Ten Classical Pieces (Including a Couple of Hymns) for a Traditional Wedding
- almora0
- May 30
- 4 min read
Here are ten of my favourite classical pieces that are perfect for traditional weddings. Let me tell you, choosing only ten was incredibly difficult! I hope they inspire the choices you will make for your ceremony.
A. Prelude
A wedding prelude sets the mood with soft, ambient music that creates a warm atmosphere as guests await the start of the ceremony. Here are two of my favourites.
1. Bach – Wachet Auf
What a beautiful choice for your guests' arrival! If your ceremony is in a church, consider Bach’s Wachet Auf, based on a hymn by Philipp Nicolai. It's an organ classic that creates a wonderful ambience. Also known as Sleepers Awake, it is ideal for an Advent wedding.
Here's Peter Hurford at the organ:
2. Saint-Saëns – The Swan
Saint-Saëns’ The Swan glides along beautifully (as one might expect from its ornithological inspiration!) and its sweeping melody creates a suitably serene atmosphere. It is the thirteenth and penultimate movement of The Carnival of the Animals.
Yo-Yo Ma plays cello, accompanied by Kathryn Stott:
B. The Processional
The processional marks the wedding party's entry. Couples typically choose two pieces: one for the family and a more dramatic number for the bride’s entrance. Here’s a couple of crackers!
3. Pachelbel – Canon in D
This is a wedding favourite. Starting low and slow and building to a volley of virtuosic violins, Pachelbel’s Canon in D unfolds beautifully. For those of you into trivia, it was used in a 1975 TV advert for Pure New Wool and formed the basis of The Farm’s 1990 single All Together Now. Owing to its repetitive structure, it is easy to bring to a close early once everyone is in place.
This version is played on period instruments:
4. Wagner – Bridal Chorus
Here is the classic choice: the Bridal Chorus from Wagner’s 1850 opera Lohengrin, which is affectionately known as ‘Here Comes the Bride’. All together now: ‘dum dum di-dum…!’ The piece gained popularity when it was used as the processional at the wedding of Victoria, the Princess Royal, to Prince Frederick William of Prussia in 1858.
Jonathan Scott at the organ in Bayreuth Stadtkirche:
C. Hymns (Dotted twixt and between the main ceremony moments.)
Your guests could sing hymns, or if they’re not a ‘sing-songy’ kind of crowd, they could be performed by a choir, solo singers or perhaps a vocal duet.
5. Parry – Jerusalem
People love familiar hymns, the more upbeat and catchier (is that a word?) the better. The Last Night of the Proms favourite Jerusalem by Hubert Parry is just that and brings everyone together in song. Also known as And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time, it featured in the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in Westminster Abbey and was voted the UK’s favourite hymn in a Songs of Praise poll of 2019.
This is from William and Kate's wedding:
6. Wesley/Rowland – Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
This cherished hymn, with its uplifting lyrics and soaring melody, might inspire even your shyest guests to sing along. The words are by Charles Wesley; it is regarded as one of his finest hymns and is most often sung to the William Rowlands tune Blaenwern. It was sung at the wedding blessing of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005 and at the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in 2018.
The choir of King's College, Cambridge, is featured here:
D. The Signing of the Register
I know it sounds obvious, but you will need music to fill the time it takes for both of you and your witnesses to put pen to paper. It’s better to entertain your guests during this hiatus than to have a fidgety group of friends and family.
7. Franck – Panis Angelicus
Any talented boy trebles in your area? This could be their moment. César Franck’s Panis Angelicus, based on words by Saint Thomas Aquinas, features an unforgettable, timeless melody that is perfect for this part of the ceremony.
This performance is by the Vienna Boys' Choir:
8. Elgar – Salut d’Amour (also known as Liebesgruss or Love’s Greeting)
While you sign the register, take your time and let your guests enjoy Elgar’s Salut d’amour. It was initially scored for violin and piano and fittingly composed as an engagement gift for his fiancée, Caroline Alice Roberts.
Sir Yehudi Menuhin plays the violin:
E. The Recessional and Postlude
After the ceremony, the recessional fills the air with music that reflects the couple's happiness. Usually, a single piece of music is selected for the exit, but adding a postlude or two for guests can enhance the intended mood of joy and celebration.
9. Mendelssohn – Wedding March
Congratulations! It’s time to celebrate with the beautiful sounds of the organ playing the classic Wedding March from the incidental music to Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. If you wish to be doubly traditional, this piece is often paired with the processional, as mentioned earlier, the Bridal Chorus.
This is Peter Hurford again:
10. Widor – Toccata
A Toccata (from Italian toccare, literally, "to touch", with "toccata" being the action of touching) is a virtuosic piece of music typically written for a keyboard instrument. Thus, if you have a talented, nimble-fingered organist, as we did at our wedding in 1995, the vibrant Toccata from Widor’s Organ Symphony No. 5 serves as a perfect choice to showcase their skills, providing a spirited and cheerful finale to your ceremony.
For the last time, here's Peter Hurford!:
Whether you choose pre-recorded tracks, organ, piano, singers, or assorted string instruments, these ten offerings will enhance any ceremony. If you want live music on a budget, consider a pianist with a digital piano, which can provide a variety of tonal colours, such as strings, harp, and organ, as well as a regular piano sound. As a former wedding pianist, I have used these sounds individually and in combination to excellent effect.
I hope my ten suggestions for classical music at a traditional wedding will assist you in selecting the perfect music for your special day!
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