{"id":48074,"date":"2024-10-04T12:56:10","date_gmt":"2024-10-04T10:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/967a2e8d-7218-40fb-b16e-acba3f4d7ec0"},"modified":"2024-10-04T14:07:16","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T12:07:16","slug":"best-wedding-music-the-ultimate-classical-music-choices-for-your-wedding-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/best-wedding-music-the-ultimate-classical-music-choices-for-your-wedding-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"Best wedding music: the ultimate classical music choices for your wedding ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By <\/p>

Published: Friday, 04 October 2024 at 10:56 AM<\/p>

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If you\u2019re thinking of tying the knot (and you\u2019ve been lucky enough to secure the date), then now\u2019s the time to start planning the music. Here are some suggestions for the best wedding music out there, whether you’re getting married in a church with an organist in tow or you’ve opted for a registry office ceremony.<\/p>

But first things first. Will you have the services of a choir<\/a><\/strong>? Will your organist be up to the musical demands you throw at them? It\u2019s worth asking these questions. A choir can add a considerable sense of occasion to a service. On the other send of the scale, a poor organist can ruin it. Know what you\u2019re dealing with, and if you sense that the musical skills on offer won\u2019t be up to scratch, hire someone in. You won\u2019t regret it. <\/p>

A top tip for planning your wedding music<\/strong><\/h2>

We can\u2019t stress enough the importance of sitting down with your musicians to talk about the music that will work for your<\/em> wedding. Will your ideas translate well to the realities of a small parish church with a dodgy one-manual organ<\/a><\/strong>, for instance? There is a lot to ponder, but seek help from those in the know.<\/p>

For the music before the ceremony, you could let the organist choose their own programme to amuse the congregation, but we\u2019d advise against that. Meet up with the organist and discuss options, knowing that a wedding congregation will talk at the top of their voices in the half hour or so leading up to the start of the service. So, mix soft pieces with some spectacular, louder works to keep everyone on their toes. <\/p>

The best pieces of classical music for weddings<\/strong><\/h2>

Organ music for the entrance of the bride: the wedding processional for walking down the aisle<\/h3>

Handel: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba<\/h4>

Handel<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s \u2018Arrival of the Queen of Sheba\u2019 is a majestic classic, and nothing says ‘the bride is a queen’ quite like this piece. Be aware, however, that this is a tricky piece for organists to perform, so beware. If you’ve got an organist lined up for your church wedding, make sure you attend a few services before you plan the music. That way, you can get a sense of what type of music they usually play \u2013 and, to be frank, whether they’re any good!<\/p>