Wedding Music Suggestions
For your wedding you will generally need music for the entrance of the bride into the church, up to three hymns and music as you leave. You may also want to choose some music for during the signing of the registers, particularly if you are having the choir.For the entrance of the bride:
Needs to be a ‘striking’ piece to ensure that the congregation realise that the service is starting – it is their cue to stand up to welcome the bride! It only needs to be quite short (about 1 to 1½ minutes) so will generally be an extract rather than a complete item.Press the "Play" buttons to hear soundbites of these items
Bridal March from Lohengrin - Wagner, R.
-- the traditional ‘Here comes the bride…’
Prince of Denmark’s March - Clarke, J.
-- sometimes called the ‘Trumpet Voluntary’
Trumpet Tune - Purcell, H.
Hornpipe (II) from Water Music - Handel, G.F.
Prelude from the Te Deum - Charpentier, M-A.
Trumpet Voluntary - Stanley, J.
The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Handel, G.F.
March from 'Scipio' - Handel, G. F.
Hymns:
It is normal to have either two or three hymns for your wedding. In choosing hymns it may be helpful to consider whether your guests are likely to know them, particularly if you are not having the choir. There are many hymns to choose from and the list below is provided to help you choose, not to limit your choice. If you have favourites of your own that are not on this list please feel free to request them.Please note that the words to many hymns are protected by copyright and you may need to obtain permission to reproduce them in your order of service.
Follow these links to see the hymn words and hear the music
All things bright and beautiful
And did those feet (Jerusalem)
At the name of Jesus
Bind us together
Come down, O love Divine
Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Father, hear the prayer we offer
Give me joy in my heart (Sing Hosanna)
Guide me, O thou great redeemer
Immortal, invisible, God only wise
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
Lord of all hopefulness
Love Divine all loves excelling
Make me a channel of your peace
Morning has broken
Now thank we all our God
O Jesus, I have promised
O perfect love
Praise the Lord, the heavens adore Him
Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
The King of love my shepherd is
Thine for ever! God of love
For leaving the church:
As the finale to the service this needs to be ‘grand and triumphal’ piece. It can take quite some time for the congregation to leave the church so this will generally need to be a long item to avoid either endless repetition or finishing before the your guests have all left the church.Press the "Play" buttons to hear soundbites of these items
Wedding March from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ - Mendelssohn, F.
-- the traditional wedding march
March of the Priests from ‘Athalie’ - Mendelssohn, F.
Toccata from Symphonie Nº5 - Widor, C-M.
Grand March from Aida - Verdi, G.
Nun Danket (March Triomphale) - Karg-Elert, S.
During the signing of the registers:
If you are having the church choir at your wedding you may like to choose one of the following items for them to sing during the signing of the registers:Press the "Play" buttons to hear the choir singing these items
A Clare Benediction – Rutter, J.
The Lord’s my Shepherd – Townend, S.
Christ be With Me – Pachelbel, J. / Rawsthorne, N.
Lead me, Lord – Wesley, S.S.
Jesu, joy of man's desiring – Bach, J.S. (recording not available)
If you are not having the choir, or you don’t want them to sing at this point then you can put forward a suggestion of your own, otherwise quiet organ music will be played during the register signing.