Your wedding ceremony is the most important part of your wedding day, so of course you will put a lot of thought into making this part of your day as perfect as possible.
There are several parts of your wedding ceremony you should consider choosing personal music for:
- the entrance song (that’s when you are walking down the aisle)
- the signing of the register or certificate
- your exit tune which will continue as your guests make their way to your drinks reception
When booking a live musician, such as a harpist, duo (like us!) or a singer, they will often play a selection of music for your guests to enjoy as they arrive at the ceremony area and wait for your entrance. If you are using recorded music, you might also want to compile a playlist for the seating of the guests.
Here are a few expert tips that we give our couples when they are choosing the music for their big day.
1. What type of music should I choose for my wedding ceremony in Lincolnshire?
Lincolnshire has some of the most beautiful countryside and is steeped in history. The county also boasts an amazing variety of wedding venues to suit every couple’s taste. As musicians, we always recommend that our couples choose music that not only reflects their wedding theme and venue, but also their personal tastes too.
Read our blog ‘What are the Top 25 tunes for my Lincolnshire Wedding?’ here https://2ofharps.com/2021/12/29/what-are-the-top-25-tunes-for-my-lincolnshire-wedding/
When it comes to selecting wedding music, there’s no such thing as too many ideas. That’s why, it’s always a great idea to start any music planning with a brainstorm of songs you both love. Just write them down in no particular order, as you think of them. This will give you a good base to work from.
The next key stage of wedding music planning, is to narrow down your choices. Select songs you love, and put them in a ‘priority’ list. Think about what your venue is like, and how you’d like your guests to feel as they arrive for your wedding ceremony. Maybe you imagine romantic and elegant music on the harp (picture yourself on the set of the Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’), or something a bit more groovy and modern.
If you are going for an informal and relaxed theme, then pop tunes, show song covers, and movie soundtracks are all options that you can choose. But, if a romantic and classical wedding theme is your cup of tea, try instrumental tracks (no singing) and pieces of music by contemporary classical composers such as Ludovico Einaudi and Yiruma.
If you’re struggling to compile your wedding music set list, get in touch!
With live music you have so many options as most covers will suit any type of venue, especially with instruments such as the harp, piano and stripped back vocal covers of your favourite pieces of music. Chat with your musician, and ask if they can arrange songs to suit your venue and theme. This is something we both love to do when we perform, because it makes a huge difference to the ambience on the day!
2. How do I choose music to suit my wedding venue?
Many couples struggle with pairing their favourite song and music choices with their wedding theme and venue. We’ve compiled a list of a few wedding styles and themes with genres of music to help inspire you. But remember, it’s your wedding, so ultimately it’s your choice!
Alternative – Choose music that’s not too obvious from genres such as alt-rock, indie folk, indie pop and artists such as Bon Iver, Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers.
Bohemian – Music that’s floaty and light, but not too mainstream is perfect. Try music by Dodie, Manchester Orchestra and George Ezra.
Formal – A more classical choice of music will create a formal wedding atmosphere. Music pieces such as Pachelbel’s Canon, Fur Elise by Beethoven, Gymnopedie No. 1 by Erik Satie and Pie Jesu by Webber are all popular choices.
Modern – Celebrate pop music with the most popular current wedding songs including A Thousand Years by Christina Perri, Love Story by Taylor Swift and Perfect by Ed Sheeran (just to name a few!). If you love Ed Sheeran, here’s a blog for the ‘14 Best Ed Sheeran Songs to Listen to on your Wedding Day’ https://2ofharps.com/2021/08/11/14-best-ed-sheeran-songs-to-listen-to-on-your-wedding-day/
Romantic – For couples looking for a classic (not classical) atmosphere that’s all about love. Choose classic romantic hits such as At Last by Etta James, Be My Baby by The Ronettes, My Girl by The Temptations and Cheek to Cheek by Ella Fitzgerald.
Of course there are many more wedding themes to suit venues here in Lincolnshire, and we could talk about them all day. If you need more inspiration, check out our other wedding music blogs here.
3. How do I include my guests music choice at my wedding ceremony?
From many years of experience and performing at weddings, we can safely say that guests LOVE it when they hear music they recognise being played on the harps.
The easiest way of including your guests in your wedding music choices is by simply asking for any suggestions beforehand. This could either be in conversation, or you could even send out request cards and use them to help you compile a playlist for the day!
