Prelude Or Not: The Wedding Program Dilemma

Wedding prelude songs are played as guests arrive at your ceremony and are the first elements to set the mood and tone of your big day. They are usually played for about 30 minutes before the ceremony begins and consist of mellow songs that set the mood for a meaningful moment. You can include the prelude in your wedding program, but it's not necessary. If you do include it, you can simply write Prelude or Prelude and Processional without going into detail about the music selection.

Prelude music ideas

Prelude music is played as guests arrive at your wedding ceremony and sets the scene and tone for your big day. It is usually played for about 30 minutes before the ceremony begins and consists of mellow songs that set the mood for a meaningful moment. The music can be played by an instrumentalist, an ensemble, a DJ, or from a playlist. The songs you select should reflect your wedding style. For example, a rustic wedding in nature pairs well with contemporary acoustic songs, while a traditional ceremony is better suited to classical, instrumental music.

• "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven
• "A Case of You" by Joni Mitchell
• "Harvest Moon" by Neil Young
• "God Only Knows" by John Legend and Cynthia Erivo
• "Sheep May Safely Graze" by Bach
• "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy
• "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Johann Sebastian Bach
• "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert
• "Water Music (Hornpipe)" by George Frideric Handel
• "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel
• "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri
• "Endless Love" by Luther Vandross ft. Mariah Carey
• "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran
• "True Colors" by Brooklyn Duo
• "A Sky Full of Stars" by Vitamin String Quartet
• "Beautiful Crazy" by Luke Combs
• "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" by Benny Martin and The Wong Janice
• "Make You Feel My Love" by Adele

Prelude music length

Prelude music is an important part of your wedding as it is the first music your guests will hear and sets the scene for your ceremony. The length of your prelude music will depend on when the doors to your venue open and how long before the ceremony you want the music to play. A safe amount of time for your prelude is around 30 minutes, which usually includes between five and 10 songs. If you are having a religious ceremony, the music played during your prelude will likely reflect the religion and how weddings in that religion are conducted.

You can choose to include the prelude in your wedding program or not. If you do include it, you can simply title this section "Prelude" or "Prelude & Processional". You can also include the names of the songs to be played and the artists performing them.

If you are having a religious ceremony, you may want to include the title, page number, and look-up info for any passages, poems, or musical selections so your guests can follow along.

Prelude music format

Wedding prelude songs are played as guests arrive at your wedding ceremony. They set the scene of your ceremony and evoke emotions in your guests. The prelude is usually around 30 minutes long, and you'll want to choose between five and ten songs to fill this time.

The music can be played by an instrumentalist, an ensemble, a DJ, or from a playlist. The songs you select should reflect your wedding style, whether that be classic, modern, or religious.

If you're having a religious ceremony, the music played during your prelude will likely reflect the religion and how weddings in that religion are conducted. For example, Christian couples may opt for songs such as "Amazing Grace" or "How Great Thou Art", while Jewish couples may choose songs like "Dodi Li" or "Sunrise, Sunset".

If you're having a traditional ceremony, you may want to opt for classical, instrumental music. Songs such as "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Johann Sebastian Bach, and "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel are elegant and timeless choices.

For a rustic wedding in nature, contemporary acoustic songs may be a better fit. "Better Together" by Jack Johnson or "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers are great choices to create a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere.

If you're looking for something more modern, there are plenty of beautiful instrumental versions of popular modern-day love songs to choose from. "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri, "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran, and "Make You Feel My Love" by Adele are just a few examples.

When selecting your prelude music, consider your musical format. Would you prefer live music or a playlist? If you opt for live music, think about what type of musician or ensemble would work best for the songs you have in mind.

Remember, your prelude music should reflect your personal style as a couple and set the mood for your special day.

Prelude music playlist

Wedding prelude songs are played as guests arrive at your ceremony and set the scene for your wedding. They are often quietly played in the background and can be performed by an instrumentalist, an ensemble, a DJ, or from a playlist. The songs you select should reflect your wedding style and can be classic, modern, or religious.

• "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy: A slow, gentle piano arrangement that's understated and sophisticated.
• "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" by Stevie Wonder: A happy, sunshine-y song, perfect for an outdoor ceremony in spring or summer.
• "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Johann Sebastian Bach: A classical arrangement and one of the most famous instrumental wedding songs, ideal for a traditional ceremony.
• "Better Together" by Luke Combs: A sweet country ballad with lyrics that celebrate being "better together" through thick and thin.
• "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert: A moving choice, traditionally used for Catholic ceremonies, that can be played as a recording or sung live.
• "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong: A song about appreciating all the little details in love and life, like trees blooming and rainbows in the sky.

Remember, the number of songs you choose depends on when the doors open and how long you plan to play music before the ceremony. A safe number for this pre-ceremony period, usually lasting around 30 minutes, is between five and ten songs.

Prelude music for a religious ceremony

Prelude music is played as guests arrive at your wedding ceremony, setting the scene and evoking emotions in your guests. The music played during the prelude to a religious ceremony will likely be heavily influenced by the religion and how weddings in that particular religion are conducted.

For example, if you are having a Christian wedding, there are many wedding songs that could work for your prelude, whether you're getting married in a church or elsewhere. Here are some Christian prelude song suggestions:

• "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)," by Worship Music Piano
• "Amazing Grace," by Bridesmaids Quartet
• "Ave Verum Corpus," by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• "Awake, My Heart, With Gladness," by Concordia Publishing House
• "Bless The Broken Road," by Rascal Flatts
• "God Gave Me You," by Blake Shelton
• "How Great Thou Art," by Carrie Underwood
• "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," by Johann Sebastian Bach
• "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)," by Hillsong UNITED and TAYA
• "Psalm 42," by Tori Kelly
• "When God Made You," by Newsong
• "Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me - Peaceful Piano," by draw close and David Lindner

If you are having a Jewish wedding, you can honour your faith by incorporating any of these popular Jewish wedding songs into your prelude:

• "Dodi Li," by David and the High Spirit
• "Erev Shel Shoshanim," by David and the High Spirit
• "Katonti," by Yonatan Razel
• "Ozi V'Zimrat Yah," by Hillel Tigay
• "Sunrise, Sunset," by Sheldon Harnick
• "Yedid Nefresh," by David and the High Spirit
• "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav," by Leah Chaye

In terms of how many songs you need for the wedding prelude, this depends on when the doors open and how long you plan to play music prior to your ceremony. A safe number for this pre-ceremony period, which usually lasts around 30 minutes, is between five and 10 songs.

Frequently asked questions