We’ve come up with some tips as a guide for choosing your ceremony and reception music. Whether you prefer classical music, pop songs, or religious or folk tunes, your live ceremony musicians can play it all. On this page, we provide examples of songs from varying genres taken mostly from our repertoire list, but as always, these are just suggestions and we encourage you to pick your own favorite songs if you have some in mind.
Guests Arrive
As your guests arrive, we will play a variety of songs that are mellow but welcoming. We want your guests to feel comfortable as they arrive and settle into the space. You can tell your ensemble if you prefer only classical music or a medley of classical and pop or other genres.
Prelude
At this time, you’ll want your guests to start gathering and sitting down for the ceremony. Choosing songs that will set the mood for the rest of your ceremony is important here. Here are some examples:
Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring: Bach
Air on a G String: Bach
Blackbird: The Beatles
Marry You: Bruno Mars
Processional
As your wedding party enters, you’ll want music that has a nice strolling pace to help guide them down the aisle. Some examples include:
A Thousand Years: Christina Perri
The Swan: Camille Saint-Saëns
Gymnopedie: Erik Satie
Arioso: J.S. Bach
Give Me Your Hand (Irish Tune)
The Bride Enters
You can keep the song from the wedding party processional playing, or you can choose a new song for when the bride enters and walks down the aisle. Here are just a few suggestions:
Perfect: Ed Sheeran
Inisheer: (Irish tune)
Canon in D: J.S. Bach
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen
Candle Lighting, Readings, Any Other Mid-Ceremony Special Moments
This is a perfect time for something mellow. The person officiating your marriage might be talking or you might have family members doing readings, so you’ll want the music to lightly flow underneath.
Falling Slowly from Once: Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
Cavatina: Stanley Myers
Make You Feel My Love: Adele
Meditation from Thais: Jules Massenet
Recuerdos de la Alhambra: Francisco Tarrega
Prelude from Cello Suite No. 1: J.S. Bach
Recessional
You’re married! A more upbeat song is a good fit here, and something that will put guests in a celebratory mood.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love: Queen
All You Need is Love: The Beatles
You’re My Best Friend: Queen
Ode to Joy: Beethoven
Postlude
The music will continue as guests mill around and exit the ceremony. A few song suggestions include:
In My Life: The Beatles
Here Comes the Sun: The Beatles
Can’t Help Falling in Love: Elvis
Alla Hornpipe: Handel
Cocktail Hour
It’s not quite as important to pick specific songs here, since the music will truly be in the background as your guests are socializing, drinking, and eating. Your ensemble will have a long list of songs they will play one after the other, although you are welcome to make requests.
Dinner Reception
The same guidelines apply here as the cocktail hour music. If your ensemble is playing through dinner, be sure to tell them in advance if there will be speeches throughout dinner so they know when to take a break and come back in.
We hope this all helps you in selecting the live music for your wedding day!
For more information on our flute and guitar duo, check out the rest of our website: www.redbrickduo.com
If you have questions regarding ceremony music and/or other event music, we would love to hear from you, or you can check out our FAQ page for some quick answers.