Step 63 - Meet and Review Song List with Wedding Musicians

1. (3 Months to 4 Months before the Wedding)
2. Music sets the tone tone of the ceremony. It helps make the event unforgettable and leaves your wedding guests with a lasting impression that they will always remember for the rest of their lives. The music should be primarily created to focus on music the wedding couple likes to put them into romantic mood and then secondarily to the wedding guests and bridal party and toward the wedding theme.
   
   Before meeting with the musicians, the wedding couple should come to an agreement on the type of music they want played at their wedding both at the wedding ceremony and wedding reception. At the wedding ceremony they will need music at different points of the ceremony. They will need music for the prelude, which is usually 5 to 6 songs played as wedding guests are arriving at the ceremony location as guests are taking their seats. Next is the bridal party processional, followed by the bridal processional when the bride enters the church usually in the arm of her father which should include some dramatical music. 

Next comes interlude music which might include candle lighting, readings, and after the exchanging of one's wedding vows. Then comes the recessional in which is when the bride and groom exit the service as husband and wife where the music is very dramatic then followed by postlude upbeat mellow music as the couple might be at a receiving line and the music should play until the church empties out. The wedding couple needs to first meet with the church wedding coordinator and sometimes it might be with the church secretary. The couple either needs to coordinate the music of the wedding service, is the church organist, pianist, chorus, soloist, or other music group associated with the church handling the music or does the couple provide their own ceremony musicians to the service. 

If the the wedding couple is using their own musicians they still need an okay from the church/ceremony site and need to arrange for the musicians to meet the venue coordinator of where they would be located and also a holding area for the musician. The wedding couple should meet with the wedding couple far in advance of the wedding with the wedding musicians and formulate a music selection they would like played. Sometimes the wedding musicians may give the wedding couple some music ideas. Many times, music selections are chosen by the wedding couple of music the musicians might have to learn from scratch or they may know the music but need to practice to get the selection down perfect. 

It's important that the wedding couple stay proactive with the wedding musicians to be sure they have mastered the selections and either hear the music live or get a tape of the music to be sure it sounds great for the wedding. If the music does not sound to the wedding couples liking, don't be afraid to change the music selections to music the musician is comfortable with, the music selection should be decided upon a couple of weeks before the wedding. 

 There are a number of websites that sheet music can be ordered from for almost any type if instrument. Some websites to check out include www.sheetmusicplus.com and www.weddingmusiccentral.com and also from amazon.com which can be ordered through the sidebar of this blog. It's a good idea to spend some time listening to all sorts of music with your honey and then coming up with a selection. Use rank order of music selections and then share the list with the other if you can't decide. You need to come to an agreement of the type of music you want at your wedding ceremony, it could traditional classic, traditional alternative, contemporary, or religious sacred. The type of music you choose should be consistent throughout the ceremony. Did you know, about 80% of religious affiliations don't allow taped music at their houses of worship. This rule has benefited many musicians.

Traditional Classic - Prelude Suggestions

"A Rose Is Gently Blooming," Op. 122, No. 8, (Johannes Brahms)
"Adagio for Strings" (Samuel Barber)
"Air on the G String" (Johann S. Bach)
"Aria, Bist du bei mir" (Be thou near me), BWV 508, (Johann S. Bach)
"Awake My Heart with Gladness," (Flor Peeters)
"Chorale in A Minor," Adagio, (Cesar Franck)
"Concerto in D Minor," Adagio, (Tomaso Albinoni)
"Largo" from (Xerxes), (George Frederic Handel)
"Perfect Love" (Sir Joseph Barnby)
"Rhosymedre" (Ralph Vaughan Williams)
"Serenade" (from String Quartet Op. 3 No. 5), (Franz Joseph Haydn)
"Sheep May Safely Graze" (Johann S. Bach)
"Sonata in G Minor for Flute and Organ" (George F. Handel)
"Toccata in E Minor" (Johann Pachelbel)
"Violin Concerto in A" (Franz Joseph Haydn)
"Water Music" (George F. Handel)


