Bach – Air on the G String from Suite #3 in D Major
- Beethoven – Ode to Joy from Symphony #9
- Clarke – Trumpet Voluntary
- Delibes – Flower Duet from Lakme
- Handel – La Rejouissance from Royal Fireworks Music
- Handel – Hornpipe from Water Music Suite
- Pachelbel – Canon in D
- Mendelssohn – Wedding March from Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Purcell – Trumpet Tune
- Vivaldi – Spring from Four Seasons
- Wagner – Bridal Chorus (“Here Comes the Bride”) from Lohengrin
Music within the Ceremony
- Traditional Amazing Grace
- Bach – Air on the G String from Suite #3 in D Major
- Bach – Arioso from Cantata #156
- Bach – Sheep May Safely Graze from Cantata #208
- Bach – Gounod Ave Maria
- Bernstein – One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story
- Franck – Panis Angelicus from Messe Solonelle, Op. 12
- Schubert – Ave Maria
- Massenet – Meditation from Thais
- Mozart – Ave Verum Corpus from K. 618
Recessional
- Bach – Gigue from Suite #3 in D Major
- Beethoven – Ode to Joy from Symphony #9
- Clarke – Trumpet Voluntary
- Handel – La Rejouissance from Royal Fireworks Music
- Handel – Hornpipe from Water Music Suite
- Mendelssohn – Wedding March from Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Mouret – Rondeau from Symphonies de Fanfares
- Purcell – Trumpet Tune
- Vivaldi – Spring from Four Seasons
Non-Traditional/Contemporary Wedding Songs
- A Thousand Years (Perri)
- All You Need Is Love (Beatles)
- Always and Forever (Luther Vandross)
- At Last (Etta James or Eva Cassidy)
- Can You Feel the love tonight (Lion King)
- Color My World (Chicago)
- Come Away With Me (Nora Jones)
- Fields of Gold (Sting)
- Grow Old With Me (Beatles)
- Here, There and Everywhere (Beatles)
- Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
- More Than Words (Extreme)
- My Heart Will Go On (Titanic)
- One Hand, One Heart (Westside Story)
- Over The Rainbow – (Hawaiian version or Judy Garland version)
- Ribbon In The Sky (Stevie Wonder)
- The Luckiest (Ben Folds)
- The Prayer (Bocelli)
- Unchained Melody
- Unforgettable (Nat Cole)
- What a Wonderful World (Louie Armstrong)
- When I Fall In Love (Sleepless In Seattle)
- You Are The Sunshine Of My Life (Stevie Wonder)
Additional Sources
For additional music ideas, you can visit sites like:
Check out the song lists in some of the collections we use: