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It’s the music

Love and music have always travelled hand in hand

The best, most beautiful, and most perfect way that we have of expressing a sweet concord of mind to each other is by music.
Jonathan Edwards

Love and music have always travelled hand in hand together and our association between love and music leads us to shedding a tear when we hear that special song that reminds us of a lost love, or a pull at our heart strings when the violins swell in anticipation of that first kiss in a romantic movie. It’s the music! It’s the nature of music to stir our inner soul and to wrench at our emotions, harmonising with our deeper feelings such as all encompassing love. The vibration of stringed instruments such as harp, violin, viola and cello, are used as therapy to calm, sooth and to heal. Flutes twittering like the sounds of spring sound gorgeous in a garden setting and tune our souls into the harmony of nature.

Much of the popular classical music was originally written for royal weddings and significant ceremonies, and includes the beautiful music of Pachelbel, Bach, Corelli, Mozart and Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Schubert. These men were masters of writing music about love, creating an unforgettable atmosphere from the minutes before the appearance of the beautiful bride, through the special moments of the ceremony, culminating in the joyous celebration as the ceremony ends. And then on to the party! Pre-dinner drinks, cocktails, a garden reception, a traditional formal wedding reception, or a livelier wedding bash, music will be an essential ingredient.

Music for the Ceremony

Whether it is a cathedral, a country chapel, or an outdoor garden setting, music is a necessity. Before the arrival of the bride and the commencement of the ceremony, it is always nice for the guests to be made comfortable and welcomed by the sounds of a string quartet or trio, a solo harp, or whatever your chosen ensemble or soloist may be, usually 15 minutes prior to the ceremony. A special piece chosen by the bride and groom as the bride walks down the isle is a must and the memory of that piece of music will stay with you forever. Whenever you hear those special pieces again you will be taken back to the day you were married and the memories of that day.

Some brides wish for a more traditional wedding and therefore choose more traditional music such as the Bridal Chorus by Wagner to walk down the isle, and the famous Wedding March by Mendelssohn for the exit piece. Pachelbel’s Canon is another very popular choice for the processional, followed by a grand exit to Handel’s La Rejouissance from the Fireworks Suite. Throughout a Nuptial Wedding, there is more opportunity for musical selections such as during communion, any hymns to be sung throughout the Mass, or quietly dedicating a candle lighting ceremony. A Cathedral or Medieval Wedding heralded by an Oboe, Violin and Bassoon Trio performing Purcell’s Trumpet Voluntary for the processional, or Gabriel’s Oboe during the signing of the register could be an option worth considering adding that touch of authenticity to your ceremony. Singers are at your disposal to sing all the hymns and responses during a Nuptial Mass, or to sing more popular songs if this is more to the taste of the bride and groom. During the signing of the register time will allow for two pieces to be played. A slow movement from one of Mozart’s Divertimenti, or the famous Air on the G String by Bach are two possibilities. A singer performing a love song or classical song accompanied by your chosen ensemble is another option, or an ‘a capella’ or unaccompanied trio of singers. With the extensive repertoire at our disposal, the choices go on.

When selecting an ensemble or soloist for your ceremony, consider the style of music you would like the ensemble to perform, whether it is classical, popular or a mixture of both of these. The size of the ensemble, according to the size of the venue, a large venue would require a larger ensemble, as a small country chapel would require a smaller ensemble or a soloist. The sound of the ensemble, particularly in an out door setting, it will be a little more dry sometimes than inside a church with a gorgeous acoustic.

Music at the Reception

You can be tempted by a selection of ensembles at your disposal, whether it is Classical, Latin, Jazz, Rock, or Popular Music. When the reception and ceremony are held at the same venue, you can make the most of the ensemble used in the ceremony to play for pre-dinner drinks and dinner. Another option could be to have the ceremony accompanied by the soft strumming of a solo harp, then to enjoy a different ensemble during pre-dinner drinks at sunset such as a string trio or a harp trio, before livening things up again after dinner with a jazzy dance band. Whatever atmosphere you have in mind can be created by the style of ensemble you choose.

On many occasions the reception is held elsewhere after a church or outdoor ceremony. The flute and string quartet that played throughout the ceremony can follow on to the reception and liven up your pre-dinner drinks with a selection of lively classical and popular music, followed by a cool jazz or classical duo through dinner followed by a Flamenco or Tango band for dancing the night away. Or you may wish to enjoy a classical guitarist to create a more relaxed atmosphere during pre-dinner drinks followed by the ever classic string quartet to serenade your evening till the end.

Musical selections during the reception don’t generally need to be as specific as for the ceremony as the musicians are performing background music, though there are three main ceremonial events within the reception:
1 Entrance of the Bridal Party
2 Cutting of the Cake
3 Bridal Waltz.

It always feels appropriate to have the Bridal Party heralded with music, maybe Vivaldi’s Spring or Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, while the room stands and applaud their welcome to the newly wedded couple. The Cutting of the Cake is an important ceremonial event within the reception and could be turned into something serious or a little fun with a dash of music. The Bridal Waltz is an important musical choice seeing we can’t waltz without music. Some traditional brides choose to dance with their new husbands to the waltz their parents or grandparents danced to on their wedding day. Others choose their favourite love song or ballad to start off the evening’s dancing. Either way, your agent should be able to accommodate your musical taste. You may even see an ensemble you like at a friend’s wedding.



Written by Catherine Wasserman, Director and Proprietor of Musical Moments