Traditional Classic - Processional Suggestions

"Air" (from Water Music Suite), (George F. Handel)
"Bridal Chorus" (from Lohengrin), (Richard Wagner)
"Canon in D" (Johann Pachelbel)
"Procession of Joy" (Hal Hopson)
"Rigaudon" (Andre Campra)
"Spring" (from The Four Seasons), (Antonio Vivaldi)
"Te Deum" (Marc-Antoine Charpentier)
"The Prince of Denmark's March" (Jeremiah Clarke)
"Trumpet Tune" (Henry Purcell)
"Trumpet Voluntary" (Jeremiah Clarke)
"Wedding March" (from The Marriage of Figaro), (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)


Traditional Classic - Interlude Suggestions

"Adagio" (Felix Mendelssohn)
"Andantino" (Cesar Franck)
"Arioso" (Johann S. Bach)
"Cantabile in B-Flat Major (BI 84)" (Frederic Chopin)
"Ch'il bel sogno di doretta" (from La Rondine) (Giacomo Puccini)
"Clair de Lune" (Claude Debussy)
"Flower Duet" (from Lakme), (Leo Delibes)
"Lento con tenerezza" (Enrique Granados)
"Love That Will Not Let Me Go" (Albert L. Peace)
"Meditation" (from Thais), (Jules Massenet)
"Minuet" (from Berenice), (George F. Handel)
"Minuet, Melody" (from Orfeo ed Euriduce), (Christoph W. Gluck)
"O mio babbino caro" (from Gianni Schicchi), (Giacomo Puccini)
"Romanza" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
"Salut D'Amour" (Sir Edward Elgar)
"Still, Still With Thee" (Felix Mendelssohn)
"The River Is Wide" (Tune: "Waly Waly," traditional English)
"Through the Eyes of Love" (theme from Ice Castles), (Carole Sager & Marvin Hamlisch)
"Verset," (Leon Boellmann)
"Wedding Song (There Is Love)" (arr. by Richard Bradley)
"Where e'er You Walk" (from Semele), (George F. Handel)
"Whither Thou Goest," (Thomas Dewey)


Traditional Classic - Recessional Suggestions

"Allegro Maestoso" (from Water Music Suite), (George F. Handel)
"Brandenburg Concerto No. 1," Allegro, (Johann S. Bach)
"Brandenburg Concerto No. 4," Allegro, (Johann S. Bach)
"Coronation March" (from Crown imperial), (Sir William Walton)
"Fugue in E-Flat Major" (from St. Anne), (Johann S. Bach)
"Hallelujah Chorus" (from The Messiah), (George F. Handel)
"Hornpipe" (from Water Music Suite), (George F. Handel)
"Ode to Joy" (Ludwig van Beethoven)
"Spring," Allegro, (from The Four Seasons), (Antonio Vivaldi)
"The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" (George F. Handel)
"Toccata" (from Symphonie 5, opus 42), (Charles-Marie Widor)
"Trumpet Tune and Bell Symphony," (Henry Purcell)
"Tuba Tune in D" (Craig Sellar Lang)
"Wedding March" (from A Midsummer Night's Dream), (Felix Mendelssohn)


Traditional Alternative - Prelude Suggestions

"Carolan's Welcome" (Irish Traditional)
"Concerto Grosso in D Major," Op. 3, No. 6 (Vivace), (George Frederic Handel)
"Courante" (from Three Lute Dances), (Anthoine Francisque)
"Gymnopedie No. 1" (Erik Satie)
"Nessun Dorma" (from Turandot), (Giacomo Puccini)
"Nocturne in E Flat" Op. 9, No. 2, (Frederic Chopin)
"Oboe Concerto in D Minor," Adagio, (Alessandro Marcello)
"Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" (Claude Debussy)
"Romance" Op. 44, No. 1, (Anton Rubenstein)
"Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren" (Johann S. Bach)
"Sonata in E Flat," Adagio, (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
"Violin Concerto No. 2 in E Major," Allegro assai, (Johann S. Bach)"Vocalise" (Sergei Rachmaninoff)

