Music for Weddings

What music do we need?

The usual format for a marriage service requires the following:

• Quiet background music whilst the guests are settling down
• A bridal march when the bride processes up the aisle
• Three hymns
• Some music during the signing of the register (which takes ten minutes or so)
• A wedding march for processing out.

Who provides the music?

The music is usually played by an organist arranged by the church, unless you wish to engage a group of instrumentalists to perform some or all of the music listed above. St John's does not have a formal choir.

What music can we have?

You have chosen to be married in a church, and we trust it will be a joyful occasion, but it is also a solemn occasion for which the traditional style of music is probably best suited.

It is important for you that you make the right choice, and the organist will be very happy to discuss music choices with you and to meet you if you wish.

For the entrance of the bride, and the recessional music, it is important to choose something you can walk to!

Here are a few examples of suitable pieces:

Entrance Music    

Bridal March from Lohengrin                                                     Wagner

Arrival of the Queen of Sheba                                                  Handel

Trumpet Voluntary                                                                 J.Clarke

Recessional Music 

Wedding March from “A Mid summer night’s Dream”                Mendelssohn

Crown Imperial March                                                                  Elgar

Trumpet Tune in D major                                                           Purcell

You can also look on the Internet  – there are plenty of sites offering free mp3 files of wedding music.  E.g. http://www.classicalwedding.co.uk/

Suggested Hymns

Love Divine, all loves excelling

Praise my soul the King of Heaven

Now thank we all our God

Immortal, Invisible, God only wise

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us

Lord of all hopefulness

Make me a channel of your peace

Morning has broken

For the beauty of the earth

Amazing Grace

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer

However there are a wide variety of alternatives, please feel free to discuss any ideas you have when arranging your wedding with the St John's leadership team. If you would like to discuss a wedding at St John's with the Reverend Peter Willox you may wish to contact him initially via the following email address - peterwillox@benrhydding.org.uk to arrange an initial meeting.