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. Special 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.

Civil wedding ceremony music

Wedding 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. Religious music at civil ceremonies In 1837, a law was passed prohibiting the use of religious references at non-religious civil ceremonies. The law was drawn up in an attempt to keep civil ceremonies separate from any ‘legitimate’ religious ceremony performed under the ever-watchful eye of God. Although the law was passed almost two centuries ago, it is still in effect within England and Wales. Often causing confusion and frustration for couples looking to get married in a civil ceremony, the law states that no religious imagery, music or lyrical content is allowed in a civil ceremony. Whilst the Registrar has the final say on the matter, Registrars have been known to stop proceedings mid way during the ceremony because the couple have attempted to use religious imagery or phrases during their wedding ceremony. In the few months prior to the big day, the Registrar will advise the soon-to-be-married couple of the terms and conditions to the ceremony. These terms and conditions are often laid out in contract form and outline all the details for the ceremony. At this time it is best to voice any concerns that you may have regarding your vows, music choice or any other aspect of the wedding that you feel may be infringing the law. By doing this, you can guarantee there be no big surprises on your special day! Alternative songs suitable for Civil Ceremonies Thankfully, there are plenty of options when considering the music for your civil ceremony. Classical music is a popular alternative to religious hymns and as most venues which host civil ceremonies do not have an organ or piano present, couples are required to either hire musicians or bring along a CD of their desired songs. Popular alternative songs suitable for a civil ceremony:

• Air on the G string (Bach JS)
• Canon in D (Pachelbel J)
• Trumpet Tune in D (Purcell H)
• Can you feel the love tonight (Elton John)
• All you need is love (The Beatles)

Choosing the right venue for my Civil Ceremony There are a lot of aspects to consider when searching for the perfect venue for your civil ceremony. Not only is it crucial that your venue has a suitable capacity for your guests and of course that the venue is available on your chosen date. There are also various licences that every venue must hold to make certain they are approved for civil marriage. If you’re looking to hire musicians to perform during your ceremony, it’s crucial that you double check with the registry office that they allow such things to happen. Any establishment looking to host live music must have the correct licence and of course, anything you are doubtful about in a registry office must go through the Registrar. By choosing to have a civil ceremony you will experience the freedom of being able to choose exactly where you get married. There are a host of possible venues throughout the Untied Kingdom ranging from country houses, football stadiums and even Zoos where you can celebrate your love for one another in the style you have always dreamed of.

Traditional ceremony music

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:

• All things bright and beautiful
• Amazing Grace
• Morning has broken

Traditional Hymns For a Hindu Wedding:

• Hulle Hullare (Rageshwari)
• Soni De Nakhre (Partner)
• Maahi Ve (Kal Ho Na Ho)

Traditional Hymns For a Jewish Wedding

• Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
• Hava Nagila
• Hevenu Shalom Aleichem

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:

• The Lord is My Shepherd
• Jesus, Joy Of Our Desiring
• Now Thank We All Our God

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:

• Stand By Me – Ben E King
• Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra
• Let There Be Love – Nat King Cole

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.