Prelude music. Processional music. Ceremony music. Recessional music. Postlude music. How do you navigate your way through all that—especially if you don’t know the Trumpet Voluntary from Ode to Joy (both popular wedding music)? We give you all the ins-and-outs of choosing your wedding music in this topic.
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Prelude music is music played before the wedding ceremony. Then there is processional music which is music that is played while the wedding party walks up the aisle. Ceremony music can include songs that the congregation or guests sing, and/or performers who usually perform during the signing of the register. The performers can be a soloist, a violinist, a chamber orchestra or any other group that you choose. Then there is the recessional music which is the music that the couple and wedding party walk out of the church to. Then the postlude music is that which is played while your guests leave the ceremony site.
Your wedding ceremony starts with the prelude music. If you are in a house of worship, your organist or pianist will know what is appropriate for your ceremony site. If you are having a non-religious ceremony, you will want music that is not religious—like classic love songs from over the years, played at this time.
Usually couples choose the processional music, which is music that is played while the wedding party walks up the aisle. The classic ‘Here Comes The Bride’ is actually Wagner’s Bridal Chorus. Usually the wedding party comes in on one song, and the bride comes in on a separate song. Sometimes couples will want a soloist to sing a special song while the bride walks up the aisle.
During the wedding ceremony, there is usually a special piece of music during the signing of the register. This can be a soloist, a violinist, a trio or any other group who performs a special song. Sometimes, during a church service, the congregation will sing a song.
Then the couple usually choose a song in which to walk down the aisle after the wedding. This is called the recessional, and is usually an upbeat piece of music like Mendelsson’s Wedding March, or Bach’s Ode to Joy—both very popular wedding choices.
Then there is the postlude music which your musician will play after the recessional song while your guests are leaving the ceremony site. Like the prelude music, this will be mostly chosen by your musicians and be either sacred music or secular love songs, depending upon where you hold your wedding ceremony.
See our list of wedding songs to get ideas of great wedding songs for your ceremony.