Traditional Alternative - Processional Suggestions

"Canzon V" (Giovanni Gabrieli)
"Coronation March for Czar Alexander III" (Peter I. Tchaikovsky)
"Overture" (from Royal Fireworks Music), (George Frederic Handel)
"Promenade" (from Pictures at an Exhibition), (Modest Mussorgsky)
"Romeo and Juliet Love Theme" (Tchaikovsky)
"Sinfonia" (from Cantata No. 156), (Johann S. Bach)
"Toccata" (from L'Orfeo), (Claudio Monteverdi)
"Trumpet Tune in A-Major" (David N. Johnson)
"Sonatas for Organ, Op. 65, No. 3 (con moto maestoso)," (Felix Mendelssohn)
"Winter," Largo, (from The Four Seasons), (Antonio Vivaldi)


Traditional Alternative - Interlude Suggestions

"Barcarolle" (from Tales of Hoffman), (Jacques Offenbach)
"Pavane" (Gabriel Faure)
"Reverie" (Claude Debussy)
"The Call" (Vaughan Williams)
"Unconditional" (Will Ackerman)


Traditional Alternative - Recessional Suggestions

"Badinerie" (from Orchestral Suite No. 2), (Johann S. Bach)
"Concerto grosso in D Minor," Op. 2, No. 3 (Presto), (Francesco Geminiani)
"Rondeau" (from Abdelezar), (Henry Purcell)
"Sonata in G Major" (Giuseppe Tartini)
"Triumphal March" (Edvard Grieg)
"Variations on the Kanon by Pachelbel" (George Winston)31. "All I Ask Of You" (from Phantom of the Opera), (Andrew Lloyd Webber)


Contemporary - Prelude Suggestions

"All I Ask Of You" (from Phantom of the Opera), (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
"Angel Eyes" (Jim Brickman)
"Evergreen" (Barbra Streisand)
"Longer" (Dan Fogelberg)
"Paris Nocturne" (Dan Fogelberg)
"The Gift" (Jim Brickman)
"Truly" (Lionel Richie)
"Wedding Song" (The Band)
"You and I" (Stevie Wonder)


Contempory - Processional Suggestions

"Appalachia Waltz" (Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor)
"Sunrise, Sunset" (from Fiddler on the Roof), (Sheldon Harnick & Jerry Bock)
"The Look of Love" (Dionne Warwick/Burt Bacharach)
"The Vow" (Jeremy Lubbock)
"To A Wild Rose" (Edward MacDowell)
"Flatbush Waltz" (Andy Statman)
"Wedding Processional" (from The Sound of Music), (Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein)


Contempory - Interlude Suggestions

"A Simple Song" (Leonard Bernstein)
"Annie's Song" (John Denver)
"Benedictus" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"Grow Old With Me" (John Lennon or Mary Chapin Carpenter)
"Kind & Generous" (Natalie Merchant)
"One Hand, One Heart" (from West Side Story), (Leondard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim)
"Take My Breath Away" (Tuck & Patti)
"Thank You" (Led Zeppelin)
"The Water Is Wide" (James Taylor)


Contemporary - Recessional Suggestions

"Anthem" (Suzanne Ciani)
"Beautiful Day" (U2)
"From This Moment On" (Cole Porter)
"Linus & Lucy" (Peanuts Theme), (Vince Guaraldi)
"Little Martha" (Allman Brothers Band)
"Oh! You Pretty Things" (David Bowie)
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered" (Stevie Wonder)
"Sunshine of My Life" (Stevie Wonder)
"The Long and Winding Road" (The Beatles)


Religious/Sacred - Prelude Suggestions

"Ave Verum Corpus" (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
"Benediction Nuptiale" (Camille Saint-Saens)
"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (from Cantata 147), (Johann S. Bach)
"Liebster Jesu, Wir Sind Hier (Blessed Jesus, We Are Here)," BWV 633, (Johann S. Bach)
"Praise To The Lord" (Johann G. Walther)
"Prelude" on the "Old 110th," (John Joubert)


