Friday, January 25, 2013

Wedding Ceremony Music Ideas & Music List

If you are planning a wedding in Albany, Troy, Schenectady, or anywhere else in the world you know there are a zillion things to think about. The catering, the venue, the DJ, the cocktail hour, the clothing, the decoration, the centerpieces, the flowers, the bouquet, the favors, did I forget something? Wait! Have you even stopped to think about the ceremony yet?

The selection for the music for your wedding ceremony is always a difficult task. My customers from Albany NY to Saratoga Springs come to me all the time and say, "Kenny! Where do I start?" It's actually not so difficult.

Here is the traditional wedding ceremony outline:
PRELUDE - Before things get underway, bout four or five songs played as a prelude when the guests are seated. This sets the atmosphere. (When there is no music playing, it feels more like a funeral!) The music selections are typically light and/or elegant. A different song is often selected when the mothers of the bride and groom are seated, as a symbol that things are about to begin.

PROCESSIONAL - Everything starts when the groomsmen and the groom move to the front from the side. The men do not typically walk down the aisle, because that spotlight will now be reserved for the women. There are two songs during the processional: one song is chosen for when the bridesmaids enter, and the other song is to be the most dramatic choice, selected for play when the bride walks down the aisle.

RECESSIONAL - One last song is played after the kiss for the bride and groom to walk back up the aisle to. Think happy atmosphere when selecting the song to be played here! The music played in the recessional, should symbolize the happiness of the couple’s new life together.

Most people often want the traditional classic wedding music, but have absolutely NO IDEA what the songs are actually called. I can help you with that.

Here is my playlist when I am told to play the traditional favorites:
1) PRELUDE: Spring, Canon in D, Four Seasons Winter, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,
2) PROCESSIONAL: Air of The G String
3) BRIDAL MARCH: The Traditional Bridal March Song “Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin” Richard Wagner (also known as “Here Comes the Bride.“)
4) RECESSIONAL: The main familiar one that everyone knows is by Mendelssohn— “ Wedding March” from Midsummer Night’s Dream (Traditional Recessional), some also select Beethoven’s “Ode To Joy” from Symphony No. 9: Movement 4.


CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS WEDDING CEREMONY TIP LIST ON MY WEB SITE THEDJSERVICE.COM !!!


You can totally customize the song selection to fit your taste. There are tons of great selections out there that may be better suited for you than classical music. One of the most moving bridal marches I have seen was set to Enya’s “Only Time.” However, the most memorable one was last summer, when I had a bride who walked down the aisle to Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” so go figure.

If you are interested in more about Albany, NY DJ wedding disc jockey speialist, DJ Kenny Casanova & DJ Maria... Check out his site at TheDJservice.com

1 comment:

  1. My friend is thinking about getting a DJ for her wedding, and I think it's a great idea. It would be great to not have to worry about all the music we'd have to find, and how we'd get all the sound equipment to the reception hall. Also, I love the idea of a DJ service already having list of songs that we could pick from. I feel like a DJ would know what gets a party going better than I do.

    Sara Welsh | http://poshdjs.com/weddings/

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