So far, your wedding day has flown by so quickly and now it's time for your wedding march music! If your wedding is like most, you will have one or more bridesmaid(s) and possibly a flower girl and ring bearer that will process before you make your grand entrance.

TWO OPTIONS

At this point, you basically have two options: 1.) You can have one processional song for both your bridesmaids and yourself or 2.) You can have one processional song for your bridesmaid(s) and separate wedding march music for yourself.

The second option is, by far, the most common. Having just one wedding processional song for both the bridesmaid(s) and bride is a little more common if the wedding is smaller and more intimate, especially if there are just one or two bridesmaids.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of having 2 separate wedding entrance songs is that when the bridesmaid entrance song finishes, it is a clear signal that the bride is about to make her entrance. Also, some brides want a shift in the mood of the music to something bigger and more grandiose as their wedding march music begins. At any rate, either option is perfectly acceptable and you should choose whatever you want; after all, it is your wedding!

As an aside, even though some brides are opting for more unique wedding march music, as a musician involved in weddings, my experience is that most brides still want a traditional wedding processional song. As such, that is what is listed below.

WEDDING PROCESSIONAL SONGS

Listed below are some suggestions for wedding processional music. Bridal Chorus (commonly referred to as Here Comes The Bride) is undoubtedly the most well-known traditional standard march for many formal weddings. It is actually from an opera entitled Lohengrin. While most churches have no problem with it, because it is a secular piece of music, a few churches (especially some Roman Catholic Churches) frown upon its use as a processional. If you want it as your wedding entrance song and you are marrying in a church, be sure that there are no restrictions in its use.

Some of J. S. Bach’s music can be used as wedding march music. The following 4 are a few of the more well-known:

Arioso

Prelude in C (This song sounds reminiscent of Ave Maria---for good reason: The Bach/Gounod arrangement of Ave Maria uses Bach’s Prelude in C as its "base" with a melody written by Gounod superimposed upon it. If you are going to have their version of Ave Maria played elsewhere in your wedding, it would probably be advisable to not use Prelude in C as a processional.)

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

Regarding the following two pieces: Both can sound fantastic on an organ and an especially nice touch is to have a trumpet play with the organ. What a fanfare! They are:

Trumpet Tune (Clarke)

Trumpet Voluntary (Purcell)

Another very popular processional:

Canon in D (Pachelbel)

In closing, here's a couple more tips:

First, try to choose a song that can be easily ended at a moment’s notice. As mentioned above, this is why Pachelbel’s Canon in D is good for a processional. It can be ended in any number of spots---without sounding like it!! If you are having one song played for your bridesmaid(s) a different one for you, the whole idea is to not have a lot of song left to be played after your last bridesmaid has arrived at the front. Too awkward! Your walk should begin right after the last bridesmaid arrives at the front---everyone's expecting you now! So your bridesmaid(s) song may have to end quickly. Some songs lend themselves better to being stopped in the middle than others. Your wedding musician can make suggestions in this area.

Secondly, when choosing a wedding processional song---especially if you want a nontraditional one---pay attention to the song lyrics. Even though your processional will most likely be performed instrumentally, keep in mind that some lyrics are just not appropriate for a wedding ceremony. Remember that you always have the reception for pretty much whatever you want!