Junior Rasmussen
Music is an integral part of a wedding ceremony, and couples often spend a lot of time choosing the perfect songs. However, timing the music with the procession can be tricky and requires careful planning. The length of the aisle, the number of people walking down it, and the duration of the song all need to be considered to ensure the music enhances the ceremony without overwhelming it. This text will provide a comprehensive guide to timing wedding processional music, including choosing the right songs, editing them to fit the procession, and coordinating with musicians or DJs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prelude | Light, ambient music that sets the mood while guests are being seated and waiting for the ceremony to begin. |
| Prelude timing | Usually starts when the doors open, or as early as 45 minutes prior to but no later than 20 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony. |
| Number of prelude songs | Between five and 10 songs. |
| Processional | Accompanies the entry of the extended wedding party, family, attendants, and bride. |
| Number of processional songs | Depends on the number of people walking down the aisle and the length of the aisle. |
| Processional timing | Should be played only as long as it takes for the wedding party to assume their places. |
| Bridal processional | A more dramatic and emotional song for when the bride enters. |
| Recessional | Bright, lively, and celebratory music that accompanies the exit of the couple and the wedding party. |
| Number of recessional songs | One main song, but there may be a need for a few postludes as guests are leaving. |
| Interlude | Songs played during significant moments such as the unity candle lighting or the ketubah signing. |
| Postlude | A selection played while guests exit the ceremony. |
| Music type | Secular locations may have guidelines that set limits on noise (volume and curfew) or space for a band. |
| Music editing | Songs can be edited to fit the timing of the processional. |
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What You'll Learn
- Prelude music: light, ambient music played as guests arrive and are seated
- Processional music: played for the wedding party's entrance
- Bridal processional: a more dramatic song for the bride's entrance
- Recessional: upbeat music played for the wedding party's exit
- Postlude: music played as guests exit the ceremony
Prelude music: light, ambient music played as guests arrive and are seated
Prelude music is light, ambient music that sets the mood as guests arrive and are seated, and it usually starts when the doors open. Prelude music can be played by a wedding band, pianist, harpist, violinist, string quartet, or from a playlist. It's a good idea to choose songs that are mellow and won't bring too much energy to the environment.
The prelude typically starts 45 minutes before the ceremony but no later than 20 minutes before the beginning. This means you'll need between five and 10 songs for this period. You can also consider the length of your aisle, the number of people walking down it, and the pace at which they'll walk when selecting your prelude music.
If you're having an outdoor wedding, you may not be able to use a traditional piano, but if electricity is available, an electric piano could work. Some ceremony sites and officiants may have strict guidelines about the music that can be played, so it's important to do your research before selecting your prelude music.
Prelude music can be instrumental or feature lyrics. For a rustic wedding, contemporary acoustic songs are a great choice, while a traditional ceremony calls for mostly classical music.
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Processional music: played for the wedding party's entrance
The wedding processional is the part of the ceremony when the wedding party enters. This includes family members, attendants, and the bride. The processional music should be played from the time the first member of the wedding party begins to walk down the aisle until they reach the end of the aisle.
The length of the processional song will depend on the number of people walking down the aisle, the length of the aisle, and the pace at which they walk. On average, it takes about 30 seconds to 1.5 minutes for each person to walk down the aisle. Therefore, the processional song should be long enough to cover the time it takes for everyone to walk down the aisle.
If you have a large wedding party, you may need to choose a longer song or use multiple songs. You can also consider using a pre-processional song, which is a shorter song played before the main processional to signal to the bridal party that the procession is about to begin. This song should be around two to three minutes long.
It is important to communicate your timing preferences to your musicians or DJ, so they can start the song at the appropriate time and ensure a smooth entrance for the wedding party.
Additionally, consider the type of music you choose for the processional. It should represent your wedding style and set the tone for the event. You may choose to use the same song for the entire processional or switch to a different song when the bride enters to add drama and highlight their grand entrance.
