HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY MUSIC Article by Elaine McDonald, Wedding music composer and publisher

Setting Is Important

An important factor in choosing your wedding music is the setting for your ceremony. If your ceremony will not be in a religious setting, you can choose just about any kind of music you like -- although you will want to stay within the bounds of good taste! On the other hand, if your ceremony will be in a church or synagogue, or conducted by a clergy person at another location, you will probably need to stay within guidelines set by the clergy person or the church.

Most religious denominations consider a wedding ceremony to be a form of worship service. For this reason, churches generally do not allow "secular" music (non-religious popular music) during a wedding. Some will allow secular music while the guests are being seated, but not during the ceremony itself. Check with the church where your wedding will be held for its specific guidelines.

How religious do the lyrics of a song have to be for a church wedding? Songs that make respectful reference to God (or to Jesus or the Holy Spirit in Christian churches) are almost certain to be acceptable. Many churches will also allow a song that does not make specific reference to God, as long as the lyrics focus on religious ideals and values relating to love and marriage, such as faithfulness and mutual support.

Vocal Solos and Duets

Most weddings include a vocal soloist singing anywhere from one to four selections during the wedding ceremony -- usually accompanied by piano, guitar or harp. A duet sung by a male-female vocal duo is often used instead of a solo, and can be very effective! You will probably need to hire live vocalist(s); many churches do not allow recorded music in wedding ceremonies, except some may allow recorded accompaniment for a live vocalist.

Appropriate places in the ceremony for vocal selections, depending on church guidelines, may include: (1) during the seating of the mothers or lighting of candles by the mothers; (2) immediately before the processional; (3) before the vows; (4) during the lighting of the Unity Candle; and (5) during the serving of communion to the congregation, if this is included in the ceremony. Our Songs for a Life Together collection (available on CD and as sheet music) includes songs that will work beautifully in each of these situations.  (See our "Sound Clips & Lyrics" page.)

Finding the Right Songs

Vocal music is probably the aspect of your wedding music selection where you will want to have the most personal involvement, since the songs include lyrics and you will want them to be especially meaningful for you. Where can you find songs with just the right lyrics that will be acceptable in a church setting? And preferably something you haven't heard at a hundred other weddings?

We think you're in just the right place! Browse our site, especially the "Sound Clips & Lyrics" page, where you can listen to sound clips from our CD of wedding ceremony songs while you read samples of the lyrics.

Other ways to find vocal music for your wedding ceremony include asking your vocalist or accompanist for suggestions, or browsing in the wedding section at a store that sells sheet music and songbooks.  (It is best to look for printed music rather than songs available only in recorded form, as your musicians will probably need printed music for performance purposes.)

Instrumental Music

What about the instrumental-only music for your wedding ceremony? Your choices here may include the church organist or pianist, a string quartet, a harpist, or other instrumentalists. When you meet with your instrumental musician(s), they will probably be happy to play various pieces for you that can be used for the processionals and the recessional. You may be allowed to select one piece for the processional where the bridal party enters, another for the bride's processional, and another for the recessional.

We hope the suggestions we've provided here will help you find just the right music for your special day.  If you have any questions about music for your wedding ceremony, feel free to send us an email.