Music is an important part of any wedding. That’s why it pays to spend some time considering which type of music to have, and which specific songs or hymns to opt for.

To begin with it is important to remember there are two distinct parts of the wedding you need to plan music for. There is the ceremony itself, which we will discuss here, and the celebrations afterwards. Make sure you don’t neglect one in favour of the other!

Firstly you need to consider some music to play while people are waiting for your wedding ceremony to start. This can help to set the mood as well, but whatever you choose you should opt for something fairly understated. Think of this as a time for background music, rather than something people will actually sit and consciously listen to.

Then there is the music for the ceremony itself. You will want something appropriate to walk down the aisle to, so be sure you choose carefully. The famous choice – Wagner’s Bridal Chorus – will be at the top of many people’s lists. But don’t feel you have to go with this if you don’t want to. A modern song which is full of meaning for you and your intended groom will be just as appropriate, if not more so.

This is an important point to note. Whatever song you choose it should be something both you and your husband to be agree on and like. Your wishes are the only ones that matter in the end, so don’t worry if someone else doesn’t agree with you or suggests something different. Always make sure you both like your choice and then stick to it.

One other thing that some people don’t consider is the idea of having a live band play the music instead of relying on a recording. This adds an extra degree of drama and feeling to the music, and most people do love to hear live music. Imagine a string quartet for example, or perhaps a live band that can play the most appropriate songs for the moment.

A distinct bonus of this is that you can ask them to come along to your wedding reception and play there as well. Be sure to ask what the difference in rates is for playing at one, other or both venues.

You also need to consider what music you would like playing as you both sign the register and then exit. This is worth thinking about regardless of whether you will be getting married in a church or a registry office, although of course there may be different requirements for both. The traditional wedding march that is played in churches may be a little too much for a registry office that doesn’t have the benefit of a long aisle for example. You can always take suggestions from the registrar beforehand as to what could be best.

You can see that music is an integral part of any wedding, so make sure you give it the appropriate amount of thought.

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