Rhiannon Hendricks
Music is an essential part of a wedding ceremony, and the prelude is the first impression your guests will have. Prelude music is light and breezy, setting the mood and welcoming guests as they arrive and take their seats. The number of songs you'll need depends on the length of your prelude, but a safe number is between five and ten songs for a pre-ceremony period of around 30 minutes. You can opt for classic, modern, or religious songs, or even instrumental versions of popular modern-day love songs.
Wedding Prelude Songs Characteristics and Values Table
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Songs | 2-3 or 5-10 |
| Length of Songs | 3 minutes |
| Timing | 10-15 minutes before the ceremony, or up to 45 minutes before |
| Mood | Light, breezy, romantic, happy, nostalgic, fancy, instrumental |
| Purpose | Sets the tone, stirs emotions, shares a message, creates a first impression |
| Music Source | Wedding musicians, playlist, DJ, live music |
| Music Type | Classic, modern, religious, traditional, contemporary |
| Restrictions | No religious music at civil ceremonies |
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What You'll Learn
Prelude songs set the tone for the ceremony
Prelude songs are the first music your guests will hear at your wedding, so they set the tone for the ceremony and can evoke a range of emotions in your guests. Prelude music is usually light and ambient, and it's a good idea to dedicate some time to choosing the songs for this part of the wedding. Prelude songs can be played by musicians or from a playlist.
The prelude begins when the doors open, or as early as 45 minutes before the ceremony starts, but no later than 20 minutes before. The prelude lasts until the ceremony begins, so you'll need between five and 10 songs for this period. The number of songs depends on how long each song is, but it's best if each song is at least 30 seconds long.
The songs you select should be a reflection of your wedding style. For example, if you're having a rustic wedding in nature, contemporary acoustic songs might be a great choice, while a traditional ceremony might call for classical, instrumental music. If you're having a religious ceremony, the music played during your wedding prelude will likely be influenced by the religion and how weddings in that faith are conducted.
If you're performing a ritual during your ceremony, such as lighting a unity candle or doing a sand-pouring ceremony, you might choose some music to play at that time.
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Play 5-10 songs for 15-30 minutes
Wedding prelude songs are played as guests arrive at the ceremony and set the tone for the event. Prelude music usually starts when the doors open, or as early as 45 minutes before, but no later than 20 minutes before the ceremony begins. It's a good idea to play music for your guests to fill the time and get them excited.
The number of songs you play depends on how long you want your prelude to be. If you want to play music for the full 30 minutes before the ceremony, you should play between 5 and 10 songs. Generally, 5 or 6 songs are enough for a prelude.
Prelude music should be light and mellow to set the mood while guests are being seated and waiting for the ceremony to begin. It should be a reflection of your wedding style and can be played by musicians or from a playlist. For a rustic wedding, contemporary acoustic songs are a great choice, while a traditional ceremony calls for classical, instrumental music.
If you are having a religious ceremony, the music played during your wedding prelude will likely be influenced by the religion and how weddings in that religion are conducted. For example, there are many Christian wedding songs that could work for your prelude, whether you're getting married in a church or elsewhere.
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Choose light, breezy, romantic songs
Wedding prelude songs are the songs that play as guests arrive and take their seats at your wedding ceremony. Prelude music is light and ambient, setting the mood and tone for your wedding. It's usually played for around 30 minutes as guests settle in, and you'll need between five and 10 songs for this period.
If you're looking for light, breezy, and romantic songs, you can't go wrong with some classic love songs. "God Only Knows" by John Legend and Cynthia Erivo, "Everything" by Michael Bublé, and "Yellow" by Coldplay are great choices for romantic preludes. If you want to add a dramatic touch, a dramatic '90s ballad like "The Notebook" song can be a beautiful, ultra-romantic option, especially for a glamorous ballroom venue.
For a timeless wedding, classical music is always a good choice. The first movement of Vivaldi's famous violin concerti is a must-play for a formal wedding. Instrumental versions of modern-day love songs can also be a great way to add a contemporary twist while keeping things mellow. You can opt for songs like "Easy" by Zayn for a sweet, cheery, and folky vibe or "The One" by an Irish indie band for a romantic prelude.
If you're a fan of pop, you might consider "Still Fallin'" by Hunter Hayes, a modern country song with sentimental lyrics. For a slow build-up, Beyonce's romantic songs with a catchy pop/R&B vibe are a popular choice. For a traditional wedding, an instrumental rendition of "Moon River," famously sung by Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's," is a timeless option.
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Include modern hits and classic songs
Prelude music is light and ambient, setting the mood as guests arrive and find their seats before the ceremony begins. The number of songs you'll need depends on how long your prelude will be, but it's usually between five and ten songs.
If you want to include modern hits and classic songs in your wedding prelude, there are a few ways to go about it. You could opt for instrumental versions of popular modern-day love songs, or you can choose the originals if you don't mind lyrics playing during your prelude. You can also include modern songs with a traditional flair, such as having a string quartet play pop songs or jazz.
Some examples of modern hits that can be used as wedding prelude songs include:
- "Tenerife Sea" by Ed Sheeran
- "Die a Happy Man" by Thomas Rhett
- "Better Together" by Jack Johnson
- "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
Some classic songs that can be used as wedding prelude songs include:
- "Your Hands Are Cold" by Dario Marianelli
- "Here Comes the Bride"
- "Spend My Life with You" by Tamia and Eric Benet
- "500 Miles" by Sleeping at Last
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Religious songs are common for religious weddings
Wedding prelude songs are played as guests arrive at the ceremony and set the tone for the event. Prelude music usually starts when the doors open, or as early as 45 minutes prior to the ceremony, but no later than 20 minutes before the beginning. For a pre-ceremony period lasting around 30 minutes, between five and 10 songs are typically played.
When selecting religious songs for your wedding prelude, consider the pace and lyrics to ensure they are appropriate for the occasion. The songs should be joyous but not too quick, allowing guests to move gracefully and with dignity. It may be helpful to research the lyrics to ensure the song is a good fit for your wedding. For instance, some songs with charming tunes may be about a broken heart, which may not be the best message for your special day.
In addition to the prelude, there are other types of wedding ceremony songs, including processionals and recessionals. Processional music accompanies the entry of the wedding party, family, and bride, and usually consists of one or two songs. The recessional plays as the couple recess or exit the ceremony and is typically bright, lively, and celebratory.
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Frequently asked questions
Wedding preludes typically feature between five and ten songs, depending on the length of the prelude and the length of each song. If you're looking for a shorter prelude, five songs should be enough. If you're having a religious ceremony, the music will likely be influenced by the religion and how weddings in that faith are conducted.
Wedding preludes usually last around 30 minutes, starting when the doors open, or as early as 45 minutes before the ceremony begins, but no later than 20 minutes before.
Wedding prelude songs should be light and breezy, setting the mood as guests arrive and take their seats. They can be instrumental or feature lyrics, and should be a reflection of your wedding style, whether that's classic, modern or religious.
Yes, there are several other key moments during a wedding ceremony where music is typically played, including the processional, the bride's entrance, the interlude (or signing of the register), the recessional and the postlude.
