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Planning a wedding can be daunting, but pulling off the perfect program is easier than you think. One of the most important aspects of a wedding is the music, which sets the tone for the entire event. From the prelude to the processional and recessional, songs can be listed in a wedding program in various ways. Couples may choose to include song choices on the program, but it can be tricky to find examples of how to list them. This introduction will explore the different ways to list song names in a wedding program, from the traditional to the unique, and provide tips for planning the perfect wedding music.
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What You'll Learn
Including song choices on the program
Including song choices on your wedding program is a great way to give your guests a sneak peek into the music that will be played during the ceremony. It can also be a fun way to showcase your personality and taste in music. Here are some things to consider when including song choices on your wedding program:
Choosing the Songs
Select songs that are meaningful to you and your partner. The music you choose can be a mix of classic and modern, upbeat and sentimental, or any other combination that reflects your style. Remember that the songs played at your wedding will mark the beginning of a new chapter in your life together, so choose music that celebrates this momentous occasion!
Listing the Songs
You can list the songs in a simple and elegant format. Include the activity, such as "Processional" or "Recessional", followed by the name of the song in quotes. For example:
"Processional: 'A Thousand Years' - Christina Perri"
"Recessional: 'What a Wonderful World' - Louis Armstrong"
If you are working with live musicians, it is a nice touch to credit them in your program. You can list the musician's name after the song, or include a section at the end of the program dedicated to musical acknowledgments. For example:
"Musical Services Provided By:
Organist - Ms. Jane Doe
Trumpeter - Mr. John Smith
Disc Jockey/Music Coordinator - Mr. John Brown"
Placement in the Program
Consider the placement of the songs within the program. If a song is featured as an individual part of the ceremony, you might list it as you would a reading, with the song details placed within the flow of the program. For prelude or background music, you could list these songs together at the end of the program.
Surprising Your Guests
Keep in mind that listing the songs in the program may create an expectation from your guests. The songs might lose some of their emotional impact as they won't be a surprise. If you want to maintain an element of surprise, consider only listing a few key songs or providing a general overview of the music style or artists instead of specific tracks.
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How to credit songs
The wedding program is a guest's guide to your wedding, and music is a big part of the ceremony. There are a few ways to credit songs in your wedding program. Here are some options:
Option 1:
The most basic wedding ceremony music program involves preludes, processionals, and recessionals. You can list the songs in the following manner:
> Preludes:
> "Song Name" .............. Composer/Performer
> Processional:
> "Song Name" .............. Composer/Performer
> Recessional:
> "Song Name" .............. Composer/Performer
If you have a solo performance, you can list it as:
> "Activity": .............. Soloist Name
> "Song Name" .............. Composer/Performer
Or:
> Solo: .............. Soloist Name
> "Song Name" .............. "Performed by" Performer Name
Option 2:
List the songs with the activity on the left, followed by a line of periods and the name of the song in quotes on the right. To mention the composer or performer, indent the song title and add their name on the right.
> Seating of the Mothers: .............. "Song Name" ......... Composer/Performer
If you are including background music for a reading, you can list it as:
> Reading: .............. "Reading Title"
> Background Music: .............. "Song Name" ......... Composer/Performer
Option 3:
If you are working with live musicians, you can credit them for their performance. You can choose to credit the original artist or the writers, or both:
> "Song Name" .............. Original Artist, Performed by [Performer]
Other Things to Keep in Mind:
- You can also list the DJ/musician(s) that helped create the music for your wedding.
- It is customary to include either the composer (if classical) or the performer (if modern).
- If you have a processional song or background music, you can list them all together at the end of the program.
- Including the songs in the program might set an expectation among the guests, and they might not have the same emotional impact as a surprise.
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Prelude songs
When listing prelude songs in your wedding program, you can list them as "Preludes" followed by the song name and the artist/composer. For example:
> Preludes: "God Only Knows" by John Legend and Cynthia Erivo
> "Everything" by Michael Bublé
> "Yellow" by Coldplay
> "Water Music Suite No.3, HWV 350" by George Frideric Handel
> "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven
> "Sheep May Safely Graze" by Bach
You can also include the names of the musicians performing these songs at your wedding. For instance, if you have a cellist and a pianist performing Vivaldi's famous violin concerti, you can list it as:
> Preludes: "Four Seasons" by Vivaldi, performed by Mr. John Smith (cellist) and Ms. Jane Smith (pianist)
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.
Remember, prelude songs are usually mellow and soothing, creating a beautiful, timeless element to your special day.
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Processional songs
If you're planning a formal, traditional wedding, you might opt for classical music to accompany the processional. Classical music is familiar to most guests and often features crescendos that are perfect for a grand entrance. You could choose a well-known piece like "Ave Maria" by Bach/Gounod, or a classic, sweet song like "Over the Rainbow" for younger members of the wedding party, like the ring bearer or flower girl.
For a more modern approach, you could select a romantic song with meaningful lyrics to be played by a DJ or instrumentalist. This could be a sentimental song by the groom's favourite artist or band, or a modern favourite that will surprise and delight your guests. Consider songs like "Wild World" by Eric Clapton or "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Kina Grannis. You could even choose a song that holds personal significance, like a couple who chose "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles because it was the first song they ever sent to each other.
If you're a fun-loving couple, you might prefer an upbeat wedding song to match your personality. Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love" is a fun, upbeat track that will kick things off with a bang. Alternatively, you could choreograph a dance for your wedding party to perform to one of these upbeat processional songs.
Remember, the processional songs you choose will be listed in your wedding program, so guests might expect to hear them during the ceremony. You can list the songs in various ways, including the song title and artist or composer, or crediting the musicians performing the song at your wedding.
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Recessional songs
The wedding program is a guest's guide to your wedding, and it can include information on all the music you've chosen for your ceremony. There are no steadfast rules when it comes to choosing wedding recessional songs. You can opt for a classical instrumental piece, a sacred wedding song, an acoustic cover, traditional cultural music, or a current hit straight from the charts.
If you want to stick to tradition, you could choose from classic tunes such as "Wedding March" by Felix Mendelssohn or "Spring". These common tunes are crowd-pleasers and are ideal for couples who like traditional music.
If you want to break from tradition, you could choose from a range of contemporary songs, from Beyoncé to Harry Styles, that will showcase your personality and taste in music. You could also include an acoustic cover of a popular song, such as "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" by Natalie Cole, performed by a string quartet, pianist, harpist, or guitarist.
When listing song names in your wedding program, you can include the name of the song along with the soloist or performer. For example, "Golden Hour" by Kacey Musgraves or "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. You could also credit the original artist, for example, "Golden Hour" - Kacey Musgraves, performed by [performer's name].
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Frequently asked questions
You can list the name of the song or mention the name of the composer in addition to the song. If you list only the song, include the activity on the left, a line of periods, and the name of the song on the right in quotes. To mention the composer as well, list the activity on the left, the song in quotes on the next line, indented, followed by a line of periods and the name of the composer on the right.
You can credit the original artist by listing the song name, the original artist, and then "performed by" followed by the name of the performer at your wedding.
Traditionally, a wedding ceremony music program involves preludes, processionals, and recessionals. You can also include songs for in-between times, like before the ceremony and during the reception.