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Bridal processional: a more dramatic song for the bride's entrance
The bridal processional song is often more dramatic and emotional than the songs that precede it. It's a chance to make a grand entrance and highlight the bride's arrival.
When choosing the music for the bridal processional, it's important to consider the length of the aisle and the number of people walking down it. Most songs should last between 2-4 minutes, but if the bridal party is small, the song may need to be shorter to avoid an awkwardly long entrance.
To ensure the song matches the timing of the entrance, it's a good idea to rehearse walking down the aisle to the chosen song. If the song is too long, consider editing it to create a shorter version or repeating a favourite part, such as the chorus. Alternatively, a DJ can be instructed to mix and merge songs, or to play a second version of the song if needed.
For a traditional wedding, classical pieces like "Canon in D" by Pachelbel or "Clair de Lune" by Debussy are popular choices. Modern weddings might opt for contemporary hits like "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran or "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri. Outdoor weddings call for light and airy songs, such as "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles.
For a Hindu wedding, songs from romantic comedy Hindi movies are a popular choice.
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Recessional: upbeat music played for the wedding party's exit
The recessional is the piece of music played as the married couple makes their exit at the end of the ceremony. It is traditionally bright, lively, and celebratory, reflecting the couple's joy. There is usually just one main recessional song, but you may want to include a postlude as guests are leaving. This could be a selection played while guests exit the ceremony, such as a violin or even bagpipes.
The recessional should last as long as it takes for the bridal party and guests to leave the ceremony area. If you have lots of guests, you may need a couple of songs, so it's good to have an extra song or two prepared. The basic principle of two to three minutes per song applies here, and you can always ask your DJ or musician to mix and merge songs to create a longer version.
If you're having a civil ceremony, a church wedding, or an alternative celebration, the requirements for music may vary. Typically, music is required for the processional, the register signing, and the recessional. In civil ceremonies, there is usually one song played during the processional (the bride's entrance) and three songs during the signing of the register, followed by one recessional song.
The timing of your processional music will depend on several factors, including the length of your aisle, the number of people walking down the aisle, and the length of the song. You may want to start the song a little before your wedding party enters, and you can always instruct your DJ to have a second song cued up or pick a second processional song as a backup. It's a good idea to test out the timing during your rehearsal to ensure it's just right.
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Postlude: music played as guests exit the ceremony
The postlude is a selection of music played while guests exit the ceremony. The music accompanying the exit is usually bright, lively, and celebratory, reflecting the joy of the newly married couple.
There is typically just one main recessional song, but plan for a few postludes as guests are leaving. You can have someone play a violin or even a set of bagpipes as guests head toward the exit. Some couples even ask the musician to lead the guests out of the ceremony space in a parade-like fashion.
The length of the postlude music should be the same as that of other interlude songs, around two to three minutes. If you have lots of guests, you may need a couple of songs, so be sure that your DJ or musician has an extra song to use if needed.
If you are concerned about timing, you can have the DJ queue up a second playing of the song and then mix it in so that it sounds like a long version of the song. Alternatively, you can always pick a second processional song just in case.
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Frequently asked questions
The average song length is 3-5 minutes, but the average time for someone to walk down the aisle is about 30 seconds to 1 minute. So, you may only need a small snippet of a song for each person walking down the aisle.
Usually, people choose two processional songs: one for the family and wedding party, and then a more dramatic and emotional song for the bridal processional. However, you can use just one song for the whole processional, with the build-up being when the bride walks down the aisle.
Time how long it takes you to walk down the aisle and edit your song to fade in at an appropriate place. You can use a free audio editor to repeat the chorus or cut the song to the desired length.
Some ceremony sites and officiants may have strict guidelines about which music can and can't be played during a ceremony. Check with your ceremony site and officiant before selecting your songs.
If you're using a DJ, they can queue up a second playing of the song and mix it in to make it sound like a long version. If you're using a string quartet, they can loop the song and your guests won't notice.
