Planning Your Wedding Ceremony Music

Choosing music for your wedding can be minefield! To help you choose, below is a list of popular wedding music that we get asked for. Most people decide on at least three pieces of music for their wedding ceremony songs, one for the entrance procession, a second for the signing of the register and a third piece to exit. Some couples also choose a couple of hymns to sing during the ceremony.

Popular Ceremony Music Ideas

Entrance Music

• Bridal Chorus ("Here comes the bride") - Wagner
• Trumpet Voluntary - J. Clarke
• Canon in D - Pachelbel
• Suite from the "Water Music", No. 5 "Hornpipe" - Handel

Signing of the register

• St Anthony Chorale - Haydn
• Suite from the "Water Music", No. 3 "Air" - Handel
• No. 1 "Air" (from Suite No. 3) - J.S. Bach
• Ave Maria (Schubert)

Exit Music

• Wedding March - Mendelssohn
• Suite from the "Water Music", No. 5 "Hornpipe" - Handel
• Toccata from Symphony No. 5 - C. M. Widor
• Trumpet Voluntary - Clarke

Special requests

Virtually any song can be recreated in some way, simply send us your song title and a recording if you have one, and our musicians will write a custom arrangement for your wedding ceremony. Please make sure this is done well in advance of your wedding so the musicians have a chance to book a rehearsal to practice.

More example wedding music

We have set up a brand new site for you to browse wedding music samples to get ideas for every part of your wedding day.

Example of an organist for your Wedding music - Adam Hughes

Adam started his musical career as a violinist at the age of 8 and has played both jazz / classical piano and organ for the last 13 years. He has already performed at well over 2000 engagements all round Europe since the age of 13, including many weddings ceremonies and receptions.

Adam has played organ in large cathedrals (Winchester, Ely, Rochester) and is comfortable with most church organs. However, if there is not an organ available, and for civil ceremonies Adam can bring a portable electronic organ.

Contact us to check Adam's availability or to get a free quote.

Areas covered: London & South East

Book an Organist »

Example of an organist for your Wedding music - Dale Hambridge

Dale started playing the piano at the age of seven and has been playing in public since the age of ten. He started his career as a classically trained pianist and soon took up organ as well. He studied with Philip Fowke at Trinity College of Music in London. He is currently resident pianist at the North Pole in Greenwich, London as well as performing in live engagements all over London and south of England specialising in classical wedding music for wedding ceremonies. To date Dale has played hundreds of gigs as a solo jazz pianist, an organist for wedding ceremonies, a classical recitalist and an accompanist. Visit our Wedding Organists page for more info.

Contact us to check Dale's availability or to get a free quote.

Areas covered: London & South East

Book an Organist »

Choose from a wide variety of musicians

As well as organists (see below), we often get asked for different combinations of Musicians e.g. Keyboard & Trumpet or Organ & Singer, to perform Music during the wedding ceremony. Please contact us if you would like help choosing musicians, or if you'd like help choosing music. Good news! If you book musicians for your wedding ceremony at the same time as a band for your reception, you are eligible for a discount. Please browse our wedding packages.

Search for Wedding Musicians »

Some of our most popular acts

Jazz Quartet, Opera Singer, Harp, Harp & Soprano, Harp & Flute, Harp & Oboe, Guitar, Guitar & Soprano, Guitar & Violin, Flute & Cello, Classical Piano, Solo Violin, Violin & Cello, String Trio, String Quartet, Bagpipes, Ceilidh Band, Barn Dance, Jazz Piano, Jazz Violin, Jazz Guitar & Voice, Solo Saxophone, Sax & Guitar, Jazz Piano & Vocals, Jazz Trio, Jazz Quartet, Big Band, Gospel Choir, Funk Band, Soul Band, Covers Band, Pop Band... and much more!

• View our discounted wedding packages »
• View all live bands & ensembles »
• Get in touch »

Wedding Ceremony Song Suggestions

Wedding ceremony music is normally the first music that your guests will hear on your wedding day.  Choosing appropriate wedding ceremony songs can be difficult and should be thought about carefully.  Most people have music starting 10 to 20 minutes before the ceremony.  This may be an organist playing light classical music, a soprano or tenor singing or possibly a string quartet outside the ceremony room. This is often referred to as "prelude music".

The entrance wedding music is often the traditional “here comes the bride”, but we have had other memorable suggestions, like “don’t stop me now” and “let’s call the whole thing off”!  While classical wedding ceremony music is traditional, don’t be afraid to have more popular songs that have a special meaning to you or your other half. At a wedding recently a couple picked “I would do anything for you” by Bryan Adams as it was their favourite choice of wedding ceremony song.

We have a sister site with a list of example of wedding ceremony songs split into sections as follows…

Ideas for Prelude Music:
Wedding Prelude Music - Sample Songs

Ideas for Processional Music:
Wedding Processional Music - Sample Songs

Popular Hymns:
Popular Ceremony Hyms - Samples Songs

Ideas for Interlude Music:
Wedding Interlude Music - Samples Songs

Ideas for Recessional Music:
Wedding Recessional Music - Samples Songs