Then & Now: Wedding Music

Imagine feeling as though you've stepped into a different era on your wedding day. You can use vintage music mixed with modern music to personalize your special day. There are several options for the delivery of music for your ceremony and reception. For instance, you could use individual instruments or a combination of instrumentation: a string trio or quartet, harpist, vocalist, orchestra, or pianist. By employing a disc jockey, you give yourself the ability to link these music selections harmoniously together. Variety will assist in making your wedding more entertaining and memorable!

Let's look at various music selections for vintage and modern wedding ceremonies and receptions. The following music selections are from the time period 1920's-1940's and modern:

CEREMONY

Prelude: 1920s-1940s
1. Aire in G (Bach)
2. Liebestraum, by Franz Liszt (for piano)

Prelude: Modern
1. So This is Love, Instrumental
2. Waltz from Sleeping Beauty, Act I (Tchaikovsky)

Processional: 1920's-1940's
1. I Love Thee, written by Edvard Grieg
2. Bridal Chorus, Lohengrin Wagner

Processional: Modern
1. Pachelbel's Canon in D
2. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)

Recessional: 1920's-1940's
1. Love, Here is My Heart! (lyrics by Adrian Ross, music by Lao Silesu, copyright 1915)
2. Wedding March, Mendelssohn (Orchestral)

Recessional: Modern
1. Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)
2. Wedding March, Mendelssohn

RECEPTION

1st Dance: 1920's-1940's
1. It Had to Be You, Benny Goodman and His Orchestra or Billie Holiday
2. The Way you Look Tonight, Guy Lombardo or Fred Astaire
3. You?re the One I Care For, Bert Lown & His Hotel Orchestral Elmer Feldkamp

1st Dance: Modern
1. My Best Friend, Tim McGraw
2. Steady as We Go, Dave Matthews
3. The Story, Brandi Carlile

Cake Cutting: 1920's-1940's
1. I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire, The Inkspots
2. When You Wish Upon a Star, Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards
3. It's Love-Love-Love, Four King Sisters

Cake Cutting: Modern
1. Sugar, Sugar, The Archies
2. How Sweet It Is to Be Loved By You, James Taylor
3. Recipe for Love, Harry Connick, Jr.

As you can see, mixing vintage music with modern music allows you to create a wedding day that is as unique as you are. The memories that surround your musical selections will remain with you through your lifetime! Remember, when you wish upon a star, might your recipe for love come true!

Author's Note: Special thanks to Clara Woolley for suggestions on vintage ceremony music & Judy Chamberlain Entertainment for her historic knowledge in vintage live music.