No matter what kind of Ceremony you are booking you are likely to be looking for an Entrance (Processional) and Exit (Recessional) song to walk to.
Your venue choice may have some bearing to what you choose; if it’s a Church wedding you are more likely to have a traditional entrance – maybe even lucky enough to walk in to the Church Organ. If it’s a Civil Ceremony by a Registrar you will have to refer you choice to the Registrar for approval as you will be unable to play music with any religious content.
If you are choosing a Celebrant you can have any music your ears desire!
What music to choose?
It is often usual for a couple to choose something meaningful to them, perhaps it was the popular love song at the time you met or perhaps the wording in a particular song might resonate with you. If this is the case your choice will be an easy one.
BUT if you are having a particularly hard time choosing the music here’s a little guide that might help. I’ve asked my industry friends for their input here with the traditional, the popular and the down right unconventional music they have played or heard at weddings.
Traditional & Classical Choices;
When I got married all the way back in 1994, I had a very big and very traditional Church Wedding – bells, church organ, choir and all.
As such my entrance was the Bridal Chorus by Wagner, which is often referred to as “Here comes the Bride”. And our exit was Mendelsson’s Wedding March, such a grand and happy song to walk out to I feel.
So, staying on the Classical side of music my colleagues tell me the number 1 most played traditional Entrance has got to be Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
Other Classics to consider are;
Air on a G-String Bach,
Water Music – Air by Handel
Jesu, Joy of Mans Desiring – Bach
The 4 Seasons - Vivaldi
Modern & Popular Choices:
There are so many great love songs to choose from, but these are the songs popping up time and time again during Ceremonies:
Christina Perry – A Thousand Years
All of Me – John Legend
All you need is Love – The Beatles
How long will I love you – Ellie Goulding
Perfect – Ed Sheeran
Marry You – Bruno Mars
Better Together – Jack Johnson
Best day of my Life – American Authors
Unconventional Choices;
Maybe you have read this far and realised that you are definitely not the conventional type of couple and are not having a conventional wedding. Well then, here’s your chance to really show what makes you tick!
Again I asked my industry friends this question and they came up with some corkers! What do you think of these?
Katie Slater, Wedding Planner from Songbird Weddings, was asked to play Nothing Else Matters by Metallica for a couple last year, she said the lyrics are actually really great. I have to say the guitar solo at the beginning gives me goose bumps.
Cheryl and John from Ariella Strings play as a string duo, trio or a quartet and have played bridal entrances of The Imperial March from Star Wars and The Jaws theme tune! Well those choices would probably get a few giggles! And then for exit - I was made for loving you – Kiss and the Raiders March from Indiana Jones.
Bri, one half of GnBri Photography gets to hear lots of ceremony music and the most unconventional they have heard is an entrance to the Glasgow Love Theme from Love Actually (I love this!!) and then exit to Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder – very apt!!
Sally Reid Violinist adds to this list with The Rains of Castamere from Game of Thrones red wedding scene – This one could go soaring up the charts over the coming months with the all increasing popularity of this show – am I the only one who has never watched any??
Dom Chandler of Domplayssax can turn his musical ability to all sorts of genre and his additions to this list are I say a little prayer – Aretha Franklin and the Toy Story song -You’ve got a friend in me (so cute!)
Wedding Planner Vikki Richman of Your Wedding Friend had a couple that decided to do a joint entrance to the 20th Century Fox Fanfare (this - I actually love!!!) and another of her couples had a recessional to Everything is Awesome which is from the Lego Movie
Fellow Celebrant, Lorna Nunn of Willow Celebrant Services recently attended her sister’s Wedding who entered to the Red Dwarf theme tune but working as a Celebrant she said the best response from guests was to Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede
And from me, another suggestion from a Rom Com, how about Now that we’ve found love from the movie Hitch. Of course this is one of my favourite films and it would be my all time career highlight for a couple to exit the aisle in the style of Albert (Kevin James) and Allegra (Amber Valletta). Check it out on YouTube if you have no idea what I’m talking about! (Hitch end scene)
I love the euphoria just before the exit as a married couple!
Photography Credits H N Photography (1&3) (2) Photo supplied by Bloom in Gorgeous Florist
Well, I’ve spent a good few hours on Spotify whilst writing this because there’s nothing better than hearing these suggestions to fully appreciate them.
I really hope this article has gone some way to help you find what is perfect for you and to look in more unusual places for some inspiration. Good Luck!
With much love and thanks to my industry friends for their input
Bri Wignall (Photographer) – www.gnbri.co.uk
Vikki Richman (Wedding Planner) www.yourweddingfriend.co.uk
Sally Reid (Violinist / Electric Violinist) – www.sallypotterton.co.uk
Lorna Nunn (Celebrant) www.willowcelebrantservices.com
Dom Chandler (Saxophonist) www.saxophoneplayerbedfordshire.com
Cheryl Bass (Violinist / String Duo, Trio, Quartet) www.ariellastrings.co.uk
Katie Slater (Wedding Planner) www.songbirdweddings.co.uk
Kim Marshall (Florist) www.bloomingorgeousherts.co.uk
Helen and Noel Hadfield (Photographer) www.hnphotography.uk
Emma Webster (Photographer) www.purplerosephotography.co.uk