Preparing Your Wedding Liturgy

Choosing Music 2: Instrumental music

It is common practice in England and Wales that the processions at the beginning and the end of the wedding liturgy are accompanied by instrumental music. It is often played on the organ but other instruments may also be used. There are other points in the liturgy where instrumental music may be used.

Entrance and Final Procession

This music will set the tone for the celebration and it will be the last music people hear in the liturgy. There is a wide range of pieces that can be used, many from the classical repertoire, which express joy or a sense of occasion.

The Walkthrough gives guidance as to the various options for the Entrance Procession.

Particularly for the Entrance Procession it may be worth checking how the music fits the procession, e.g. when to start moving.

Some may wish to use recorded music to accompany the procession if the church has the facilities to do this. You will need to ask someone to operate the equipment —  they will need to do more than just switch the music on and off. Often the music will be significantly longer than the There may also be question about whether the music is suitable for use within the liturgy of the Church.

Gathering Music

Before the liturgy begins, as people gather, can be a time for instrumental music. This might be the place for favourite instrumental pieces which cannot be fitted elsewhere. As a rule it should not be too exuberant — partly so that it does not become the background to loud chatter and distract those who wish to pray quietly before the liturgy.

Other points in the liturgy

Instrumental music might also be played at the Preparation of Gifts, after Communion and the Signing of Register.