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.
10. Water Music, Air – Handel
The Water Music is a set of orchestral pieces composed by George Frederick Handel and was first performed in 1717 on the Thames. ‘Air’ is particularly popular for entrance of the bride and signing of the register music.
9. Glasgow Love Theme – Craig Armstrong
Featured in Craig Armstrong’s original soundtrack for the film ‘Love Actually’ released in 2004. Very popular feel good film and hence why many brides love this music to be included for various parts of their wedding ceremony. Usually the signing of the register as it’s very relaxing.
8. Clair De Lune – Claude Debussy
‘Clair De Lune’ is the most famous movement of Claude Debussy’s ‘Suite Bergamasque’, and comes from a poem that means ‘Moonlight’. Very chilled and relaxing and would suit signing of the register during the ceremony. Beautiful and one of the most famous pieces of piano music ever!
7. Your Song – Elton John
Another great classic and probably Elton’s greatest hit apart from ‘Candle in the Wind’. It certainly would suit a wedding ceremony for all you old romantics out there. The song has been covered by a number of artists, but in the video below you can check out Lady Gaga’s version…
6. Concerto in D for Guitar Largo – Vivaldi
Vivaldi wrote many concertos for various instruments. His Concerto in D for lute and orchestra is one of his most notable compostions. The following example features the serene and beautiful 2nd movement (Largo). Very popular for signing of the register at ceremonies.
5. The Four Seasons – Vivaldi
The clip below features Winter from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, but all four concertos are well known and are among the most popular pieces in the classical music repertiore. The piece is performed magnificently by Ukrainian violinist Anastasiya Petryshak.
4. Better Together – Jack Johnson
‘Better Together’ is a song written and performed by Jack Johnson. As well as being the first track on Johnson’s album ‘In Between Dreams’, which was released in February 2005, ‘Better Together’ was released as a single in January 2006 and had huge sucess. Its become a favourite for brides in the recent years for wedding ceremony music and as a first dance choice.
3. Bridal Chorus – Wagner
The ‘Bridal Chorus’ from the 1850 opera Lohengrin, by German composer Richard Wagner, is a march played for the brides entrance at many formal weddings. In english speaking countries it is generally knows as ‘Here comes the bride’ or ‘Wedding March’ – though actually ‘wedding march’ refers to any piece in march tempo accompanying the entrance or exit of the bride.
2. Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo
Israel is a Hawaiian musician who became famous outside of hawaii when his 1993 medley of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ was released and quickly became a huge hit after featuring in several films, television programmes and television advertisement commercials. Beautiful song for the signing of the register – very calm and relaxing.
1. Canon in D – Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel’s most famous composition has become one of the most popular pieces for the entrance of the bride. It was originally scored for 3 violins and basso continuo (harpsichord and cello) and is therefore perfect for string quartets but works equally well for other instruments such as the piano, guitar or harp. It is a canon or ground bass, a feature of which is a repeating bass line, lending lots of opportunities for a timely finish when the bride reaches her destination!