The Prelude / Pre-Ceremony
This is the very beginning of the wedding, the time when the first guests arrive; sometimes refreshments or cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are served before the Ceremony begins. Listen to a few samples of music as you imagine the setting of your wedding and visualize your first guests arriving.
The Pre-Processional
This term refers to the time just before the Wedding Party enters when everyone is seated, waiting for the Procession to begin. Special pre-processional music is usually played for escorting elderly or other honored guests not part of the official wedding party down the aisle. Picture the beautiful setting you imagine for your ceremony, your guests quietly waiting for your processional to begin as you listen to:
The Procession
The entrance of the Wedding Party, the groom, and then the Bride is considered the actual processional. Picture your family and friends, breathlessly waiting for the Processional to start, and then your wedding party walking down the aisle as you listen to Processionals.
Sometimes a lighter piece of music is charming when it’s used for a little flower girl or ring bearer.
The Bride's Entrance
This is the moment everyone’s been waiting for… the moment the bride enters and walks down the aisle with her dad, parents or another significant person. Imagine yourself walking down the aisle as you listen to different choices ranging from dramatic and contemporary, to more traditional.
The Ceremony
The actual ceremony is the time when you exchange vows and rings – the time for prayers, blessings, invocations and pronouncements. Most of us refer to this as the ceremony, though bands, DJs or caterers sometimes use the term to mean everything that takes place before the reception. Popular favorites are…
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Coming Home
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Yours, Mine & Ours (Duet)
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All Of Me (Country)
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All Of Me (Pop)
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Here is My Heart
Unity Candle
An optional but increasingly popular part of the Ceremony, the unity candle is a formal candle-lighting and brief period of reflection as you join your two lives (and your families) as one. Listen to ‘The Family Unity’ song as you picture your new family around you.
The Recessional
The joyous, post-Ceremony return down the aisle of you and your newly joined families is the conclusion of the ceremony and is directly followed by the guests’ exit. Your music can range from ‘jaunty & fun’ to traditional or formal, as reflected in these selections.
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Chapel of Love
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The Wedding March
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Trumpet Voluntary (Princess Diana’s Recessional)
The Interlude / Postlude / Cocktail or Champange Hour
This is the time immediately after the Ceremony and just before the main Reception. It’s often the time set aside to be congratulated formally in a receiving line, or informally while pre-dinner cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are being served. Sometimes it’s used for picture-taking, especially when the bride and groom haven’t seen each other before the ceremony out of custom or religious reasons.
The Reception
The time after the Ceremony is for celebrating–whether sit-down dinner, buffet or light refreshments-and it’s always after the Interlude. (Not all weddings have interludes, or full dinner or dance receptions, but virtually all weddings have music.)
Most receptions start with a ‘GRAND ENTRANCE’ of the Bride and Groom usually accompanied by an up-beat piece of music. Sometimes, the whole wedding party is included. But the next ‘scene’ of the wedding is usually the one that’s most important to brides and grooms.
Your First Dance
Of course you may have a special favorite, your own choice of music for your very first dance together as husband and wife. One of the most popular choices is “Unforgettable”. Listen to two wonderful ballads for the first dance written for wedding scenes on daytime TV:
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Until I Was Loved By You (Emmy Award Winning Song)
Family Dance
As your first dance ends, it’s natural to segue into a Family Dance as the music transitions to selections such as:
Father / Daughter Dance
Every family has its own history and that can be reflected in the songs you choose for your dances. One of the best loved traditions is the Father/daughter dance. “Because You Loved Me” and “Sunrise, Sunset” are great choices here. We also would like to suggest some fresh new songs, written especially for weddings. As you listen, think of the different feelings you or your Father may want to express.
Stepparents
In some family situations there are stepparents or other important figures in your life whom you may want to honor. Think of those special people as you listen to:
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I’m Blessed To Call You Mother
Mother / Son Dance
The grooms’ dance with his Mother is another important, sentimental moment. We have choices here too that reflect different expressions of love between mother and son.
Mother / Daughter Dance
It is now more common than ever to include a tribute to your mother on your wedding day. What better way to honor mom than with a special song and dance.
Last Dance
There’s no better way to end a wedding than with a song of gratitude. It serves as a lovely tribute to your guests as the day’s festivities come to an end.
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Thank You For Your Gift of Love
