Top 100 Southern Rock Songs

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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