One of the best times to include these songs is during the wedding ceremony, as they arrive and take their seats. Some venues seat the guests ten minutes before you walk down the aisle, whilst others even thirty minutes, so it’s the perfect opportunity to entertain them with live music.
Remember, if you have invited guests from different generations such as parents and grandparents, classics such as ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ by Elvis and ‘Wonderful World’ by Luis Armstrong are hugely popular and easily recognised. Other choices could include songs from famous musicals like Cats, Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King.
4. What is a wedding trigger song and should I have one?
A trigger song is a piece of music that you and your partner have chosen before the wedding, that will be played just before you walk down the aisle. Really, it’s a super romantic secret signal to your partner, to say that you have arrived and are ready to walk down the aisle and say ‘I do’.
Our couples have loved this extra special touch, because it’s a moment just between you both.
Consider choosing a piece of music that you both enjoy, this could be the piece of music that was playing when you met, it could be ‘your song’, or a song you may have been considering for your first dance / entrance but did not use.
5. Should I choose a personal song for walking down the aisle?
Walking down the aisle is a poignant moment, something that you, your friends and family will always remember. Choosing a song that has a special place in your heart is really important.
This could be a traditional piece of music or a pop song that has those perfect lyrics for your day. Just remember that this is your moment so don’t feel like you necessarily have to consider traditional choices. Your music choice can be as unique as you!
6. What music is best for a wedding ceremony?
Unless you want to, you don’t need to conform to traditional wedding standards. When it comes to music choices, these can be highly personal.
If you’re a rock loving couple, why not opt for music by Led Zeplin, AC/DC, Santana, Pink Floyd, The Who and U2?
Here’s a blog to help you choose your ceremony music, ‘How do I make a personal playlist for my wedding day?’ https://2ofharps.com/2021/09/22/how-do-i-make-a-personal-playlist-for-my-wedding-day/
Everything and anything goes. Well, as long as you consider these two tips!
- If you’re inviting children to your wedding, try and avoid songs with offensive language.
- We know this might be obvious, but check song lyrics to ensure it’s not about a breakup or the end of a relationship. Because although many songs have romantic titles, not all of them are a good match for your wedding!
7. When should I choose my wedding ceremony music?
Making last minute decisions on music is very risky, as it’s such a big part of your ceremony. We recommend that you choose your music up to six months in advance. If you are planning and booking your wedding last minute, then try to choose the music a couple of months before the wedding ceremony.
If you’re feeling rushed and have by any reason left planning your music very near to your wedding date, try to choose music for the most important parts of the ceremony. Prioritise:
- one song for the entrance,
- two songs for the signing of the register
- one song as you exit
- (Plus you should also pick a song for your first dance)
If you have booked a live musician such as a harpist, ask them to compile any background music for you. You could ask them for romantic but not classical, or more traditional. Give them a couple examples of songs you both like as ideas.
Top Tip
Music trends tend to go in and out of style, so avoid going with brand new songs that come out just before your wedding day. Try choosing things that are meaningful top you both, that way, the music stays timeless.
8. Should I book live music for my Lincolnshire wedding ceremony?
If you have the budget, then definitely consider getting live music. In fact, why not read our blog ‘Is booking live music really necessary for my wedding day?’ here https://2ofharps.com/2022/03/05/is-booking-live-music-really-necessary-for-my-wedding-day/
9. What type of music should I choose for the exit of my wedding ceremony?
If there is one place that an upbeat track is absolutely essential in the wedding ceremony, it’s the exit song. Your guests will be cheering, clapping and celebrating your new marriage so the music should reflect that mood and set the tone for the rest of the day. Tracks such as ‘Best Day of my Life’ by American Authors, ‘All You Need is Love’ by The Beatles and ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ by Coldplay are great choices as they have such a feel-good vibe and are uptempo.
10. What if I don’t know what music to choose for my wedding ceremony?
Wedding music planning can be a daunting prospect, especially if you’re someone who is unfamiliar with choosing specific songs, or are just generally someone who doesn’t listen to music. There are countless blogs and podcasts to help you plan the wedding music for your ceremony here https://2ofharps.com/our-latest-blogs/
Or, feel free to get in touch! https://2ofharps.com/contact/
2 thoughts on “How do I choose the perfect music for my Lincolnshire wedding ceremony ”