What is the one thing that lets you know a wedding is about to begin? It’s the first notes of the processional music signaling the ceremony is under way. From the wedding march to the recessional to the first bars of your first dance, music truly sets the tone for every part of your wedding day.

Matter of Choice
When you are selecting music for your wedding ceremony, where you’ll be getting married is a key consideration. If your ceremony is in a church, synagogue or other religious institution, you’ll want to check with the site’s music coordinator as early as possible to find out if there are any restrictions on what type of music may be played.

Once you know what music can and can’t be a part of your wedding ceremony, take a moment to access the acoustics of your location. If you’ll be getting married in a quaint chapel, a brass ensemble might overwhelm your ceremony. On the other hand, if you’ll be walking down the aisle in an expansive cathedral, a solo instrumental may not fill the space -adequately.

The style of music you select should complement the overall theme of your wedding. If your goal is to have an elegant ceremony, a string quartet will add to the ambience. If you want to enjoy a serenade of your favorite song, a vocalist singing a capella is a romantic and crowd-pleasing choice. For a casual or contemporary ceremony, a jazz ensemble adds sophistication and fun.

If you’ve chosen to have a professional vocalist or instrumentalist at your ceremony, meet with that person far in advance to discuss the venue, number of guests, the types of music you like and your budget. A seasoned professional then will be able to give you a song list or even a CD of selections, as well as provide you with other musical options you may not have considered.

As you plan your wedding, ask your friends and family if they can recommend musicians or individual performers, but don’t go by their opinions alone. Make sure you see the musicians perform live whether at a public event, a club or even a rehearsal. Check references from people who have hired the musicians for weddings or other special events to see how the performance went or ask if you can view a video of the performance.

Once you’ve settled on a musician, immediately start to work on a list of music you’d like her to perform. You don’t want to wait until the day before your ceremony to mention that you’d like the band to play “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” for your father-daughter dance only to discover that it’s not in their repertoire.

Using vocalists in your ceremony involves special planning. When it comes to vocal music, you’ll want to select songs with lyrics that are meaningful for you. You can find songs that are appropriate or more unusual by asking your vocalist for suggestions.

Ceremony Sounds
Once you’ve settled on the type of music and musicians, it’s time to create a music plan. Typically, traditional wedding ceremonies are easily divided into segments, making the planning process a bit simpler.

If your ceremony will feature a soloist, there are several traditional sections of the proceedings where you might feature music: while the mothers are being seated, immediately before the processional, and during the lighting of the unity candle.

Most often, a traditional ceremony begins with a musical prelude that starts 20 to 30 minutes before the wedding begins. The prelude should not consist of dance music, but rather background music.

During the prelude, ushers will be seating guests. To capture the guests’ attention and announce the beginning of the wedding, the last selection of the prelude could be something dramatic to prepare for the processional.

Next, the ceremony begins, with the entrance of the wedding party. The music at this time should have a rhythm that is easy for your attendants to walk to. If you decide to use the same selection when the bride enters, the volume should increase somewhat at her arrival. If you use a different selection for the bridal entrance, it should reflect that this is a key moment of the wedding ceremony.

The recessional marks the end of the ceremony, and accompanies the wedding party back down the aisle after the bride and groom have shared their first kiss as a married couple. Consider music with a quick tempo or a melody that is meaningful to your family’s background. For example, many brides and grooms of Scottish descent have a bagpiper play as they leave the ceremony.

Dance the Night Away
The ceremony has ended and you’re now husband and wife—it’s time to celebrate at your reception! For the post-ceremony celebration, many couples opt to have a DJ and a live band while others choose one or the other.

With so many DJs to choose from, be selective with your hiring. Make sure the DJ is well established and check several references. Again, consider previewing the DJ at another event or reviewing videos that show samples of his work.

Some DJs are willing to act as emcees, signaling dining, toasts and dancing times, and encouraging wedding guests to come to the dance floor. If you do not want your DJ to communicate directly with guests, or if you want to have a say in how the DJ addresses guests—for instance, lively and with humor, or subtly and formally—be sure that you make your wishes clear before your wedding day arrives.

You’ll want to determine a play list well in advance to ensure the DJ has your selections on hand. The play list could be specific songs for the whole reception, or a mix of specific songs along with general types of music you’d like him to play. If you know there are certain songs that you definitely don’t want to hear at your wedding reception, make sure the DJ knows what they are. Finally, decide ahead of time if you want the DJ to take requests from your guests.

If selecting a live band, arrange to listen to them play prior to booking. Go over all the details such as number of breaks they will take during the reception, and the music that will be played during those breaks. The variety of music options available for your wedding is extensive. From big band to jazz combos, string quartets to solo harpists, it is simply a matter of deciding the atmosphere you wish to create at your event. Wise hiring, consideration of the ages of your guests and a well-thought-out music selection will ensure that you have a perfect musical background for this special day.