Express Yourself in Your Wedding Ceremony Music
Imagine a wedding with no music. For sure, it’s going to be dull, boring, and to be very blunt, downright ugly. Even if the couple spent thousands of dollars on the wedding gown or the church decoration, if there’s no music to play while the bride walks down the aisle or when the couple enters the reception venue, all the preparation efforts would be in vain. Music indeed plays a very important role in setting the tone and atmosphere of a wedding event. With this said, it’s imperative that you’re able to choose the right type of tunes and songs to play on your big day. It’s best that you pick something that will express what you and your spouse-to-be feel.
The Types of Wedding Ceremony Music
Before you can start pointing out your choices, you must first know what types of wedding ceremony music are needed. Wedding ceremony music is divided into six parts: prelude songs, processional songs, bridal entrance song, interlude songs, recessional songs, and postlude songs. The prelude song is played while the guests arrive just before the start of the ceremony. This song sets the mood of the event. The processional song is played as the wedding party walks down the aisle. It should be easy to walk to and at the same time, a good precursor to the bride’s grand entrance.
The bridal entrance song, as the term implies, is the song to be played while the bride marches in. Interlude songs are played during the ceremony to either highlight a special part or for transition purposes. These can be classical or religious songs. Recessional songs are played as the couple and the wedding party exits the ceremony venue. These are often upbeat in tune and celebratory in nature. Finally, the postlude songs are played when the rest of the guests leave the ceremony venue after the recessional.
Choosing the Right Wedding Ceremony Music
Memorable songs
The easiest way to express yourself in your choice of music is to pick out songs that have special meaning for you and your beloved. For example, there’s this certain song that after your spouse-to-be heard for the first time, it made him realize that you’re the woman that he wants to spend the rest of his life with and it prompted him to get down on his knees to propose. That particular song can be played as you walk down the aisle. You can also play songs that you first sang together in your first date or those that always reminded you of him.
Meaning of the lyrics
Another way is to look at the lyrics of a song. What you play in the wedding ceremony doesn’t necessarily have to be a song that you’ve shared with each other for a long time now. It can also be something that tells your love story. If you can find a song with lyrics that best capture the events that have transpired in your love life, then that would be a terrific choice. You can also choose songs that have lyrics that best express how you and your sweetheart feel for each other.
Customized songs
Some couples take uniqueness very seriously that they would even hire composers to create songs specially tailored for them. This can also be a good option for you. If you’re finding it hard to look for songs that will best describe or express your affection towards each other, you and your future spouse can tell your story to a composer who can translate this to into a wonderful tune.
Favorite musical style
It’s also possible to choose songs from a certain musical style. For the wedding ceremony, religious and classical tunes are a staple. But if you’re not going to hold your wedding inside the church, you can enjoy more flexibility in choosing songs for the ceremony. Jazz, pop, mellow, and even slow rock can be played during the ceremony. The choice is yours!
Picking music for the wedding ceremony should be a fun and exciting. Don’t worry or stress too much about it. Follow the tips mentioned here so you can find songs that will help you and your beau express yourselves.
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Vanessa, I have a music question. I am a professional who happens to sing for a wedding band in Chicago. Would it be weird if I sang at my own wedding? In a way it seems like I should, in another way, it seems sort of stupid to me too. What is your opinion? Thx!
Beth
Hi Vanessa,
I have attended a few weddings where the bride and/or groom played or sang a song. One wedding the groom played a song to the bride on guitar, and the bride sang a song to the groom with her band mates playing the instruments. At another wedding, a bride sang to her groom. It is important to pick a song that you can sing to your groom that has appropriate words and music for the wedding venue. ie. some churches do not allow secular music
I do not think it is odd at all. Your wedding in an expression of who your and your fiance are, and if music is an important part of your life, why not include it in your ceremony. If you are feeling uncomfortable with the ceremony, you might do a special song at your reception.
It is important to enjoy your day, so consider how you will feel with all the stress of your wedding day and then to add performing. As a performer myself, I know that I would choose to sing a song for my beloved. It is who I am.
If you have further questions, feel free to ask.
Angela Fiebelkorn, Wedding Planner