Wedding Blog
I’ve been putting off choosing the ceremony music for whatever reason. Maybe because I’m utterly an inside-the-box thinker when it comes to this. It’s going to be exceptionally unoriginal and a unabashedly trite (like the teaser image above).
So tonight, I got it over with; I ripped off that Band-Aid super quick. I scanned our musicians’ (a string trio) recommendations and threw together a list after listening to the music on YouTube (that’s class, right there, ladies!).
All I know is I would prefer not to use the famous Wagner Bridal Chorus (you know, “here comes the bride…”). And when I checked Weddingbee’s ceremony music wiki, I felt validated:
Here Comes the Bride by Wagner (classical music fans may note that this tune’s appearance in the opera is not entering the church; rather, it is the procession from the church to the… bedroom, frankly. If you have opera fans on the guest list, another option that would inspire less giggling would be “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral”, a similar work also from Lohengrin)
Mr. P’s parents are opera lovers… so there’s that. But beyond the potential giggling, I’m not so in love with the tune. So, similar to Mrs. Shortcake, I’ll be using Canon D, but only for the bridal entrance. Here’s my request to Jaime, the lead violinist:
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Jaime,
Regarding the music, my thoughts [shot in the dark] are below–just typical [tired] stuff. In addition to the ceremony, we need to figure out something for the cocktail hour. Can you give me your thoughts on that [I know you're yawning as you read this]?
Anyway, I’m not too picky [have no clue], but I guess it all depends on how long the program goes [hopefully not too long]. We’ll know that better after the end of this month when we meet with Esme [my coordinator who is so over it] and our officiant [I really hope he's well enough to perform our ceremony].
Prelude/Seating:
Processional
Bridal Entrance
Recessional
Cocktail Hour
Please let me know what you think [not what you truly think--which is probably "you're boring, Miss P"--just if this is good enough for government work]!
Thanks!
Perfume
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Thoughts? Does this “sound” okay? Does anyone have any ideas for cocktail hour music for a string trio?
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Share this post: Quickly, the Ceremony Music
That’s so funny, I also listened to the typical suggestions on YouTube. For cocktail hour, I would suggest Brandenburg No. 5. It’s my absolute fave!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49IOKnhX0Sk
I youtubed almost all my songs for our string trio…ended up choosing some of the classic, but a lot of soundtrack scores (Romeo and Juliet, and epics like Braveheart and Lord of the Rings) There are some really pretty ones!
As a violinist I would love your musical layout. It’s fun to play!! (And people generally listen to the music instead of talking through it if it’s more familiar to them.)
For the cocktail hour you could ask them to play contemporary songs like john legend’s ordinary people a friend had that playing while people were arriving at the church and it was really nice.
Soundtrack scores are great! Music from any of the Jane Austin movies… Sense&Sensibility, Emma, Pride&Prejudice.
Your set list is perfectly classic. 
It will sound (& look!) beautiful!
Thanks Miss Perfume. I’ve been meaning to come up with my playlist but have been too lazy to do it! This is a good reminder that I need to start!
For my cocktail hour I’m having my trio play some broadway tunes (Phantom of the Opera), Andrea Boccelli and Charlotte Church.
Personally I LOVE your choices… we’re leaning towards classic as well
Check out Vitamin Records’ Vitamin String Quartet for awesome contemporary strings. My friend had her quartet play movie themes as a nod to her FI’s career in the film industry.
At the end of the day, if you love your music that’s all that matters!
My MOH’s church wouldn’t let her play the march by Wagner for that very reason! We had no idea at the time.
Mr. Taffy is in charge of the ceremony music, and I hope he finds something quickly! We need to get it together. 
We’re going to have a string trio for the ceremony as well and we want them to play modern music during the prelude and cocktail hour. They play awesome string renditions of Metallica, Coldplay, The Police etc. We’re also going to commission them to learn how to play one of our favorite songs during the Processional. Even heavy metal sounds classy and nice played on strings, so even the older more traditional of guests will like the music.
You’re not boring. What’s right for you is right for you. And your musicians will understand that.
But I will say, the personalization of my music is one of the details I’m most looking forward to. My brother, a musician, is playing my ceremony music - acoustic guitar versions of some of our favorite modern love songs. And I just hired a fabulous classic rock/top 40 cover band that I know will totally get everyone out of their chairs. Yay! Just had to share.
I agree that your music choices are “traditional” but they’re also classy. And if you’re not super-obsessed over the music already, don’t work yourself up over it. Totally not worth the stress.
If you’re looking for more ideas for the cocktail hour, i agree with LatteLove: asking the string group if they’ve got (or can do) anything from movie scores. There’s some amazing stuff out there that will sound familiar (in a good way) but emotional and moving. And you know that it already works as background music…since that’s what it is!
as much as i love canon in d… i can’t use it for the bridal entrance cuz i know it’ll make me cry. so… i’ve decided to use it for the BMs instead to save me from an ugly cry.
Concerning Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 -
Unless you have access to a harpsichord and a harpsichordist and extra string players, this would be impossible to preform. Bach wrote after receiving a new harpsichord so there is a very long harpsichord cadenza in the first movement. It is a very lovely piece.
Do you have a trio with a piano, violin, and cello or an all string trio? Many famous composers have piano trios. Schubert has some nice ones.
I’m of very little help, but I wanted to say that we will soon face similar musical dilemmas. Your list looks great! And I frequent youtube to listen to songs I don’t know. Only the classiest of classy ladies double checks youtube!
yaay for youtube 
i think your list is very elegant and goes well with the feel of your classy classic wedding!
Yippee for my first WeddingBee post! My parents were music professors who made extra money during graduate school by playing weddings. What my mom says, plus my own rubbed-off musical knowledge:
Verdi’s Grand March is gorgeous but not as commonly played, ditto Bach’s French Suites. You’re using a string trio but most pieces come in a variety of arrangements, so if you love something originally for other instruments they can probably do it as a trio. Another thing to consider: String concertos you like! If the cellist or violinist is great, a short movement could be really lovely…
A personal favorite of mine is “O Had I Jubal’s Lyre” (Handle) if you’re using a vocalist at any point…Actually, all Handle and Mozart, which opera lovers will appreciate!
That said, I totally agree with @flipflop84, if music isn’t your thing, it’s not your thing; you shouldn’t stress too much over it. Is it something you could put a music-loving friend on? Have them select a variety of pieces they think you’d like and choose from that?
I’m a professional musician who plays a lot of weddings, and here’s my advice: the Pachelbel is LONG. Unless you have an extremely long aisle, you won’t get to hear much of it (and the beginning isn’t the part that everyone loves). If you used it for the entire processional, it would really be lovely. There’s an excellent “musical peak” that can be used as the bride’s entrance.
Honestly, musicians are also great at picking things out. If you tell us where in the program you’d like the music and what kind of tone you’d like it to have, we’re very adept at picking it out ourselves. This might be your best bet, especially if you aren’t picky about it! Less stress for you, and you’ll likely be extremely pleased by their selections.
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Mrs. Perfume, DC
Age and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, Consultant
Engagement Date: May 13, 2008
Wedding Date: May, 2009
Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia
About Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
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