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Choosing the Music for Your Wedding Ceremony

Carolyn Burke STL
St Louis Wedding Officiant 314.821.4844

If you are like many couples, the music that will be played during your wedding ceremony is very important to you -- but you may not have a clue how to go about selecting it!  Here are some guidelines.




An important factor in choosing your music is the setting for your wedding ceremony.  If your ceremony location is in a non-religious setting, you can choose just about any kind of music you like -- although you will want to stay within the bounds of good taste.  If the ceremony will be in a church or synagogue, or conducted by a clergy person at another location, you will probably need to stay within guidelines set by the clergy person or the church. 

How many songs? 
Appropriate places in the ceremony for vocal selections, depending on church guidelines, may include: (1) during the seating of the parents and grandparents;  (2) the wedding party processional;  (3) the bride may have her own song;  (4) during the ritual that symbolizes a couple or family are joining together as one; and (5) after the kiss, the recessional for the couple, the wedding party, and parents and grandparents. 

Finding the Right Songs 
Vocal music is probably the aspect of your wedding music selection where you will want to have the most personal involvement, since the songs include lyrics and you will want them to be especially meaningful for you.  First, ask your DJ, vocalist or accompanist for suggestions.  Have them show you the songs they suggest, and when you find one with lyrics you like (whether the music is SUNG or not), have them play or sing that song for you. 

Instrumental-only music may include recorded music, the church organist or pianist, a string quartet, a harpist, or other instrumentalists. When you meet with your instrumental musician(s), they will probably be happy to play various pieces for you that can be used for the processionals and the recessional.

Location: St. Louis, MO, USA

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