After you select your titles, your organist or musician may discuss with you the music you’d like performed. Sometimes due to the venue, particular instrument, or other restrictions, some titles may not be possible to have performed, and your musician will help you find a similar piece that is possible.

We begin with the selection of the processional (and recessional). In the mid 20^th century, the standard processional was the Bridal Chorus by Wagner ("Here Comes the Bride"), and the recessional was Mendelssohn’s Wedding March from Midsummer Night’s Dream. Around 1970, people began shifting the music selections for weddings (as well as many other aspects), such that it became more contemporary and meaningful. Many of the spoken sections of the ceremony were updated to be non-sexist and stated in modern English. Too, many looked at the origins of the previously traditional wedding music and disliked the underlying themes that they represented (intended or not), not to mention the commercialized usage of the music on TV and in the movies.

For the processional, you will want to pick a style: fanfare, stately, meditative/quiet, etc. If there are a large number of attendant & usher people, you may want to consider two (even three) pieces for the different groups of people entering (see the timeline diagram above). For a medium-sized wedding party, the officiants (ministers/jp, rabbi, clergy, etc.), groomspeople, bridal attendants, and flower/ring people would process to one piece, and the bride and her escort (if one) would process during a second piece.

You would choose the processional first, and pieces that "placed second" might be candidates for the recessional, and then remaining pieces (as well as additional ones) that you liked (but not as a processional) could be considered for the prelude music (but played less energetically!).

There is no right or wrong way to create the order of service for the ceremony. You’ll be discussing this with your officiant, and s/he will usually have guidance about their standard sequence of events. We’re all here to customize the service as you desire, and help coach you, based on our experience, for specific pieces or a sequence of items in the service that might not work well.

In a recent wedding, the minister insisted that he and the groomsmen and groom assemble silently, and then for me to begin the processional music for the bridesmaids and bride. Although I commented that I felt this would be awkward, I complied with their wishes. After the service, two people commented to me wondering "What happened?" at the beginning of the processional-- they thought I had missed the cue to start playing.

If you’re having the ceremony videotaped, please ensure that your videographer has all the proper musician and copyright releases needed (this is your responsibility). And as a courtesy to the musicians (and to avoid a catastrophe!), please ask all flash photographers not to shoot into the eyes of the musicians while they are playing.

A few years ago I played a wedding in Acton where they wanted me to switch to piano for a special solo during the ceremony. Out from nowhere, the wedding photographer appeared and took a flash picture (standing 10' from me). Not only was I startled but it took some ten seconds for my eyes to readjust. Fortunately, I knew the music well enough to continue without causing an embarrassing improvisational side trip.