Out of all the aspects of planning my own wedding, the one I've found trickiest so far is choosing the music. Music is an integral part of almost all weddings, and can be broken down into four 'acts': pre-ceremony, the bridal entrance, signing the register, and the exit of the wedding party. That's not to mention any music you might want during the reception. Most couples will have songs that have a special meaning to their relationship, or will share similar musical tastes. Mr Moosh and I, however, whilst very clear on what we don't want, have nothing to offer instead!
The bridal entrance being the most high profile section of the ceremony, the music used during this time receives the most attention from your guests and is therefore a piece that couples spend a lot of time choosing. For many years, the most popular piece has been the Bridal Chorus from Wagner's Lohengrin, incorrectly called "here comes the bride" by many. This piece is most fitting when played on a church organ, but it is important to check with your church if they allow the music, because Wagner was a notorious anti-semite and his Bridal Chorus has been banned from some churches. Pachelbel's Canon in D is also popular, as is Clarke's Prince Of Denmark's March, which was used during the wedding of the late Princess Diana. What these pieces all have in common is that they're classical music and, whilst appropriate for a very traditional or church wedding, are much less fitting for the modern, relaxed, civil ceremony Mr Moosh and I are having. Civil ceremonies also come with their own set of rules, which strictly ban any music that mentions religion. Obviously, this means hymns are a no go, but couples may be suprised to learn that modern songs such as Robbie Williams' Angels or Bon Jovi's Living On A Prayer are also out. Any music chosen must be vetted by the registrar before the ceremony. Popular modern bridal entrance songs for civil ceremonies include versions of Over The Rainbow and Enya's Only Time. More couples are also choosing music from film soundtracks to accompany their wedding. Whatever music you chooses, make sure you time a 'practice run' down the aisle and edit the music length accordingly. There are few things more awkward than getting to the top of the aisle and then staring at the floor for a few minutes whilst the music finishes!
