Prelude

Organists and musicians will often provide ‘prelude’ music before a wedding ceremony. It is simply music played quietly as your guests arrive and take their seats. When the wedding party is ready to begin entering the church the musician will end the prelude and being playing your choice of music for the Processional.

The prelude is one piece of the wedding ceremony that brides and grooms don’t need to plan; most musicians have a good repertoire to draw from for the prelude. If you’re not sure which songs to include, we recommend Lumiere String Quartet’s Classical Wedding Music album.

Here are some pieces you may want to consider if you’re planning your own prelude.

• “Adagio” from Sonata in E-Flat – (Mozart)
• “Air” from Water Music – (Handel)
• “Air On The G String” from Orchestral Suite No.3 – (Bach)
• Ave Maria – (Schubert)
• Canon in D – (Pachelbel)
• Clair de Lune – (Debussy)
• “Courante” – (from the Three Lute Dances)
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – (Bach)
• Only Time – (Enya)
• I Will Be Here – (Steven Curtis Chapman)
• Trumpet Voluntary (Jeremiah Clarke)
• For the Love of a Princess – (Braveheart Soundtrack)
• Forever in Love – (Kenny G)
• Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee – (Tim Zimmerman)
• Meant to Be – (Jim Brickman)
• Moonlight Sonata – (Beethoven)
• My Heart Will Go On – (Celine Dion – Titanic Soundtrack)
• Nocturne In E-Flat, Op.9 No.2 – (Chopin)
• Sheep May Safely Graze – (Bach)
• Surely the Presence of the Lord – (Various)
• The Four Seasons – (Vivaldi)
• The Immigrant (Love Theme) – (Godfather Soundtrack)
• Trumpet Tune – (Purcell)