How to Become a Wedding Musician

Part 2: Selecting Music 

Every wedding is different and, while there are some standards common to most weddings, each wedding will have its own unique variation of the order of service. Below are the main components found in most weddings, listed in the order in which they normally occur:

Prelude

Lighting of the Candles

Seating of the mothers

Groom/groomsmen enter

Bridesmaids enter 

Bride enters

Wedding vows 

Recessional

Postlude

The wedding music should fit the wedding. The prelude, recessional, and postlude will include complete pieces, but the music for the lighting of the candles, seating of the mothers, men’s entrance, bridesmaids entrance, bride’s entrance, and any other function will need to be shortened to match the length of that part of the ceremony. For instance, when the last bridesmaid has reached the front, the music should end. This is the challenge of playing for weddings. You must be aware of what is taking place and be able to find a good place to end that piece and move into the next. 

From the beginning of the prelude, music will be played continuously until the bride has entered. The well-prepared wedding musician will know his/her cues. The lighting of the candles is over when the candle-lighters are seated or have returned to the back, following the candle-lighting. The seating of the mothers is over when the bride’s mother has been seated – unless she is participating in another part of the ceremony, such as escorting the bride. The men usually enter quickly. The bridesmaids entrance is finished when the last bridesmaid is in her place or when the flower girl/ring bearer are in their places. The bride’s music should end when she is standing in front, next to the groom. Be aware of everything the bride will be doing during her processional. She may stop for pictures near the front.

In most protestant ceremonies, the recessional will begin after the clergy introduces the couple. Music should begin immediately and the wedding party will proceed down the aisle. Finish playing the recessional and continue immediately with the postlude. When the guests have left the room, or the wedding party has re-entered for pictures, the postlude should be over.