Wedding Ceremony Music - Top Tips on Making Your Wedding
Ceremony Special
Music makes your wedding ceremony special.
"If music be the food of love, play on!" ... so wrote William
Shakespeare. Are you wondering how to make your wedding day
stand out as a truly magical occasion? Live music may well
provide the solution to your dilemma. Whether it's in the form
of romantic melody, upbeat Swing Jazz or exotic world rhythms,
the live musical experience adds a unique presence and
excitement to any event.
At which points in the wedding ceremony is music most
appropriate?
The focal point of the wedding ceremony, whether church or
civil, is the public exchange of promises between a man and
woman in front of their family and friends, to love and care for
each other for their lifetimes. The ceremony sits right at the
heart of a very special day. Live music, introduced judiciously,
is a device that can greatly increase the sense of occasion as
the ceremony unfolds.
The musicians can play softly in the background as the guests
gather together before the service starts. An appropriate choice
of music can of itself announce and accompany the entrance of
the bride. A song or short musical performance during the
signing of the register provides a contemplative focus for your
guests. The sense of celebration can be fully released through
the choice of joyful music as the newly-married couple receive
congratulations.
Selecting the music and musicians for a religious wedding
ceremony.
The wedding ceremony in a religious setting carries an ancient
tradition. In England, the sound of the organ, choirboys and a
peal of bells instantly springs to mind. Whatever your
persuasion, there will be a long tradition of music appropriate
to each moment in the service. Making use of that tradition
links your marriage service with the generations of couples who
have made the same promises contained in the wedding ceremony
down the years before you.
Whether you decide to stay firmly within traditional guidelines
or break away, make sure you talk through your choice of music
with the minister who will be officiating at the ceremony. The
music you choose must be of a sacred nature, and he or she must
feel happy that it will fit with the tone of the service to be
conducted.
The music you choose needs to be appropriate to the size and
style of the religious building in which the service is taking
place. Classical chamber music generally fits into this scenario
well. You might consider a string quartet ... or if the venue is
smaller, a duo comprising an accompanying instrument such as the
piano or guitar with a top-line instrument such as violin, flute
or saxophone.
Choosing the music and instrumentation for a secular wedding
service.
The secular wedding ceremony is a relatively new phenomenon in
the UK. You have the freedom to choose from a much wider
selection of music, from traditional to modern, to make your
particular ceremony unique. But where do you begin? If you're
stuck for ideas, visit Hop Till You Drop's
Wedding Music Guide. There's a wealth of info regarding
resources available on The Internet to "get you on the right
track", so to speak.
The range of musical styles that will fit the bill in the
secular setting is broader. Traditional folk tunes, classic
modern love themes, tried and tested jazz standards may all
possibly suit your style. Intimate acoustic duos and trios will
suit a small gathering. If the venue is large, a fuller band
will be needed to make sufficient impact.
Be aware, also, that strictly sacred music cannot as a rule be
used outside a religious setting. When you've made your musical
selection, do run it past the officiating registrar to make sure
that it is acceptable.