Halcyon Strings
Wedding Music
We know that you want every aspect of your special day to be perfect. Set your mind at ease by knowing that the musical portion is one less detail for you to worry about. To help you get started, here is a list of some of our favorites , as well as the most popular selections for wedding ceremonies. Feel free to ask us for help or more suggestions. Let us know if there is particular music you want (or don’t want!) to hear during the prelude, postlude, or reception; otherwise, just leave it up to us, and we will play a variety of music to please you and your guests.
Seating of Parents
Handel: Passacaile
Vaughan Williams: Rhosymedre
Bach: Jesu, Hoy of Man's Desiring
Processional-Bridesmaids
Pachelbel: Canon in D
Vivaldi: Winter from "The four Seasons"
Bach: Air (on the G string)
Processional-Bride
Pachelbel: Canon in D
Wagner: Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin
Clarke: Trumpet Voluntary
Lighting of the Unity Candle
Shaker Tune: Simple Gifts
Beethoven: Ode to Joy
Franck: Panis Angelicus
Mascagni: Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana
Schubert: Ave Maria
Recessional
Mendelssohn: Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream
Handel: La Rejouissance
Beethoven: Ode to Joy
Handel: Hornpipe from Water Music
Vivaldi: Spring from "The Four Seasons"
Tips for Planning Your Wedding Music
- Decide the parts of the wedding for which you will want music. For wedding ceremonies we generally perform 15-30 minutes of prelude music to welcome your guests as they arrive and are seated.
- Choose musical selections for the main elements of the wedding ceremony; e.g. bridesmaids’ processional, bride’s processional, candle lighting ceremony, recessional. (see above)
- Let us know how many bridesmaids, flower girls, and/or ring bearers there will be so we can estimate how long the musical selection should be.
- Let us know of any unusual elements of the ceremony. For example, if you will be incorporating elements of a traditional Indian ceremony.
- Have someone (e.g. wedding planner) consult with our musicians before the ceremony to review details and provide visual cues during the ceremony. This step is very important in helping us play at exactly the right moment and switching from one piece of music to another smoothly.
- Relax and enjoy yourself!