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The Wedding March, composed by Felix Mendelssohn, is one of the most well-known pieces of wedding music. It is typically played during the recessional, when the couple walks down the aisle at the end of the ceremony. The song was originally written for Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and was first used at a wedding in 1847. While it is a popular choice for couples, some religious leaders have deemed it inappropriate for Christian ceremonies due to its associations with a play that includes magic and a pagan god and goddess.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the song | "Wedding March" |
| Other names | "Bridal Chorus", "Here Comes the Bride" |
| Composer | German composer Felix Mendelssohn |
| Year composed | 1842 |
| Key | C major |
| Opera/Play it was composed for | Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" |
| Type of ceremony | Not suitable for civil or Catholic ceremonies |
| When it is played during the wedding | When the bride walks down the aisle (processional) or when the couple leaves (recessional) |
| Other songs it is played with | "Bridal Chorus" by Richard Wagner, "Prince of Denmark's March" by Jeremiah Clarke |
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What You'll Learn
The song's origins
The Wedding March, also known as "Here Comes the Bride" or "Bridal Chorus", is a song that is commonly played during wedding ceremonies. The song has its roots in a royal wedding and is said to have originated from a play or opera.
The traditional wedding march, simply called "Wedding March", was composed by German composer Felix Mendelssohn for William Shakespeare's play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream". It was written in 1842 as part of his suite of incidental music (Op. 61) for the play, which focuses on a Pagan god and goddess and features fairies and magic. While it was not originally intended for a wedding, it has become one of the most popular choices for wedding music, particularly as a recessional song when the couple leaves the ceremony as newlyweds. The first known instance of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" being used at a wedding was in 1847 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, England.
Another popular song associated with the wedding march is "Here Comes the Bride", also known as "Bridal Chorus". This piece was written by German composer Richard Wagner for his 1850 opera "Lohengrin". In the opera, the "Bridal Chorus" is played after the marriage of Elsa and the mysterious knight, Lohengrin, as they retire to the bridal chamber. Despite its less cheerful role in the opera, it has become a popular choice for brides to walk down the aisle to during their wedding ceremony.
The wedding march tradition is said to have originated from a royal wedding. Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, the eldest child of Queen Victoria, chose both "Wedding March" and "Here Comes the Bride" for her wedding to Prince Frederick William IV of Prussia in 1858. Before this royal wedding, music was generally reserved for the wedding reception. However, due to Princess Victoria's love of opera and the composers Wagner and Mendelssohn, she decided to incorporate their music into her wedding ceremony, starting a trend that continues to this day.
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Religious appropriateness
The Wedding March, also known as "Here Comes the Bride", is a popular choice for weddings. However, its use is not always considered religiously appropriate.
The Wedding March was composed by Felix Mendelssohn and was originally written for Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, accompanying the wedding procession of the fairy queen Titania and Duke Theseus. The play features fairies, magic, and a pagan goddess, and explores themes of confusion, mistaken identities, and love manipulated by magic. Due to these literary origins, some religious leaders, particularly in Roman Catholic churches, have found the piece to be inappropriate for Christian ceremonies. The Catholic Church discouraged its use within mass weddings in 1971, but today it can still be used during the processional or recessional under certain circumstances.
The appropriateness of the Wedding March for religious ceremonies is a matter of debate, and opinions may vary within different denominations and among individual clergy members. Some may argue that the song's association with a play that includes fantastical elements and explores complex themes of love and identity clashes with the sacred nature of a Christian wedding ceremony. On the other hand, others may consider it a well-known and traditional choice that is familiar to many couples and their guests.
It is worth noting that the Wedding March is not the only wedding song that has been controversial in religious contexts. Wagner's "Bridal Chorus", also known as "Here Comes the Bride", has a less cheerful role in the opera Lohengrin, where it is played after the doomed marriage of Elsa and Lohengrin as Elsa walks to the bridal suite. Despite this, many brides still choose to walk down the aisle to this song. Additionally, songs with religious references are generally not permitted for civil ceremonies, so couples opting for a non-religious wedding may need to choose an alternative or instrumental version of a song.
When considering the religious appropriateness of the Wedding March, it is important to respect the guidelines and preferences of the specific denomination and clergy conducting the ceremony. Couples should research the history and potential implications of their chosen songs and be open to alternative suggestions if their first choice is not considered suitable. Ultimately, the decision may depend on the individual couple's preferences, the venue, and the flexibility of the religious institution overseeing the wedding.
