Wedding Music

This page contains sound extracts of organ music (organ voluntaries) and wedding hymns.
The extracts are in .wav format and range in size from 85Kb to 350Kb.
They were played by me, Neil Hawes, on the organ at St. Mary's Church, Osterley on 28th August 2000.
Thanks are due to the sound engineer, Ian Hawes.

This page was written to help wedding couples choose their music for marriage services at St. Mary's Church, Osterley, Middlesex, UK (Church of England), but it might be of assistance for wedding couples anywhere in the world.

A typical traditional Church of England wedding has the following music:

Three hymns:
- One at the start;
- One when the vows and readings are over;
- One before the signing of registers.
Two specific organ pieces (usually called "voluntaries"):
- One for the bride to come in to (sometimes called "entrance" or "processional");
- One for the bride and groom to exit by (sometimes called "recessional").
Other music that can be left up to the organist, or special music might be requested:
- Before the service;
- During the signing of the registers.

The choice of organ voluntaries and hymns is entirely up to the bride and groom to agree with the organist.

If you going to be printing an order of service, you will need to get this agreement in plenty of time, and also make sure you have all the details correct (composer's names etc.) and copyright permission to print the words.

The most traditional piece of organ music for the Bride to enter to is:

Wagner - Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin (Click on the link to hear an extract)
Most people know this as "Here comes the bride", and some people do not like it for this reason. However, it is still the most popular piece.

Others that are suitable for entry of the bride include:

The most traditional piece for the bride and groom to exit to is:

Mendelssohn - Wedding March

Other possibilities include:

Music before the service and during the signing of the registers should probably be reasonably gentle and not too loud:

Bach - Jesu joy of man's desiring
Albinoni - Adagio (although this is actually more suitable for funerals!)
Handel - Air from the Water Music
Pachelbel - Canon
Wesley - Air and Gavotte

Sometimes, the family will ask a friend or relation to play or sing during the signing of the registers. This is fine, but the choice of music should be discussed with the organist in good time. The couple need to be happy that the performer(s) are used to performing in public and are a reasonable standard.

The church choir (if thre is one) might also be asked to sing. The most popular piece is: Jesu joy of man's desiring by J.S. Bach, but many others are possible.

The first hymn needs to be a rousing one that everyone can sing. Here are a few popular choices:

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven
Let all the world in every corner sing
O worship the King
Sing to God new songs of worship (to the tune of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" from his 9th Symphony)
Love Divine, all loves excelling - there are two tunes, Blaenwern (Welsh), or one by Stainer.

The second hymn is often quieter and traditionally is based on a Psalm: here are some possibilities:

The Lord's my shepherd - tune Crimond or Brother James' Air
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
Morning has broken
For the beauty of the earth
Lord of all hopefulness
Amazing Grace
All things bright and beautiful - there are two tunes, one by Monk, or Royal Oak

The last hymn again can be rousing:

Guide me O Thou great Redeemer
Bring to the Lord a glad new song - tune Jerusalem
God is our strength and refuge, to the tune of the Dam busters march

These suggestions are by no means the only ones possible, nor do they have to be in these positions.