The Best Songs for the Processional of a Wedding Ceremony

What are the best traditional and contemporary songs for the processional of your wedding ceremony?

The processional officially begins once the bride's mother is seated. It ends once the bride meets her groom at the end of the aisle, at which point the ceremony officially begins. However, some brides and grooms have begun considering the time when parents, grandparents, and other VIPs as part of the processional and choosing a special song for this period, which is usually called the "pre-processional."

How many songs you will need for your processional depends on a couple of different factors, primarily the size of the bridal party and the length of the aisle. If you have a large bridal party and/or a long aisle, you will need to make sure that the music you choose will be long enough to allow everyone to get to the alter.

You will need at least one song, although most brides and grooms choose more than one by playing one song for the bride's entrance and one or more songs for the bridal party's entrance. We've listed the traditional order of the pre-processional and processional below.

Pre-Processional

1. The groom's grandparents are seated first followed by the Bride's grandparents. An usher will escort the grandmother (while the grandfather follows a step behind) to the first row.
2. The groom's father and mother are escorted down the aisle. (also to the front row). Stepparents are traditionally seated before the grandparents, but may be seated at this time. A brother of the bride or groom or an usher will escort the groom's mother (while the groom's father follows a step behind).
3. The bride's mother are escorted down the aisle. A brother of the bride or groom or an usher will escort the groom's mother. Once the bride's mother has taken her seat, she will then rise and turn to signal the start of the processional.

Processional

4. If the groom and best man have not already, they will enter from the side and stand facing the guests.
5. The groomsmen and bridesmaids walk down the aisle. They can walk down either in pairs or single file (with the groomsmen going first).
6. The maid of honor walks down the aisle.
7. The matron of honor walks down the aisle.
8. The ring bearer and flower girl walk down the aisle.
9. The bride walks down the aisle escorted by her father or another male relative.

Some weddings will use different songs for the pre processional, the processional (4-7), the entrance of the ring bearer and/or flower girl and the bride's entrance while others combine these. You can change the music as often or as seldom as you want, but remember that the more you change the music the less the wedding will flow. It is best to change the music only when necessary either to signal a change in events (such as the bride's entrance) or because of the length of the song.

If you find that you need to lengthen the processional, there are several ways to do so. You can choose to have the ushers walk down the aisle separately from the bridesmaids (in which case they will walk down the aisle first). You can also have the ring bearer walk down the aisle by himself and then have the flower girl walk down the aisle.

Selecting the right music will be a matter of choice. However, we have compiled some of the most popular music and listed it below. For your convenience, we have included links to the sheet music on Sheetmusicplus.com as well as the CD on Amazon.com whenever available. If you are looking to purchase the mp3 or would like to listen to a sample, then click on either the Amazon, Rhapsody, or iTunes links.

Rhapsody provides both music subscriptions as well as individual mp3s for sale in WMA format and iTunes only provides MPEG-4 audio files for sale. However, Amazon does offer mp3s that are compatible with both Windows Media Player and iTunes. For more information about where to purchase music online, we provide it on our Music Downloads page or our Music Subscriptions page.

Wagner's Bridal Chorus or "Here Comes the Bride"

Also referred to as the Wedding March, this piece was written by Richard Wagner in 1850 for the romantic opera Lohengrin and is probably the most popular piece for the bride's entrance (especially in the movies). Ironically, in the opera the piece comes after the wedding and not before. This piece has been banned by the Catholic church as well as many Jewish synagogues and Lutheran churches for a variety of reasons. One is because Wagner has a reputation as an anti-Semite; another is because of strong pagan elements in Wagner's opera. Jewish opposition also comes from the fact that the Nazi's were very fond of using his music and Wagner was an idol of Adolph Hitler. I would like to point out that Wagner was long dead before either the Nazis or Hitler existed and although Wagner did write several essays condemning the Jewish influence on German music, he was also known for having several Jewish friends and supporters.

Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus

Trumpet Voluntary in D or "Prince of Denmark's March"

This piece is by Jeremiah Clarke, but was incorrectly attributed to Henry Purcell for a number of years and is still often listed as such. They are the same piece of music, no matter how it is listed. This song has also been used for the prelude and the recessional, but is most commonly used for the processional.

Click to find it on:       Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus

The Wedding March

While this piece by Felix Mendelssohn seems to be at the top of everyone's list for the processional, it is what I have always heard as part of the recessional. Still, I am not an expert regarding weddings (which is why it is listed here). Mendelssohn wrote it for A Midsummer Nights Dream, a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare. Although it is typically called "The Wedding March, it's official name is A Midsummer Night's Dream, incidental music, Op. 61 Wedding March.

Find it on:  Rhapsody Sheetmusicplus

The Four Seasons

Every guest has heard this lovely but traditional song by Vivaldi. It is a splendid group of four violin concertos. Antonio Vivaldi wrote them in 1725 as part of a set of twelve. They represent the four seasons and vary greatly in style to fit the seasons. This is an excellent traditional choice for prelude songs. It is an instrumental music piece that needs no words. It is divided into four pieces: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Of the four, "Winter" and "Spring" tend to be favorites for the processional.