Religious/Sacred - Processional Suggestions

"All People That On Earth Do Dwell" ("Old 100th" hymn)
"Dona Nobis Pacem" (16th century hymn)
"Hanava Babanot" (A Love Song), (Neeman)
"St. Anthony's Chorale" (Franz Joseph Haydn)
"Hymn Fanfare from The Triumphant" (Francois Couperin)
"Scalero de Oro" (traditional Sephardic)


Religious/Sacred - Interlude Suggestions

"All Things Bright and Beautiful" (traditional hymn)
"Amazing Grace" (traditional)
"Ave Maria" (Johann S. Bach/Charles Gounod)
"Dodi Li" (traditional Jewish)
"Erev Ba" (traditional Jewish)
"Erhame dich" (from St. Matthew's Passion), (Johann S. Bach)
"In This Very Room" (Ron & Carol Harris)
"Jerusalem of Gold" (traditional Jewish)
"Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" (traditional hymn)
"Let the Bright Seraphim" (George F. Handel)
"Love Divine, All Love's Excelling" (traditional hymn)
"Morning Has Broken" (traditional)
"Panis Angelicus" (Cesar Franck)
"Sanctus" (Gabriel Faure)
"Shalom Alechem" (traditional Jewish)
"Simple Gifts" (traditional Shaker hymn)
"The Prayer" (Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion)
"Yedid Nefefsh" (traditional Jewish)


Religious/Sacred - Recessional Suggestions

"Exultate, Jubilate" (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
"Joy" (George Winston)
"Now Thank We All Our God" (Johann S. Bach)
"Psalm 19" (Benedetto Marcello)

Postlude Suggestions

"Allegro Maestoso for Organ in C Major" (Felix Mendelssohn)
"Carillon de Westminster" (Louis Vierne)

"Feelin' Alright" (Joe Cocker)
"For The Beauty Of The Earth" (traditional hymn)
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness" (William M. Runyan)
"Harp Concerto in B Flat Major: Allegro Moderato" (George F. Handel)
"La Rejouissance" (George F. Handel)
"Musette's Waltz" (from La Boheme), (Giacomo Puccini)
"Now Thank We All Our God" (Sigfried Karg-Elert)
"Oh! Had I Jubal's Lyre" (George F. Handel)
"Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" (Sergi Rachmaninoff)
"String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76, No. 3: Allegro (Austrian Hymn)" (Franz Joseph Haydn)
"Trumpet Voluntary" (Jeremiah Clarke)
"To God Be the Glory" (William H. Doane)
"When the Saints Go Marching In" (traditional)

Some of the wedding reception musicians, especially string quartets and other instrumental groups you need to meet with and agree to music selections just as you would for wedding ceremony musicians, especially for specific points of the wedding reception such as the couple's introduction, the wedding toast, the couple's first dance, etc. Also if you want specific music played for the cocktail hour. Some additional music selections can be found on www.weddingwire.com and www.weddingvendors.com/music

For other groups that play such as big bands, dance bands, jazz groups and the like, see of you can have the groups have a music list on hand to share with wedding guests so music can be played upon request. The important thing to is to come to agreement, if there is dancing, if the dance floor is empty they can switch to another song.

Step 32 - Interview and Book Your Ceremony Musicians

(6 Month to 9 Months before the Wedding)
Like most brides and grooms, the music that will be played during the wedding ceremony has to be very special to the both of you, but you may not have a clue about which music to select. An important factor in choosing your music is the setting of the wedding ceremony. If your ceremony is not at a religious setting, you can choose almost any kind of music you like, as long as it is in good taste. On the other hand, if the ceremony is in a church, synagogue, or chapel, the music selected will need to stay within the guidelines set by the clergy person or the church.

Most religious denominations consider the wedding ceremony to be a form of worship service. For this reason, churches do not allow secular music (non-religious popular music) during a wedding. Some might allow secular music while guests are being seated. The music that is typically allowed in church weddings are songs that contain respectful references to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Music also allowed, not made specific to deity, are songs focusing on religious ideals and values relating to love and marriage such as faithfulness and mutual support.

