Music for a Wedding Ceremony |
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View SingersChoosing music for your wedding can be minefield! To help you choose, below is a list of popular wedding music that we get asked for. Most people decide on at least three pieces of music for their wedding ceremony songs, one for the entrance procession, a second for the signing of the register and a third piece to exit. Some couples also choose a couple of hymns to sing during the ceremony.
Ceremony Music Ideas:
Entrance MusicSpecial requests
Virtually any song can be recreated in some way, simply send us your song title and a recording if you have one, and our musicians will write a custom arrangement for your wedding ceremony. Please make sure this is done well in advance of your wedding so the musicians have a chance to book a rehearsal to practice.
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Choose from a wide variety of musiciansAs well as organists (see below), we often get asked for different combinations of Musicians e.g. Keyboard & Trumpet or Organ & Singer, to perform Music during the wedding ceremony. Please contact us if you would like help choosing musicians, or if you'd like help choosing music. Good news! If you book musicians for your wedding ceremony at the same time as a band for your reception, you are eligible for a discount. Please browse our wedding packages.
Some of our most popular acts
Organists are the most popular choice for church weddings (see below), however they are by no means your only option. In the past our customers have chosen a wide variety of different musician and entertainers to perform at their marriage ceremony. Click the button below to view a complete list of all of our musicians for hire divided into easily managed categories.
Example of an organist - Adam Hughes Adam started his musical career as a violinist at the age of 8 and has played both jazz / classical piano and organ for the last 13 years. He has already performed at well over 2000 engagements all round Europe since the age of 13, including many weddings ceremonies and receptions.
Adam has played organ in large cathedrals (Winchester, Ely, Rochester) and is comfortable with most church organs. However, if there is not an organ available, and for civil ceremonies Adam can bring a portable electronic organ.
Contact us to check Adam's availability or to get a free quote.
Wedding ceremony music or music for civil weddings is normally the first music that your guests will hear on your wedding day. Choosing appropriate wedding ceremony songs can be difficult and should be thought about carefully. Most people have music starting 10 to 20 minutes before the ceremony. This may be an organist playing light classical music, a soprano or tenor singing or possibly a string quartet outside the ceremony room. This is often referred to as "prelude music".
The entrance wedding music is often the traditional “here comes the bride”, but we have had other memorable suggestions, like “don’t stop me now” and “let’s call the whole thing off”! While classical wedding ceremony music is traditional, don’t be afraid to have more popular songs that have a special meaning to you or your other half. At a wedding recently a couple picked “I would do anything for you” by Bryan Adams as it was their favourite choice of wedding ceremony song.
We have a sister site with a list of example of wedding ceremony songs split into sections as follows: Ideas for Prelude Music, this section is all about the bit before the bride walks down the isle, Wedding Prelude Music. For the actual bridal procession you can choose from a number of different musical choices with the help of this Wedding Processional Music example song choices list. If you are having a church ceremony then you will almost certainly need to choose some hymns. There is a big difference between good and bad here so have a look at this list for guidance: Popular Ceremony Hymns.
Wedding BandsSome people choose to have an entire band performing at their ceremony and this is something that we specialise in here at Last Minute Musicians. Here are our top bands available for weddings anywhere in the UK - Wedding Bands. It can often be a bit much to hire an entire rock band but a small jazz group or string quartet can add a really beautiful atmosphere to your special day. These wedding singers also come highly recommended for a variety of events and are versatile enough to suit any setting.
Civil Wedding Ceremony MusicWedding Music for civil ceremonies is all about matching the entertainment with your guest. For the early part of the day you might like some organ wedding music. Later in the day you will almost definitely require some more up-beat civil wedding music. The most important thing is that you think about your act carefully and sure that the venue is suitable. Then you should have no problems. For more information on the different parts of the wedding day, please consider visiting our Reception Music page.
Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life, so it's no real surprise that a lot of planning goes into preparing everything for your big day! One of the biggest challenges is choosing the music, songs and entertainment for your wedding or civil ceremony music, especially if you are planning a traditional religious ceremony. When choosing the hymns for a traditional wedding, it’s always a good idea to discuss your music preferences when you meet with the person who will perform the ceremony and find out what they would recommend for the service. If you attend church regularly you may find you have a few favourite hymns or pieces of music you would like to include, it’s important that you choose hymns that reflect your feelings for one another and give thanks to God for bringing the two of you together.
You will probably find that your place of worship has a house organist that can play the hymns or music at your ceremony, however there may be the option for additional musicians to play your big day. You could hire a string quartet to play the suitable music at your ceremony, or perhaps if you’re guests aren’t big singers you could ask the church choir if they would perform during your ceremony to create a magical atmosphere. Adding your own touches such as these will make the whole day that extra special and add a personal touch to the service ensuring you have a day to remember.
Below are a few suggestions of some of the popular choices of hymns for Christian, Hindu and Jewish weddings to inspire you to think about your ideal choice of music for your big day.
Wedding hymns for a Christian wedding:
Traditional Hymns For a Hindu Wedding:
Traditional Hymns For a Jewish Wedding
As your big day continues, you may wish to have background music, perhaps in the form of a cocktail pianist, jazz trio or viola. Experienced musicians will have a varied repertoire to suit your wedding, but it’s always sensible to choose a few of your favourite songs or pieces of music that you would like them to play. These songs can be a mixture of music genres; hymns, classical pieces and standard wedding songs work well, but be sure to talk with the musicians you’re booking if you’re stuck for ideas. If you can afford to be a little extravagant you could look into more specific musical entertainment, for example Jewish couples could look into hiring a Klezmer Band if they feel it reflects their religious roots. For those whose budget might not stretch that far, why not make a play list for those quieter moments. For example, it's nice to have some background music while you’re guests are talking and sharing fond memories of the happy couple or to create a relaxed atmosphere while guests are enjoying their meal. Popular music choices for a Christian wedding songs play list include:
Naturally, if you’re planning a Hindu or Jewish wedding you will want to choose different songs and music that is specific to your religion, but the idea of creating a play list is useful for creating your dream wedding on a budget. It's important to consider the choice of music for the wedding reception when guests will be in the mood for celebrating. Songs which work well are those that will be familiar to people of all ages and are uplifting to get guests up and dancing. The following is a small selection of some of the most popular choices for wedding receptions:
You will find that these songs also work well in other situations, for example if you are inviting your guests for breakfast the morning after the wedding this play list would also be perfect. A diverse and varied choice of songs will keep your guests entertained at all times!
When choosing the songs for your wedding ceremony musicians it’s important to consider what the song’s message is and whether it’s truly suitable for a ceremony. Ceremony songs are usually hymns or traditional wedding songs and music, such as those mentioned above. Many couples who maybe don’t attend church on a regular basis may not know which hymns they want, so its a good idea to discuss it with friends and family. Ultimately, the perfect choice of music comes down to finding songs that you feel reflect the way you feel about each other as a couple to create a magical day you'll never forget.
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