Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wedding Wednesday: Ceremony Music


Ceremony music selections are a very personal choice and we see everything!  Which we love!  We also see all different types of mediums from single guitarists to full brass bands to ipod music selections and any can work beautifully.  

The choice is yours, but here are a few of our TRADITIONAL favorite ceremony songs (we would have to blog for days about our non-traditional favorites!) and the instruments we love them best on. 

We know that we blog often about infusing new and interesting elements into your special day and doing this with music is certainly another place you can do this.  However, this does happen to be on area where we can hear the same beautiful traditional songs OVER AND OVER again and still get the goose bumps every time.   This music is classic because it deserves to be.  Like Chanel suits or chocolate chip cookes!   But whatever you go with, make sure it gives YOU the goose bumps!  :)

Processional Music.  Your processional music is the music to which your bridal party will walk down the aisle (and can also include seating of grandparents and parents). 

Our favorites are:

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. Bach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S8miiNWfsI
We love this on strings and wind instruments.   Sounds fantastic with as little as 2 strings or a full string & wind ensemble. 

Edelweiss by Roger's and Hammerstein
http://www.paragon-mail.com/silverandstringstriocom/?p=161
Great on solo guitar (like Sound of Music!) or with a string quartet. 

For the Bridal entrance, we love a bit of fanfare to signify that it is your moment and to allow your guests to stand before your special song begins.  Two of our favorite bridal entry songs are:

Canon in D by Pachelbel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0pwZ4zUiyk&feature=related
You can use ANY musical medium you wish for this.  Anything from guitars to strings to a brass band.  It's just so beautiful! 

Trumpet Voluntary (also known as Bridal March)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxZMqTC4NcY
We LOVE this with a brass band or at the very least a trumpet.  Allows for such a great opening moment for the bride  (see clip)

Recessional songs are what you will leave the ceremony site to WITH YOUR NEW SPOUSE!  Yay!  This should be something upbeat and joyful.  Two we love are:

Hornpipe from "Water Music" by Handel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EpcpNRVqXA
We love how upbeat and joyful this selection is!  You can practically skip out of the church to this one!  Maybe you will!! We do love this best when it includes at least one horn instrument. 

Wedding March (not to be confused with Bridal March) by Mendelssohn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tDYMayp6Dk
Beautiful with strings, horns, not so great with just a single instrument.

There are MANY different arrangements of all of these selections.  Talk to your musicians about their preferred arrangement and most importantly which songs they feel they do best.  If you decide to use a selection that they don't normally do, ask if you can hear a sample of how they will arrange it.  You may be surprised when you hear what their interpretations of your song choice is.  Best not to be surprised on your wedding day! 

Note: we do not own rights to any of these samples, we have provided them to give you an example of what these selections can sound like. 

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