Many weddings feature a vocal soloist singing from one to four selections during the ceremony, depending on the length of the ceremony. The soloist is often accompanied by an organist, pianist, acoustic guitarist, flutist, or a harp. Some churches do not allow recorded music in the wedding ceremony. Some wedding couples will hire a bagpiper or a stringed orchestra just outside the church which play wedding music prior to the wedding or directly after the wedding, as the wedding couple signs the wedding papers for the marriage and get in a receiving line getting well wishes from their guests.

There are a number of places in the wedding ceremony for the vocalists and church musicians to play. They can play during the time guests are being seated which can be about six or seven songs and could last about thirty minutes. They play two songs during the processional, one for when the bridesmaids enter and a more dramatic piece for the bride's walk up the aisle with her father or whomever is giving her away holding her arm. Music is played sometimes during the lighting of the candle and right before wedding vows are read aloud. Then finally you want exciting or dramatic music
as the couple leave the altar first time as husband and wife.

First place to start your search for your wedding ceremony is the ceremony site location itself. You need to consult with the church wedding coordinator to find out the musician guidelines for the church or venue. In some churches, the musicians are required to come from the church itself, or the fee charge from the lease of the church includes a musician. The wedding coordinator, also might have a list of musicians with contact information of musicians allowed to perform at their church. If there are no music requirements you then are authorized to look elsewhere, and you can find many musicians from wedding related websites. You can also Google musicians by putting in city and the type of musician you are looking for. Gigmasters also can provide you with a list of musicians and some musicians can even be found elsewhere in this blog.

You want to interview a few musicians before deciding on one or a couple, be sure not only to interview them but be sure to hear their music for yourselves. For what music one person hears and likes, another person may think the music is horrible, to be safe, make sure you hear the vocalist or live musicians in action. Also, try to pick the music as a couple, so you are sure the both of you like the music. You want to be sure you are comfortable with the person you hire, someone who will work with you on selecting the right music for your wedding and someone who will dress sharply for your wedding. On selecting the music, maybe you can have the musicians share their sheet music and pick music you like and have them play a little snippet for you.

In your hunt for music, you should find some in various types of music stores and even the music section of a library, looking for sheet music and songbooks and be sure to ask and browse in the wedding section. Look for printed music rather than recorded music so you can share the music with your various musicians. You can also find sheet music and songbooks from online websites, one which is called www.myweddingmusic.com .

Another option is to hire a composer songwriter to write a special song for just the wedding couple at the ceremony. There are several websites that offer this service. You just need to allow the songwriter with enough advance time to complete the song.

Some music suggestions for your wedding ceremony;

Formal Atmosphere - A Vocalist, A String Quartet, A Harp, An Organ
Dramatic Atmosphere - A String Quartet, A Pipe Organ, Bagpipes, or A Choir
Traditional Atmosphere - A Vocalist, A String Quartet, An Organ, A Classical Guitar
Enchanting Atmosphere - A Vocalist, A Harp, A Harp and a Flute
Uplifting Atmosphere - A String Quartet, A Guitar and Flute, A Piano, A Piano and Violin
Background Music - A String Quartet, A Piano, A Piano and Violin, A Piano and Saxophone

If you are allowed to and are deciding to use recorded music, there are a number of wedding music related websites you can download samples and music from. Some websites charge a small fee. Some ideas, for the Processional you can use Wagner's "Here comes the Bride" or "Pachelbel's Canon in D". For the ceremony itself you want some softer music and you may decide on Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and Paul Stokey's "The Wedding Song" and "Ave Maria". Then finally there's the Recessional when the bride and groom leave the altar as man and wife. You can play Mandelsohn's "Wedding March" or Harry Connick Jr's "It Had To Be You". Just be sure to pick wedding music that has meaning to you, the ceremony music should be music that the wedding couple love and who want to share it with your guests. The wedding music should not be geared to the guests but to the wedding couple.

Make your wedding ceremony extra special, the wedding ceremony message and music are all about you. That's the story of interviewing and booking your ceremony musicians. See you on the other side!






