Some couples like to have one group play all the music for the ceremony. Others prefer to have separate musical groups for different parts of the ceremony: an example of this is a solo trumpet for the processional and recessional, and a vocalist and/or string group to play during the ceremony.
Most often, the size of the wedding and the wedding budget are the determining factors in the choice of music and musicians. The performers most often requested for wedding ceremonies are:
- a flute/violin/cello ensemble, or
- solo violin and trumpet.
At the wedding ceremony, some of the most popular selections for music are as follows:
- Bach Air on a G-String
- Bach Jesu, joy of man's desiring
- Gounod Ave Maria
- Handel Water Music
- Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
- Mendelssohn Wedding March
- Pachelbel Canon
- Purcell Trumpet Voluntary
- Schubert Ave Maria
- Vivaldi Four Seasons
- Wagner Wedding March ("Here Comes the Bride")
CHARLES IVES