Choosing Music 101

Once you have found your musicians, you must then decide the specifics of what music will be played. The
music you choose should reflect your personalities and help contribute to the atmosphere you would like to
achieve. It should also be appropriate for the mood of the moment (elegant or stately for the processional
and interlude, lively and joyful for the recessional and postlude.)

Be careful about asking a group to play something that is not in their repertoire. If something has to be
arranged just for you, it can drive up your costs and also might not sound as good as you had anticipated.

Regardless of whether you are having a religious or civil ceremony, the structure of your ceremony will be
basically the same. The parts are:

Prelude This music is played as guests are arriving, usually between thirty and fifteen minutes prior to the
ceremony. Generally, unless you wish for specific music, the musicians will provide a pleasant assortment of
light classical music such as Mozart, Pachelbel, Bach, etc.

Processional This music is played as the wedding party and bride enter. If you have a small wedding party,
you may choose to have the same music for the wedding party and the bride. If the party is larger, you may
choose separate pieces. Your musicians can give you suggestions on what is appropriate. For instance,
many people want to hear the popular “Pachelbel Canon”. However, if you only have three people walking
down the isle, this is a poor selection because the music needs time to unfold and build.

Interlude Some people wish to have music played during the ceremony. Some popular spots to have a short
musical selection are during the lighting of the unity candle, communion, signing of the license, or any other
reflective moment unique to your ceremony.

Recessional This is the music that is played just as the ceremony ends and as the bridal party leaves the
room. Many ceremonies end differently, so be sure and inform your musicians how your ceremony will end.

Postlude This is the music that is played after the recessional as guests are leaving. This is optional,
depending on the type of ceremony. Some people have the guests ushered out row by row, some simply let
them leave as they please. If there is sufficient time provided for in the contract,
the musicians will play until the guests are ushered out. As in the prelude, unless you specify, light classical
music will be played.