Gucci Outlet
Best gucci outlet online dealer,supplying gucci outlet with high quality,competitive price and free shipping. Save 40-65% off. Karen Millen Dresses
Karen millen dresses are very popular among ladies. Shop online for womens designer clothes at karen millen. Christian Louboutin Outlet
Range of genuine christian louboutin shoes are popular here! Fast delivery on all orders! Coast Dresses
Welcome to coast dresses online shop. We sale coast dress in various style,you will like it. Coast Dress
Coast dresses store offer you to shop one dreamy coast dresses with sale price,free shipping. Karen Millen Dresses
Karen millen dresses summer 2012 collection,free shipping,buy new style in our karen millen outlet store! Karen Millen
The best-seller karen millen dresses are in a hot new colourway,shopping new arrival designer dresses for yourself. Karen Millen Outlet
Karen millen dresses in karen millen outlet provides large range of latest stylish karen millen dresses. Mulberry Bag
The mulberry outlet store online offers the mulberry bag, purse and accessories at low price! Mulberry Bags
Our professional mulberry sale brings the best mulberry bags, a variety of styles and various colors,buy now. Karen Millen Uk
Karen millen uk sale in various kinds of styles and colors are supplied in our site,choose your style from karen millen store. Mulberry Handbags
Buy discount mulberry handbags from mulberry outlet shop,we provide the latest mulberry handbags. Christian Louboutin Sale
Christian louboutin outlet offers worldwide free shipping christian louboutin shoes with cheap prices. Christian Louboutin
Buy christian louboutin shoes at christian louboutin store. Most popular christian louboutin shoes online with free shipping. Christian Louboutin Shoes
Christian louboutin shoes at the lowest price,free shipping,100% guarantee quality on christian louboutin! Shop now! Christian Louboutin Sale
Christian louboutin is a well-known shoes brand. Offer the cheap christian louboutin shoes to uk now. Karen Millen Dress
Karen millen online store,our karen millen dress sale with discount and get fast shipping, buy now! Karen Millen Outlet
Cheap karen millen dresses outlet uk on sale fast delivery and free shipping! Mulberry Outlet
Cheap mulberry bags at mulberry uk outlet. Top quality, latest style & up to 60% off free shopping and no tax. Karen Millen Outlet - Best Karen Millen Clothes & Dresses Online!
Karen millen outlet online for your sincere selection, welcome to buy 2012 karen millen clothes,karen millen dress with free shipping & no tax. 2012 Celine Bag Store - New Style Celine Luggage Bag Online.
Celine bag is the favorite brand for women, it is so popular for sale at celine luggage online store. Get the celine luggage bag and enjoy the big discount. 2012 Celine Luggage Bag | Celine Handbag Online At Discount!
2012 hot style celine bags on sale with best quality,welcome to buy celine luggage bag,celine handbag with a reasonable price,free shipping. 2012 Hot Style Celine Bag Outlet | Celine Luggage Online 48% Off!
Welcome to celine bags store, find celine bag outlet free shipping and enjoy save 50%-80% off,discount celine luggage hot sale for all customers. Fashionable Celine Bag Online,celine Bag Sale Up To 62% Off!
Buy cheap celine bags from celine sale store,you will never regret it due to its durable quality and affordable price. Come on! Cheap Celine Bags | Celine Handbags Sale With Free Shipping!
Celine bags online store! Various celine handbags with high quality for sale, no tax! Free delivery! Latest designer styles. Exquisite Celine Bags Online With Top Quality,free Shipping!
Welcome to find high quality guaranteed celine bags with big discount at celinebagsonline. Co. Uk. Do not miss celine bags online outlet. Jimmy Choo Australia, Jimmy Choo Shoes Online Sale 127.69.
Welcome to jimmy choo australia shop, jimmy choo online sale hot, jimmy choo shoes with high quality will satisfy you. Cheap Baseball Cap
We supply various kinds of baseball caps,must get one will be your better appetite. Mlb Baseball Jerseys
Charm mlb jerseys online store - wholesale high quality jerseys. : mlb baseball jerseys - mlb baseball jerseys nfl football jerseys nhl hockey jerseys nba basketball jerseys China Oil Arts
China-oil-arts. Com offer oil painting reproductions with variety subject,size at best price! Good service, fess&fast shipping,reliable quality!