A small ceremony consisting of only the bride, groom, and immediate family members may not need a lot of punctuation from musicians, but a larger, more traditional wedding certainly does. There are various points in a long ceremony that definitely need something to offset the silence. We'll talk about those moments — and the type of music that might be appropriate for each — in this section.

Prelude to the Big Show

When guests are arriving at the ceremony and waiting for the ceremony to begin, do you want them sitting in silence, staring at the clock, or would you rather they were reflecting on the joyous occasion of your marriage? Complete silence makes a chapel or ceremony site feel a lot like a doctor's waiting room, except instead of waiting nervously for a shot, everyone's counting the minutes until they get a peek at the bride — and if you aren't right on time and you haven't given these people anything in the way of entertainment, you're going to see some guests who have ants in their pants. If you've thought ahead and provided your guests with some gentle tunes to help pass the time, you could be five or ten minutes behind schedule and no one will even notice (or at least not much).

Music that is appropriate for the prelude may include:

• Brandenburg Concertos, Bach

• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Bach

• Air on the G String, Bach

• The Four Seasons, Vivaldi

• Water Music, Handel

Choosing music for the prelude — in fact, for the entire wedding — is not always as easy as your telling the musicians that you want them to play a particular piece. The musicians you hire may or may not know that piece; but even if they don't know it, good musicians will be able to substitute something that's appropriate. If it's very important to you to have specific musical selections, discuss this with prospective musicians during the interview (we'll cover this in more detail later in this chapter).

The Processional

When it's time to send your bridesmaids down the aisle, you need to choose a piece of music that fits the feel of your wedding. If you're young and hip and working with a DJ, you might choose a contemporary love song. Just make sure you try out modern songs in a trial run before you commit to using them during your ceremony. There's a reason that traditional tunes are used over and over (and over) again — it's because they work well for wedding ceremonies.

You might just love a newer song and feel that it's perfect for your wedding, but if your bridesmaids have to walk awkwardly in order to catch the beat, and the DJ can't do anything but end it abruptly once you arrive at the altar, your guests are going to notice (and comment on it amongst themselves). Maybe you need to find something different.

You can choose one piece to play as your bridesmaids walk down the aisle and another one for yourself. If you're a traditional type, Wagner's “Bridal Chorus” might be what you're thinking about for your entrance. This is the music that everyone thinks of when they think of weddings:Here comes the bride, … Some other traditional pieces include:

• Trumpet Voluntary, Stanley

• Canon in D, Pachelbel

• “Hornpipe” from Water Music, Handel

• Lute/Guitar Concerto in D Major, Vivaldi

• “Wedding March” from The Marriage of Figaro, Mozart

Of course, there are countless others. You may have your own favorite classical music that will work perfectly for the processional. If you've hired a DJ, you can provide him with a copy of the music you've chosen; if you're working with live musicians, however, you'll need to consult with them about their playlist before you set your sights (and your ears) on any music in particular.

The Ceremony

Choices for music during the ceremony are usually based on whether you're having a religious or secular wedding. The length of the ceremony also plays a part in the songs you choose or whether you choose to have any music at all. A fifteen-minute ceremony focusing mostly on the exchange of vows doesn't really need a whole lot of music during the ceremony itself (which is not to say that you won't perhaps want to work a song or two in there anyway); a full-length religious service, on the other hand, not only includes plenty of opportunities for song, it needs music to pass some of that time for your guests.

Choosing contemporary music for your ceremony is not hard because you're familiar with these tunes. You can tell if they're going to work well and whether they're appropriate. However, contemporary music isn't always permitted during a religious ceremony. If you're faced with choosing among songs that you've never even heard of, you can depend on these selections to accent your ceremony nicely:

• “Ave Maria,” Schubert

• “The Wedding Song,” Stookey

• “Wedding Prayer,” Artman

• Selections from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi

• Cantata No. 29, Bach

• “Toccata,” Monteverdi

• Irish Wedding Prayer (traditional)

To hear these tunes, look for sound clips on the Internet or visit your local library and check out a few CDs.

The Recessional

After you've said “I do,” it's time to make your way back down the aisle as husband and wife. This is a time of exuberance, so your music should reflect that! Mendelssohn's Wedding March is the song you hear in movies and at countless weddings when the newly married couple is ready to leave the altar. Some other traditional choices include:

• Finale from Handel's Water Music

• “Spring” from Vivaldi's Four Seasons

• “Trumpet Tune,” Purcell

• Sinfonia (“Arrival of the Queen of Sheba”), Handel

You'll feel as though you're floating on air, so choose a song that will carry you out of the ceremony on a cloud of joy!