Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Ceremony Music

On Saturday we met with the music director at our church to discuss music for our ceremony. I went into this with virtually no idea or specific music requests. I figured I would listen to whatever options he suggested for the processional and recessional, and would pick from those, which is exactly what we did. He played a few options for each section and we picked from there.

These were all pretty generic "church wedding" pieces, but they are still beautiful. The way I look at it: they're generic wedding songs for a reason - because they work. They're pretty, they're beautiful on an organ, and if it ain't broke...dont' fix it.

For the processional, we picked:
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, by J.S. Bach

Then once our Bridesmaid and Groomsmen are in, I will walk down the aisle with both my parents 
to Canon in D by Johann Pachabel

The processional will be "Hornpipe" from The Water Music, , By G.F. Handel

Now, I am fully able to print up our ceremony programs because I have all the information I need!

However, I'm curious...what other great (Church) processional and recessional songs should I look into before committing to these? The organist is really great and if there is a specific piece I'd like, he'll play that for me. Any other suggestions?

11 comments:

Mom said...

Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach is one of my favorite pieces of music. I feel like I should know Cannon in D by Pachabel and I think I recognize it but just not on the organ. I swear I've heard hornpipe by Handel in every movie about a King and/or Queen so it's fitting for you to walk down the aisle to it.Great pieces of music!

Rorie said...

Canon in D is my absolute favorite and is what I intend on walking down to as well!!

HiLLjO said...

So nice. All the selections fit the wedding style beautifully.

Heather said...

I love these beautiful & classic choices! Our processional was to Trumpet Voluntary in D Major, and I entered to the processional from The Sound of Music, which the church organist agreed to play. The recessional was to my bridesmaid singing The Lord of the Dance. We wanted upbeat and joyous music throughout the wedding.

Shana said...

I love the classics :) I am walking into Canon myself.

Shannon said...

I used the same two songs for my processional. I loved them! For our exit I used Somewhere Over the Rainbow, the Hawaiian version by the guy whose name I can never remember how to spell!

Rebekah said...

I can't even remember what we had for our ceremony. My mom picked most of them out because I really didn't care. I wanted classical music. I did have Canon in D for the bridesmaids and the traditional bridal march for me, but it was on the piano!

Unknown said...

Those sound lovely!!! We're not doing church instrumental music... So I have no idea! But I really like those ones! It's great you have a good organist!!

Dining Detour said...

All great selections!

For mine, I had a harp playing Ave Maria and The Rose while people gathered in the church - both are such pretty songs!

I too had Canon in D for when the bridesmaids walked in, but then had Wagner's bridal chorus for when I walked down with my dad.

Those are the ones that stand out to me. It will all be wonderful xoxo

Anonymous said...

Aww, I love all of them!

(Reply: they were in the middle of moving servers. www.alexissteinphoto.com It should work now!)

Jasmine said...

yay! i love them! i wish i had advice but i'm having the hardest time choosing music!!