Amanda Evans, Harpist

Picking music for your ceremony may seem confusing at first; how much music will you need, at what times during the ceremony, and what pieces should you choose? Please Contact Me  to set up a consultation and hear pieces either in person, over the phone, or through the internet using Skype. In the meantime, here is a helpful wedding music checklist:

Prelude/ Postlude
This is the music played before and after the ceremony while guests are being seated or leaving. This music should be relaxed and understated, usually light classical, helping to set the mood for the event. Most brides do not specify pieces for these 15-30 minutes, but if there is any type of music you do or don't want included, please make that clear when selecting music for the ceremony.

Processional
This is the music played as the wedding party and the bride walk down the isle. If the wedding party is large, then it may be appropriate to have two or three pieces played- one for the parents, one for the wedding party and one for the entrance of the bride. Here are some suggestions and some commonly used pieces:

Pachelbel- Canon in D
Bach- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Wagner- Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin                (Here Comes the Bride)
Mendelssohn- Wedding March
Monteclair- Renaissance Air

There are also several other 17th and 18th century marches that are often used.

Solos
You may choose to have one or more pieces played during the ceremony, depending on how much music you would like to include and how long you want your ceremony to be. You might need some music during a quiet part of the ceremony, such as the lighting of the Unity Candle. On the other hand you might want the music to be the main focus at that particular part of the ceremony, perhaps a piece that has special meaning to you. In either case, it should be light and romantic. Here are some suggestions, although the possibilities here are endless:

Malotte- The Lord's Prayer
Weber- All I Ask of You
Debussy- Reverie
Schubert- Ave Maria

Recessional
This music is played as the bride and groom, wedding party and wedding officiate make their way back down the isle. It should set a celebratory mood, and usually doesn't need to be very long:

McDonald- Recessional
Purcell- Trumpet Voluntary
Purcell- Trumpet Tune
Mendelssohn- Wedding March

A Side Note
The suggestions on this page are not the only pieces available for your wedding. Some examples would be using the piece "To A Wild Rose" during an Irish ceremony, or "Erev Shel Shoshanim" during a Jewish ceremony. If you don't see what you want on the site, just ask!