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Wedding Music - the Exit 

Now that the paperwork is out of the way, it's time to celebrate! It's amazing how music can enhance the atmosphere of a special occasion, and you don't want to miss a moment to make this a memorable day.

As always, consider the style of ceremony you have just created and choose something to be played as you exit and greet your guests that speaks to that style or flavour, something that makes sense following your other choices. If you've made traditional choices up till now, it's probably best to stay there, and likewise for the more casual style. Here are some suggestions.

For a Formal or Traditional ceremony:
  • La Rejouissance from the Fireworks Suite (Handel)
  • Spring, from the Fours Seasons (Vivaldi)
  • Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Handel)
For a Casual or Contemporary ceremony:
  • What a Wonderful World (Armstrong)
  • Dare You to Move (Switchfoot)
  • The Rose (McBroom)
This is now the time you have to greet your guests before any formal reception later on. It's great to have some background music while you're catching up with everyone, so make sure you factor that into your planning. A 1-hour booking will only just cover your ceremony, but 1.5 hours will give you just that little bit of extra music to keep the celebration going. If you're having drinks or canapés at the ceremony site, why not have music for that time too? Every little bit helps to make your day memorable and special. Again, if you have any favourites that you don't see on our list, we are always more than happy to source or write arrangements for you. Time is essential, so 4-6weeks notice is a minimum, and there is a small fee for special arrangements, but it's definitely worth personalising your day so it's as meaningful as possible for you.

Hopefully these articles have been helpful, and feel free to contact us if you want to talk about anything regarding music for your wedding!

Wedding Music - Signing the Register 

It's official!

Well, almost. You've said your vows, you've exchanged rings, all that's left is to sign the paperwork. Can't even escape it on your wedding day.

This is the time during the ceremony when there isn't a whole lot for your guests to see going on, so give them some fantastic music to listen to. It's another spot where you can share a favourite or special song, or something that expresses your character as a couple. Recently we played for a wedding of a couple who were both environmental scientists, so they chose themes from movies that involved animals and plant life. You are only limited by your imagination!

Again, consider the style of ceremony you have planned and try to match the music accordingly. If you're not sure what to choose, here are a few suggestions.

For a Traditional / Formal Ceremony:
  • "Air on the G-string" (Bach)
  • Romance from "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" (Mozart)
  • Menuett (Boccherini)
  • Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
  • Andante from Divertimento in D major K136 (Mozart)
For a more Casual or Contemporary ceremony:
  • "Someone to Watch Over Me" (Gershwin)
  • "The Rose" (McBroom)
  • "When You Say Nothing At All" (Krauss)
  • "Unchained Melody" (Righteous Brothers)
  • "Groovy Kind of Love" (Collins)
The sky is the limit! You have approximately 5-7 minutes while you sign the documents, your witnesses sign, your photographer takes some shots and then your family and friends have their chance to take photos. Take advantage of this time to make it enjoyable for your guests, and set a musical background to the momentous thing that's occurring in the foreground. Above all, choose music that you want to hear on your special day!

Need more ideas? Check out our Repertoire page. Next time I'll talk about After the Ceremony - see you then!

Wedding Music - the Entrance 

Music can set the tone for your wedding like nothing else. At Martini Strings we are committed to creating the perfect atmosphere for your day, so here are a few things to think about when considering the music for your entrance to the ceremony.

Think about the sort of feel you want for your guests. Do you want a very formal occasion? That's ok, it's whatever works for you. If you want a very formal occasion, I'd recommend choosing traditional classical pieces. Some suggestions would be:
  • Canon in D (Pachelbel)
  • Bridal Chorus (Wagner)
  • Wedding March (Mendelssohn)
If you still want a formal feel but you're not so keen on these, you might consider these:
  • Trumpet Voluntary (Jeremiah Clarke)
  • Alla Hornpipe (Handel)
  • Trumpet Tune (Purcell)
Perhaps you still want the elegance of a ceremonial occasion without feeling stiff? There are some movie & TV themes that we've played for entrances that work quite well, like these:
  • "Feather theme" from Forrest Gump
  • "A Thousand Years" from Twilight, by Christina Perri
  • "My Heart Will Go ON" from Titanic
And then...there's your imagination! If you have a favourite song that you really want, we're usually able to either find it or arrange it ourselves. We just need a bit of time, so make you let us know at least 4-6 weeks before your wedding if you can't find your favourite song on our list. We love adding to our library too, so we're more than happy to hear your ideas.

I hope that helps - tune in next time for ideas on what to choose for signing the register!

Wedding Music - what to choose! 

There are so many things to consider when planning your wedding, and sometimes music can become just another stress you don't need. Here are some things to think about when finding music that's right for you.
  1. Style - are you having a formal wedding, or a casual one? 
  2. Personality - what will the music say about you?
  3. Taste - what kind of music do you love?
In the next few posts I'll talk a little bit about music for each part of your day, with a few suggestions in these areas. Remember that if you really don't know - or don't mind - we are happy to choose appropriate pieces for you. We've played for hundreds of weddings over the years, so you can be sure we will find something perfectly suitable for your day!