Music for Civil Ceremonies..
Music for your Ceremony
There is nothing better than music to add dignity and to create the right atmosphere at your wedding. Music sets the mood during your ceremony and sets the pace throughout your evening celebrations. Deciding which music should be played at your wedding and whether it should be played by musicians or by a DJ is one of the more important decisions you need to make when planning your big day. Hit the right notes and your wedding day will be enjoyed and remembered by all.
If you are getting married at an approved premise, you will be permitted to have either recorded or live music. Marriages at approved premises do not have the time constraints of register office marriages. Therefore, you have much greater freedom in deciding the number of pieces you wish played. Indeed, you may wish to replicate the format of a church marriage service and have a prelude, a processional and a recessional. You can even have music played at other points during the ceremony itself
Listed below are many of the popular and traditional classical music pieces you may wish to consider playing during your service. The pieces are classified by their suitability for each section of a service that follows the same format of a church service. However, at a civil wedding, there are few restrictions on the type of music allowed (so long as it is non-religious and does not detract from the solemnity of the occasion).
The Prelude
This is music that is played while guests assemble in the venue’s marriage room until the bride party arrives and can last up to about 20 minutes. This music sets the mood for the ceremony to come and should be positive and joyous.
PRELUDE
Popular classical music played during the prelude include:
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
Pavane by Fauré
Meditation from Thais by Massanet
Chanson De Matin by Elgar
Morning from Peer Gynt Suite by Grieg
Salut D’amour by Elgar
1st Movement from Eine Kline Nachtmusik by Mozart
Minuet by Boccherini
Air from the Water Music by Handel
Air on the G String by Bach
Berceuse from Dolly Suite by Fauré
PROCESSIONAL
This is music played for the bridal party’s procession into the marriage room. One piece of music is chosen, which should be stately and regal and last the duration of the walk to where the ceremony will be conducted.
The most popular classical pieces of music played during the processional are:
Wedding March from Lohengrin by Wagner
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
Grand March from Aida by Verdi
Wedding March from the Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark’s March) by Clarke
Trumpet Voluntary by Stanley
Trumpet Tune by Purcell
Air from the Water Music by Handel
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Salut D’amour by Elgar
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
Spring from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi
SIGNING OF THE REGISTER
Whilst signing the register, there will be time for one piece of music to be played – maybe two pieces if you are having photographs taken during the signing.
Suitable classical pieces to choose from are:
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Air from the Water Music by Handel
Pavane by Fauré
Meditation from Thais by Massanet
Air on the G String by Bach
Morning from Peer Gynt Suite by Grieg
Chanson De Matin by Elgar
Salut D’amour by Elgar
Dome Epais from Lakme by Delibes
4th Movement from Eine Kline Nachtmusik by Mozart
Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
The Recessional
As you leave the marriage room, walking arm-in-arm as husband and wife, you will want a piece of music that is triumphant, joyful and celebratory.
Traditional RECESSIONAL music includes:
Wedding March (from a Midsummer Night’s Dream)
by Mendelssohn
Radetsky March by Strauss
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark’s March) by Clarke
Trumpet Voluntary by Stanley
Trumpet Tune by Purcell
Spring from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi
Brandenburg Concerto No 3 by Bach
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Grand March from Aida by Verdi
Overture from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
3rd Movement from Sonata in D by Purcell
DJSPACEBAR can work with yourselves and the venue to ensure that the sound equipment is unobtrusive and is correctly setup before the moments occurs. We have access to all the above information and can work with you and your venue to ensure that the ceremony runs as prompt and smooth as you expect. The above music is just an idea of the music usually played. However, we do recommend something that is your own choice (modern, relaxed song for the bridal entrance and something uplifting and exciting for the next part of your day – the wedding breakfast. We have lots of ideas for this and we can help make your ceremony a meaningful, relaxing and enjoyable ceremony for all your guests.
Please note, you must get the prior approval of the superintendent registrar that will be officiating at your wedding for all music you wish to play during your service.
Take a look at our Civil Ceremony pack
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