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Wagner's Bridal Chorus
In English-speaking countries, it is generally known as "Here Comes the Bride" or "Wedding March". However, it is important to note that the term "wedding march" refers to any piece in march tempo accompanying the entrance or exit of the bride, such as Felix Mendelssohn's "Wedding March". Wagner's piece became popular for weddings when it was used at the wedding of Victoria, Princess Royal, and Frederick William, Prince of Prussia in 1858.
While the bridal chorus is usually played on an organ without singing at most weddings, in the opera Lohengrin, the wedding party sings this piece at the beginning of act three as they accompany the heroine Elsa to her bridal chamber. The earliest evidence of the inclusion of Wagner's march at an actual wedding ceremony seems to be from 1875, at the wedding of Princess Beatrice to Prince Henry of Battenberg. However, there are reports of the music being played at weddings as early as 1863, following the wedding of the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
It is worth noting that some Christian churches disagree with the use of the "Bridal Chorus" at wedding ceremonies due to its association with theatre and sentimentality rather than worship. Despite this, Wagner's Bridal Chorus remains a popular choice for the bride's entrance at formal weddings.
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Mendelssohn's Wedding March
The "Wedding March", commonly known as Mendelssohn's Wedding March, was composed by German composer Felix Mendelssohn in 1842. It is one of the best-known pieces from his suite of incidental music for Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The piece is in C major and is often played on a church pipe organ.
Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" is one of the most frequently used wedding marches and is commonly played as a recessional after the couple is married and they are walking off together. It is often paired with the Bridal Chorus or Here Comes the Bride from Richard Wagner's opera "Lohengrin", or with Jeremiah Clarke's "Prince of Denmark's March", both of which are played for the bride's entrance.
The first known instance of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" being used at a wedding was in 1847 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, England, when it was performed by organist Samuel Reay. However, it did not become widely popular at weddings until 1858 when it was selected by Victoria, The Princess Royal, for her marriage to Prince Frederick William of Prussia. The bride was the daughter of Queen Victoria, who was a great admirer of Mendelssohn's music.
Today, the "Wedding March" is a classic choice for weddings, and it is often played by DJs or live musicians, or even by musically gifted friends as a personal touch. While the traditional tunes are still popular, modern alternatives are also gaining traction, and couples may choose to branch out to something more contemporary for their wedding ceremony songs.
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Alternatives to the Wedding March
The traditional wedding march, also known as "Here Comes the Bride", was composed by Felix Mendelssohn for A Midsummer Night's Dream. It is often played on a church pipe organ, usually for the recessional. It is sometimes preceded by "Bridal Chorus" by Richard Wagner or "Prince of Denmark's March" by Jeremiah Clarke, as the bride enters.
However, there are many alternatives to the Wedding March that you can choose from. If you want to stick to classical music, you could consider:
- "Morgen" by Richard Strauss
- "Bach's BWV 140: Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme"
- "Mahler's 5th"
- "Beethoven's op.109 sonata"
- "Schubert's Ab Impromptu"
- "Bach's Goldberg Variations"
- "Thaxted (Holst)"
- "Charpentier’s Te Deum"
If you want to walk down the aisle to something more modern, you could consider:
- "Vitamin String Quartet"
- "Over the Rainbow"
- "Hard To Concentrate" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
- "I Promise You" by the Backstreet Boys
- "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley
- "Your Song" by Elton John
- "Tenerife Sea" by Ed Sheeran
- "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO
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Frequently asked questions
The Wedding March was composed by German composer Felix Mendelssohn for Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was not originally intended for weddings, but it is now one of the most frequently used wedding marches.
The Wedding March is commonly played during the recessional, when the couple walks down the aisle as the ceremony ends. It is also sometimes used as processional music.
No, the song has been deemed inappropriate for Christian ceremonies due to its associations with a play that focuses on a pagan god and goddess, fairies, and magic. The Catholic Church discouraged its use in mass weddings in 1971, but it can still be used under certain circumstances.
Alternatives to the Wedding March include Wagner's Bridal Chorus (also known as "Here Comes the Bride"), Jeremiah Clarke's "Prince of Denmark's March", and Purcell's Trumpet Voluntary.
The Wedding March can be played by a live musician or a DJ. If you're having a DIY wedding, you could even ask a musically gifted friend to play it!
