The Best Wedding Processional Songs of all time

Oct 4, 2009

Wedding processional songs are deeply personal and moving. They set the scene for the caring yet solemn occasion that is happening during the marriage of a couple who are deeply in love. Depending on where you hold your wedding ceremony, you could have more or less flexibility in your portfolio of wedding processional songs.

For instance, in some churches or places of worship, wedding processional songs and all music played during the ceremony must be approved by the preacher or rabbi and be suitable for the stream of faith. Secular songs may or may not be permitted.

However, if you are having an open air service or a less formal wedding, your choice of music may be limited only by your personal preference and your imagination.

Typically, wedding processional songs are slow songs that offer plenty time for the bridesmaids and then the bride to walk down the aisle at a goodrelaxed speed, not a hurried tempo. You will want to talk about the speed of the music you pick for this event as you consider various songs. You may also want to consider one song selection to play as the bridesmaids enter and then a second song to change into when the bride is entering the room. This works great if you have a big wedding party, not just one attendant, for obvious reasons as a song normally lasts 2-6 minutes long and it shoudn’t take so long for one bridesmaid to walk down the aisle unless it is a very, very long aisle.

Quite a number of brides and grooms enjoy the conventional wedding processional songs such as the common wedding march or classical selections with instrumental accompaniment such as pieces by Mozart, Bach, Pachelbel, Beethoven, and Handel.

The Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel, "Overture" by George Frederic Handel, "Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and "Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring" by Johann Sebastian Bach are just a small selection of the wonderful pieces by genius composers that leave a memorable feeling as the brides walks down the aisle to meet her future spouse. Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and Minuet in G are also wonderful wedding processional songs. All of these songs are especially melodic when played by well trained piano, violin, or harp players or a small ensemble.

If classical isn’t your style and you would like something more contemporary, there are numerous newer selections you can pick to set a more modern feeling for your wedding. Present day wedding processional songs include “Wedding Song” (There is Love) by Paul Noel Stuckey, “The Rose” by Bette Midler, “Annie”s Song” by John Denver, and "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole. These selections could be instrumentals only or could include accompanying vocals, and they evoke the wanted mood and set the scene for the bride beautifully.

Even if it is a music piece that has lyrics, wedding processional songs are often played as music only, instrumental. This keeps the attention on the wedding party and, most particularly, the bride as she makes her entrance into the venue. On the other hand, some wedding processional songs have such touching lyrics that they can’t help but concentrate all the attention on the bride and groom and there may not be a dry eye in the room.

The important thing is to select music that moves you personally for your wedding processional because you will always connect this particular melody with one of the most wonderful and emotional days in your life.