All About the Music

However, music choice is important as it sets the tone of the ceremony, stirs up emotions, and shares a message with your guests. Choosing ceremony music isn't quite as simple as curating a playlist of tunes you love, though. While that approach might work for the reception, there's a bit more nuance involved when it comes to selecting exceptional ceremony music. These songs should fit the vibe of your service, mirror your personal preferences, and also be the right length for your specific needs.

So how many songs do you need?

There are a few big moments to pick music for: the processional when the wedding party enters, signing of the wedding register, and the recessional which is when the married couple walk out. Here’s a breakdown to help you choose your songs.

The Processional

In general, you'll need one song for the processional but if you want separate songs for different members of the wedding party, take this into consideration when selecting songs.

Signing Songs

In general, you will need two songs to be played while the paperwork is being signed. Pick whatever you want, remembering that this time is a bit of a lull in the ceremony and songs that catch the guests’ interest are good as will enjoy sitting and listening to them rather than wandering around. If this occurs, the Celebrant will need to bring everyone back together before presenting the married couple which can detract from the flow of the ceremony.

The Recessional

You are officially married, and after you two share that special first kiss, you'll want the space to fill with celebratory music that matches the mood. Select a song for your recessional that is up-tempo, happy, and primed to get the party started. After all, you’ve just tied the knot.

Additional Music

Prelude: You may wish to play music leading up to the beginning of the ceremony while guests are gathering and taking their seats. Choose up to 30 minutes’ worth of your favourite music, or about 9-10 songs. This is a time to set the mood and create the feeling that this is going to be a special day.

Celebrate Post Ceremony: Like prelude music, this is entirely optional. Pick your favourite music and let it play.

Consider Your History

No matter how long the two of you have been together, there is bound to be a song, artist, or genre of music that you both really connect to. Any of these will help guide you toward a song or two that are really meaningful. It doesn’t have to be a love song!

Who is going to play the music?

If you are having a DJ, they may play the music and will work with the Celebrant to get the timing right. The Celebrant may also have a partner who coordinates the music. This is my preference as we have signals that we use for starting, stopping and fading the music.

Alternatively, you may have a friend or relative who is not part of the official wedding party who would trust and would like to give a job to.

Talk to your Celebrant about how the music will run. After all, they are responsible for the ceremony itself and will want it to be perfect for you.

Planning a wedding is a big job and there are lots of decisions to be made. In the midst of finding a venue, selecting clothes, the menu, choosing a honeymoon destination, and everything else, it is easy to overlook the ceremony music.