Music Suggestions for Your Wedding Ceremony

Music for a Wedding Service

Many wedding organizers leave the choice of the music for the wedding service to chance.  Here are some suggestions to consider.

Processional Music (Bringing in the Bride….):

Processional music is the music that you and your wedding party will walk down the aisle to.  You can have one song for everyone, or choose a separate song for your grand entrance. At the end of the ceremony, you and your new husband leave the venue to your recessional music, which tends to be more upbeat than the processional. There are traditional choices for both of these pieces of music, but we’ve given you a couple of options to consider. Listen and enjoy!

Bridal Chorus (by Wagner)

Often known as "Here Comes The Bride", this piece of classical music is the traditional choice for the procession of the bride, and is often played on an organ.

 Canon in D (by Pachelbel)

This gorgeous piece of music sounds beautiful played by a traditional violin or on classical guitar.  This piece has the advantage that it cycles on itself.  No need to worry about timing as you do not know when it finishes…..the finish is just a fading down of of melody.

 A Thousand Years (by The Piano Guys, originally performed by Christina Perri)

Often couples can’t decide between a classic instrumental or a more modern love song with vocals for their processional music. Why not get the best of both worlds with an instrumental cover of one of your favourite songs? The Piano Guys make this modern melody a classic.

Marry Me (by Train)

If you want a modern song but aren’t sure what sort of thing to go for, then we think this a great choice. The melody and lyrics are both beautiful, and the tempo isn’t too fast for a processional.

Music during the Signing of the Marriage Register:

Elusive Moments (by Tino Izzo)

Talent guitarist Tino Izzo is not known until you hear his infectious compositions.  Elusive Moments is well suited to be played during the signing of the legal documents.

Recessional Music (The Couple Leaves….):

Signed, Sealed, Delivered (by Stevie Wonder)

One of the most popular modern choices – and with good reason! After all, you and your new husband have just signed the wedding register, so the lyrics “signed, sealed, delivered – I’m yours!” are particularly meaningful.

We’ve Only Just Begun (The Carpenters)

The lyrics say it all.  Everyone hums along almost immediately without thinking.

For the Love of You (Candy Dulfer)

Candy Dulfer is an unique saxophonist with a flair with this Smooth Jazz piece that not only fits well into the Recessional but also extends well into the implementation of a receiving line.

When is it time to Consider having a PA Sound system for your Wedding?

When is it time to Consider having a PA Sound system for your Wedding?

There are a few indicators that a PA system is needed:




1. Your audience count is approaching 70 or more persons. A good rule of thumb is that 70 guests is the point you should start to consider using a PA system.




2. The number of aisles for seats for your guests are eight rows long or longer. Most church pews are three feet distance from pew to pew and even if your guests are sitting in folding chairs, they’ll still take up about the same amount of space. So eight rows puts your back row of guests twenty four feet (24') from the front. That’s too far to hear well with the simple spoken voice; especially for those people in the back that are hard of hearing.




3. Your ceremony is planned to be held outdoors. Outdoor weddings are beautiful but they’re twice as hard to hear as indoor weddings. Inside, sound reflects and bounces back. Outside, it disappears into the wind.  Remember you’ll also have the sounds of nature to compete with at your outdoor ceremony (cars driving by, etc.)




What is you need to start?

You will be surprised how inexpensively you can rent the following items from your local musician supply store (like St. Johns Music or Long & McQuade):

1.  One wired microphone with an on/off switch.  The most common microphone found in hotels is the Shure SM-58. Avoid wireless microphones if possible.  They may seem convenient but your introduce challenges like having proper line of sight with the RF receiver and the life span of batteries for the microphone.  The use of microphone stand is optional.  The SM-58 does a pretty good job of coping with windy conditions as well.  It is a rugged and robust microphone that has been in active service for decades.

2.  Two 200 watt PA speakers with 1/4" Jack cabling works reasonably well.  These type of speakers work best elevated on tripods.  You really only need two at most wedding services.  Avoid use of wireless speakers. The problem with wireless devices is the RF (radio frequency) signals are blocked by water.  People are made up of 60% water and therefore when a person is in the line of sight of a wireless devices and the wireless antennae, the device will lose signal and you will get a static sound over the PA system.  Wired technology is reliable and safe.  It is preferred in a setting like a wedding; especially if the ceremony is being held out of doors.   The speakers should be place in front of the wedding party to avoid feedback squelches.

3.  One 4 channel mixer.  You can patch in your IPhone to the mixer using the ear phone jack of the IPhone that attaches to the mixer using RCA jacks. If you are using an IPhone or I pad or a Tablet, just make sure that the device is resting on a flat surface and is not moved during the wedding service.  Movement of the device may move the placement of the earphone jack that creates a crackling sound.

4.  A reliable person to take control of the mixer during the wedding service is the final essential part of your sound system.  Best to encourage this volunteer to attend your rehearsal so that they become comfortable setting up the equipment!  Now just load your playlist of songs into your playing device and you are on your way!

A Lucky Day to get Married

Regina couples choose to marry on 08-08-08



by Pamela Cowan, Leader-Post


Published: Saturday, August 09, 2008 in the Regina LeaderPost



REGINA -- 08-08-08 -- why wait?



Friday isn't a traditional day to wed but at least eight Regina couples decided to tie the knot for

luck on the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008. For the past year, marriage commissioner Randall Edge has received numerous requests for his services on Friday. He tried to accommodate everyone, but said four weddings a day is his limit.  I took the day off because there was such a strong demand for performing ceremonies today," he said. The last ceremony he was to perform on Friday was at 9 p.m. "It's really a reflection of the fact that the Chinese culture calls for today to be a day of high

fortune," Edge said. "It's not an accident that the Olympic ceremonies started at eight minutes after

eight this morning of the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of this decade. A lot of

individuals want to start off their relationship as a married couple with good fortune." His day began at 11 a.m. when he married Melissa and Aaron O'Connor in the backyard of Aaron's parents' place. The bride chose the date because eight is a lucky number in Chinese tradition. "I've been fascinated by the oriental culture for years so when this date came up it was like once in a lifetime opportunity," she said. "I'm very superstitious. Aaron is not." But her new husband hopes the date will be to his advantage. "That's an anniversary date that I think I can manage to remember," Aaron said.

The weekend will be memorable for Aaron's family as his brother Tyler will marry Erin Heisler in

Qu'Appelle today. Aaron and Tyler's mother, Grace O'Connor, made both wedding cakes. She was burning the midnight oil on Thursday as she completed Tyler and Erin's wedding cake.

"It's been a little hectic and we have the rehearsal tonight," she said after Aaron and Melissa's

wedding ceremony. Lawyers Melanie Hodges and Robin Neufeld were married by Judge Diane Morris on Friday afternoon at the Regina Floral Conservatory. The couple chose the date last year when they got engaged on Melanie's birthday. "We randomly picked Aug. 8 because my birthday is Aug. 1 and Robin's birthday is Aug. 15 - so we figured that we'd remember Aug. 8," Hodges said. "It was just a date between our birthdays, but we're happy that it was 08-08-08. It wasn't because of any superstition, but we'll take any luck that we can get."