Find it on:  Rhapsody Sheetmusicplus

Ave Maria

Two popular versions of the traditional song "Ave Maria" exist. One was composed by Charles Gounod in 1859 and is based on the harmony and texture of J.S. Bach's Prelude No.1 in C Major. It is a setting of the standard Latin Ave Maria text. Another version, written by Franz Schubert in 1825, was originally titled "Ellens ditter Gesang" (D. 839) but is more commonly referred to today as Schubert's "Ave Maria." Schubert's version was eventually adapted to fit the Roman Catholic prayer Ave Maria as well. Both versions are very beautiful and are standards during weddings and at Christmas.

Find a vocal version of Schubert's song:        Sheetmusicplus
Find an instrumental version of Schubert's song:        Rhapsody

Find a vocal version of Gounod's song:        Sheetmusicplus
Find an instrumental version of Gounod's song:        Rhapsody

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" is the title of a transcription by the English pianist Myra Hess of the chorale that ends each part of the cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147. The piece is also a favorite for funerals, but more commonly used during weddings as either a piece for a choir or as an instrumental. This song is good for either the prelude or the bridal party's processional.

Find an instrumental version on:        Sheetmusicplus
Find a vocal version on:     

A few other songs you might consider for the processional are:

1. "Adagio" from Water Music Suite by George Friedrich Handel
    Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
2. "Air" from Water Music by George Friedrich Handel
   Traditional, classical piece that can be used for the prelude or the bridal party's processional
    Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
3. "Air on the G String" from Orchestral Suite No.3 by Johann Sebastian Bach
   Good for any part of the ceremony.
    Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
4. "Allegro Maestoso" from Water Music by George Friedrich Handel
    Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
5. "Arioso" by Johann Sebastian Bach
    Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
6. "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert
    Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
7. Ave Verum Corpus, K. 618 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
   Often used for the bridal party's entrance, it is available as both instrumental and a choral piece.
    Find an instrumental version on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
    Find a vocal version on:        Rhapsody
8. "Because You Loved Me" performed by Celine Dion
    Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
9. "Beethoven's Fifth Symphony" by Ludwig Van Beethoven
    Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
10. "Can't Help Falling in Love" performed by Elvis Presley
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
11. "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel
    One of the most played pieces, it can work almost anywhere but most commonly during the prelude and processional.
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
12. "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
13. Divertimento in D major, Andante, K. 136, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Good for bridal party entrance or when seating the parents.
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
14. "Endless Love" performed by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross or Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
15. "Flower Duet" from Lakme by
    Well known, but not often used. Good for any portion of the processional. Almost always sung.
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
16. "From This Moment On" performed by Shania Twain
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
17. "Grow Old With Me" performed by Mary Chapin Carpenter
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
18. "Hornpipe" from Water Music Suite by Georg Friedrich Handel
    Also known as Concerto Grosso, Op. 6, No. 7; it is a very nice choice for the bride's processional or the recessional.
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
19. "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" performed by Aerosmith
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
20. "In My Life" performed by The Beatles
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
21. Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni
    A popular selection for the bride's entrance.
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
22. "La Rejouissance" from Royal Fireworks Music by George Frideric Handel
    A nice piece that is too short to use except for the bride's processional or the recessional.
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
23. "Largo" from Xerxes by Georg Friedrich Handel
    Another elegant piece that is good for the prelude or the processional.
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
24. "Longer" performed by Dan Fogelberg
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
25. "Ode To Joy" from The Ninth Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven
    Classic song, especially for the Bride's entrance or the recessional.
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
26. "Overture from Music for the Royal Fireworks HWV 351 by George Frideric Handel
    Lengthy song good for processional or the recesssional.
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
27. "Prelude To Te Deum" by Marc-Antoine Charpentier
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
28. "Processional" from Royal Fireworks Music by Georg Friedrich Handel
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
29. "Processional" from St. Anthony Chorale by Franz Joseph Haydn
     Find it on:        Sheetmusicplus
30. "Processional" from the Water Music by Georg Friedrich Handel
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
31. "Sheep May Safely Graze" ("Was mir behagt"), Cantata No. 208, by Johann Sebastian Bach
    Perfect for the bridesmaids entrance.
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
32. "Sleeper's Awake" (Wachet Auf) by Johann Sebastian Bach
    Classical processional music that has a nice beat for walking.
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
33. "Trumpet Tune" by Henry Purcell
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
34. "Wedding Processional" from The Sound of Music
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
35. "What a Wonderful World" performed by Louis Armstrong
     Find it on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
36. "When You Say Nothing At All" by Keith Whitley, Ronan Keating, or Alison Krauss
     Find Keith Whitley's version on:        Rhapsody   Sheetmusicplus
     Find Ronan Keating's version on:        Rhapsody
     Find Alison Krauss's version on:        Rhapsody

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