Choosing wedding music……there are just so many decisions, so many choices of ways to go with it. How does one actually decide what music would work best for their wedding? And more importantly, how can you actually tell your love story with music?
For me, using a full blown example is always the easiest way to start my creative juices flowing. So using the ideas from my earlier post, Choosing Your Wedding Theme, let’s create a fictitious couple and theme and then see how the music can be used to pull it all together.
Personalities: Bibliophile and artist
Styles: Traditional and Bohemian
Favorite Colors: Blue and yellow
Favorite things: Movie – The Girl With A Pearl Earring
Flowers: Garden
Ceremony: Traditional
Location: Library
Food: Literary inspired appetizers and desserts
Since the location is a library, and the wedding theme is based on a book, the music should reflect both of these things. It should be very understated, and classical in nature. The romantic period of history, 1865-1900, would be the most logical place to find the kind of music appropriate for this type of wedding.
Types of instrumentation which could be used would include: piano, guitar, harp, string quartet, or chamber group. Once again, keeping the sound understated yet elegant and classic.
The prelude may include such composers as Brahms, Debussy, Rachmaninov, Faure, and Ravel.
The processionals may include pieces such as “Claire de lune” or “Secrets” by One Republic. Any subdued and romantic style pieces will work here.
If there are any special portions of music needed during the ceremony, these would be determined by what is happening during the ceremony, how long the music needs to be, and what it should reference. For example, I recently played a wedding where “Be Thou My Vision” was used as the theme, and that hymn was specifically requested for the lantern lighting in the middle of the ceremony.
The recessional can be any favorite piece chosen by the bride and groom. It could range anywhere from “The Best Day Of My Life” by American Authors ( how appropriate is that?) to something elegant and classical. The sky’s literally the limit on this one.
So have I started your creativity flowing? Need more help? Go to PianoCollaborations.com and click on the WeddingCollaborations tab for more info or to get in touch with me personally. Happy planning