Weddings

What music do we need for our wedding ceremony?

For a church ceremony, often the bride and groom and their families will take advice from the resident organist and/or choirmaster and the local organist and choir will provide music for the ceremony, but we are also happy to help advise and, if there is no provision for music at your chosen place of worship, Eugene will be happy to play the piano for the service and Beth can handle either jazz or classical standards during the signing of the register. (See below.)

Often the music chosen will be of a religious character, but most clergy are happy to permit some choice of secular (i.e. non-religious) music.

Music within the ceremony is usually divided into 5 parts:

Prelude (as the congregation gathers). Usually your organist will play a series of pieces for anything between 5 and 20 minutes, depending on the size of the congregation expected.

Processional (as the bride processes down the aisle).

Congregational hymns

The signing of the Register (when the bride & groom and their chosen witnesses disappear into the vestry to sign the Register). Usually 1 or 2 pieces of music - approximately 5 minutes in total duration – are played during this interlude in the service.

Recessional (as the bride & groom leave together)

For civil ceremonies

It is entirely up to the bride and groom to provide any music they wish to have during their ceremony, and this can be live or recorded music. The choice of music is open to the happy couple EXCEPT that no religious music can be played/sung. Again, we are happy to help advise and to provide music for this part of your big day.

Music after the ceremony.

Often couples like to have some background music playing during the drinks reception. This is a time for all the guests to get together to relax and chat after the solemnity of the service, and mellow jazz & swing can provide the ideal background for this part of the day, though other popular choices are harp, string quartet or classical guitar. We can play on into (or take over for) the wedding breakfast and/or evening reception. Often couples like to have live jazz for the early part of the evening and then switch over to a disco for the later stages of the evening.