First United Methodist

Brian Henkelmann is your contact for organ and piano music at weddings and other special services. Please see below for musical examples and planning resources.

Wedding Resources

Within the context of a Christian marriage service, it is expected that the music will be fitting for inclusion in a worship service. There is a wealth of music which is appropriate in this setting and some examples are listed below (Wedding Music), with links their sites.

Although every wedding service is unique, many weddings use music in the following places during the ceremony.

Prelude: In the beginning, a prelude or period of gathering music is played as the guests arrive and are seated. This is a good place to include vocal or instrumental pieces.

Seating of the Parents: The formal wedding often begins with the seating of the family. The length of the appropriate piece will vary with the number of people being seated. Often the music is joyful, but subdued. The candles on each side of the unity candle may be lighted as part of the seating of the mothers.

Bridal Party Processional: Again, the piece chosen needs to be long enough to cover the entry of all the bridesmaids as well as flower girl(s) or ring bearer(s). The music may begin building in volume and excitement as it builds to the bridal procession. The best man and groomsmen will enter during this piece as well and get in position at the front, waiting for the entrance of the bride.

Bridal Procession: The entrance of the bride is the dramatic high point of the beginning of the wedding and the music is usually march-like and majestic. The length of the aisle and the time it takes for the bride to walk down it will have some influence on the piece chosen.

Unity Candle: The lighting of the Unity Candle (or a variation such as the mixing of sand or braiding of ropes) usually follows the exchange of rings. This is a great place for a short solo or instrumental piece. Most people are more comfortable with shorter pieces, so they are not left just standing there after lighting the candle until the piece ends.

Solo: Additional solos are often included after the scripture reading if appropriate.

Recessional: Upbeat music usually provides the background for the married couple as they exit the church. This follows the introduction of the bride and kiss. The same piece is usually played until the family members also exit.

Postlude: Music is most often played until the guests have left the church.

Wedding Resources Documents

Click here to download and print the Wedding Resource and Information Sheets

Church Wedding Policy

Click here to download and print the Church Wedding Policy

Wedding Music

The following online sites provide suggestions for all parts of the wedding ceremony. Various denominational traditions are represented as well as some retailers. Some sites provide sound samples, others just give titles. Inclusion in this list does not signify a personal endorsement of any list or product. It is offered only as one resource among many.

a) The Complete Wedding Music Resource – Traditional, downloadable wedding recordings (about $.99 a song)
Click to link to The Complete Wedding Music Resource on Amazon.com

b) The Royal School of Church Music wedding page, offering suggestions for everyone involved in the wedding
Click to link to the wedding page at RSCM.com

c) Highland Park Methodist Church, Dallas, TX – great samples of great wedding music categorized by different parts of the service
Click to link to the wedding page at HPUMC.org

d) St. Paul Cathedral Wedding Guide (Pittsburgh), samples of pieces
Click to link to the wedding page at StPaulPgh.org

e) Song Suggestions for Weddings OCP
Click to link to the document at OCP.org

f) The Carnegie Library
Click to link to wedding music at CarnegieLibrary.org

g) Reformed Worship
Click to link to wedding music at ReformedWorship.org