So a wedding ceremony has several parts to it and a few of those parts include music.
I'm going to go over where you can have music and give you an idea of what you can and can't have.
Let's start at the beginning and discuss music options in terms of types of music. Will you be having live musicians or will you be using a playlist off an ipad or device? That is something you firstly need to decide.
Live options can include a harpist, string quartet, acoustic guitarist with or without vocalist. Choir, pianist, organist and so forth. There are plenty of options, just ensure there is enough space in your ceremony location whether that is a licensed venue for a civil ceremony, a registry office, a church or an outdoor ceremony space.
Photo by Ross Hurley Photography
The next thing you need to know is that if you are having a civil ceremony, then you are not allowed to have any music that has any religious connotations. All music must be submitted at checked by your registrars prior to your wedding.
Once you have decided what type of music you will be playing you can move on to what they play.
Photo by Juliet McKEee
So lets go over the different points in your ceremony
Guest arrival- approx 30 minutes
Processional
Signing of the register- 3 songs (possibly 1 back up)
Recessional
Guests Exit
Extra things to consider: Make sure your musicians have all the apropriate information and know when to start or stop.
If you are creating a playlist on a device, ensure someone responsible is in charge, ie an usher. Ensure they know what to play and when. It is best to create a playlist for each section of the ceremony and have them clearly labelled with the title of the section, ie processional.
Have them do a little sound check for volume before any guests enter.
For live music, check the space for plugs etc. Your church or venue should be able to guide you here.
To go into even more depth, then check out my YouTube video on Wedding Ceremony music HERE.
I hope you found this helpful and I'd love to know what you're planning on doing for your ceremony!
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