With so much choice, how do you select the ideal music for your day? Watch, listen and browse our Top 50 list for help & ideas.
Beautiful song from the famous 2000 film ‘Gladiator’ starring Russel Crowe. We’ve chosen a beautiful violin cover of Hans Zimmers epic piece, perofrmed by Taylor Davis. A very uplifting piece of music that would be perfect for a quieter moment in your ceremony for example the signing of the register.
20. Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve
Song by ‘The Verve’ from their 1997 album ‘Urban Hymns’. Many String Quartets can perform a good rendition of this piece and it works well at any stage of the ceremony.
19. The Secret Wedding – James Horner
‘The Secret Wedding’ is a song performed by James Horner made famous from its appearance on the soundtrack of the 1995 film ‘Braveheart’. Again a very moving, relaxing and calming piece that would fit in nicely with the signing of the register during a wedding ceremony.
18. The Prince of Denmark’s March – Jeremiah Clarke
Commonly referred to as the Trumpet Voluntary – very popular for entrance of the bride and was famously played during the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles at St Pauls Cathedral in 1981.
17. Ave Maria – Charles Gounod/Bach
‘Ave Maria’ by the French composer Charles Gounod is a setting of the prayer ‘Ave Maria’. Gounod superimposed the melody over Bach’s famous 1st Prelude in C from ‘The Well Tempered Clavier’. This piece is only permitted at church ceremonies.
16. Ave Maria – Schubert
‘Ave Maria’ is arguably Schubert’s most popular composition and is a favourite choice at all types of events including weddings. Althought it is regularly performed with the Roman Catholic text and prayer Ave Maria, Schubert actually wrote the piece as a setting of the secular text from Walter Scott’s poem ‘The Lady of the Lake’. So in it’s original form and text it is not a religious work. It is usually performed by a soprano singer but solo instrumental transcriptions are commonplace. Not to be confused with ‘Ave Maria’ by Bach/Gounod… see next entry!
15. Halleljah Chorus – Handel
The Hallelujah Chorus, from Handel’s Messiah, is one of the most well-known musical pieces from the baroque era. It regularly performed as a stand-alone concert piece across the globe and features on many commercials and films.
14. Organ Symphony No.5 opus 42 – Charles Marie Widor
Popular appeal being one of the most regularly requested wedding day pieces in the world. Many bride and groom have left the church to the sound of ‘the Widor’ as its often referred to. If you want this piece at your wedding then make sure the church has a suitable organ and that you book a professional organist to play it!
13. Lady Radnor’s Suite – Hubert Parry
A late nineteenth century piece composed by Parry. His orchestral pieces prove to be very popular music when it comes to weddings and church services.
12. Perfect Day – Lou Reed
‘Perfect Day’ is a song written by Lou Reed in 1972, originally featured on ‘Transformer’, Reed’s second post-Velvet Underground solo album. Its fame was given a boost in the 1990s when it was featured in the 1996 film ‘Trainspotting’, and after a star-studded version was released as a BBC charity single in 1997, which became the UK’s number one single for three weeks. The lryics certainly feel fitting for a wedding ceremony!
11. The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba – Handel
Handel’s ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’ is a piece from his slightly less well-known oratoria ‘Solomon’. It’s title alone makes it the perfect piece for the entrance of a bride but it is also popular for the recessional too. While being perfect for string quartets, we’ve chosen to highlight this charming rendition by Misteria Saxophone Quartet.