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Playing our featured MIDI files
This article has links to MIDI files that enable you to hear many of our
suggested music pieces (only if your computer has a sound card and
speakers). Clicking on any MIDI file link should automatically start your
media player software, and after a short period of time you should hear the
piece of music. If this does not happen and you are presented with a
download window, you do not have any media player software installed.
To see if you have a media player installed on your computer that can play
MIDI files click
here to play a short MIDI file. If you hear music, you have media
player software installed! If you wish to download Microsoft's latest Media
Player software (for any version of Windows and Mac using Internet Explorer
version 3 or above, or any other browser) click here . As an
alternative to Windows Media Player, you may wish download Live Update's
Crescendo MIDI Music Player by clicking here Both
of these media players are free downloads.
This article also has links to Windows WAV files, which should
automatically be played upon download by your media player. Be warned, our
WAV files are large (431kb each) but they allow you to hear our suggested
music similar in quality to the original recording.
Music for your church ceremony
If you are getting married in a church, you should discuss with your
minister the music you would like played. The minister will usually have a
list of suitable pieces that can be played according to the organist's
ability and the type of organ in the church. With the minister's approval,
you may be able to have a competent friend or relative play for you and/or
have your own choice of music played. It would also be possible to arrange
to have professional musicians attend and play for you, although you will
probably need at least a quartet to give the required strength and depth to
the tradition 'orchestral' music played during a church ceremony. It is for
this reason that a church organ is so suitable although your choice of
music may be restricted subject to the competency of the church's organist.
There are four sections of your church ceremony that you need to consider
music for. They are: The Prelude, The Processional, The Signing of the
Register and The Recessional. We have listed below many of the popular
pieces that are played during each section. Titles that are shown as a
hyperlink will play a MIDI file when clicked on.
The Prelude
This is music that is played while guests congregate in the church and
wait for the bride to arrive. The music sets the mood for the ceremony to
come and should be positive and joyous. Unless you have particular music in
mind, the organist will usually play a selection while your guests
assemble. Popular music played during the prelude include:
Canon
in D by Pachelbel
Holsworthy
Church Bells by Wesley
Voce
Sapete by Mozart
Nimrod from
Enigma Variations by Elgar
Jesu
Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
Greensleves by Williams
Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
Ave
Maria by Schubert
Ave Maria
by Gounod
The Swan by Saint Saens
The Processional
This is music played for the bride's arrival and the bridal party's
procession down the aisle. One piece of music is chosen, which should be
stately and regal and last the duration of the bridal party's journey to
the groom at the altar. The most popular pieces of music played during the
processional are:
Wedding March from Lohengrin (aka Here Comes The Bride) by Wagner
Arrival
of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
Trumpet
Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke
Grand March
from Aida by Verdi
Trumpet Voluntary by Stanley
Trumpet Minuet by Hollins
Trumpet
Tune by Purcell
Trumpet
Tune by Charpentier
I Was Glad by Parry
Hornpipe
from the Water Music by Handel
The
Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Morning
from Peer Gynt by Grieg
Spring
from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi
Winter from
the Four Seasons by Vivaldi
The Signing of the Register
During the time spent in the registry, the organist will be willing to
play any suitable music of your choice, whether traditional or modern. You
may wish, for example, to have some music played that has a special meaning
to you both. This is also the appropriate time where you can make your
ceremony unique by arranging to have a friend, relative or group entertain
your guests by singing or playing your own choice of music and tunes. If
you propose doing this, please get your minister's approval before you make
any bookings. If you opt for the church organist to play traditional music,
the following pieces are popular:
Ave Maria
by Schubert
Ave Maria
by Gounod
Air on
the G String by Bach
Sheep
May Safely Graze by Bach
Canon
in D by Pachelbel
Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
Flower
Duet from Lakmé by Delibes
Jesu
Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
Exsultate
Jubilate by Mozart
Laudate
Dominum by Mozart
Three Clock Pieces by Haydn
Panis
Angelicus by Franck
Wacht Auf by
Back
Clair
De Lune by Debussy
Air
from the Water Music by Handel
The Lord Bless You And Keep You by Rutter
Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
The Recessional
As you leave the registry and walk arm-in-arm down the aisle as husband
and wife, you will want the organ to bellow out music that is triumphant,
joyful and celebratory. Traditional recessional music includes:
Wedding
March from a Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn
Toccata
from Symphony No 5 by Widor
Trumpet
Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke
Overture
from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Pomp
and Circumstance March No 4 by Elgar
The
Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Bridal March by Hollins
Hornpipe
from the Water Music by Handel
Carillion
De Westminster by Vierne
Rondeau by Joseph Mouret
Grand March
from Aida by Verdi
Grand March from Le Prophete by Meyerbeer
Fanfare by Whitlock
Ode to
Joy by Beethoven
March
from Scipio by Handel
Hallelujah
Chorus , from Messiah by Handel
Finale from Symphony No.1 by Widor
Maestoso
from Symphony No 3 in C by Saint Saens
Please note, some ministers may object to playing Wagner's
Bridal March from his opera Lohengrin because it celebrates a marriage that
collapses in betrayal no more than 20 minutes after it is sung! While
Mendelssohn's Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream accompanies a
pretend wedding.
Finally, you will need to discuss your ideas with your church organist to
ensure that the music you like is suitable for the organ and is within the
playing ability of the organist. If you do use the services of your church
organist, your minister will advise you of the cost.
Music for your civil ceremony
If you are getting married at an approved premise, you will be permitted to
have either recorded or live music. If you intend having live music, you
will probably need to adapt your choice of music to suit the musicians you
engage, for example, a soloist will play a piece of music somewhat
differently to say a string quartet. Therefore, discuss your choice of
music with your musicians and arrange to listen to how your chosen tunes
will be played.
Marriages at approved premises do not have the time constraints of register
office marriages. Therefore, you have much greater freedom in deciding the
number of pieces you wish played. Indeed, you may wish to replicate the
format of a church marriage service and have a prelude, a processional and
a recessional. You can even have music played at other points during the
ceremony itself.
We have listed below many of the popular and traditional classical music
pieces you may wish to consider playing during your service. The pieces are
classified by their suitability for each section of a service that follows
the same format of a church service. However, at a civil wedding, there are
few restrictions on the type of music allowed (so long as it is
non-religious and does not detract from the solemnity of the occasion). So
if you have favourite contemporary pieces then go ahead and play them -
don't be afraid to be adventurous!
The Prelude
This is music that is played while guests assemble in
the venue's marriage room until the bride party arrives and can last up to
about 20 minutes. This music sets the mood for the ceremony to come and
should be positive and joyous. Popular classical music played during the
prelude include:
 = Click to play a MIDI fil e
 = Click to play a 20 second WAV file (431kb)
Canon in D by
Pachelbel CD2
Sheep May Safely Graze
by Bach CD2
Pavane by Fauré CD2
Meditation from Thais
by Massanet CD1
Chanson De Matin by
Elgar CD1
Morning from Peer Gynt
Suite by Grieg CD2
Salut D'amour by Elgar
CD1
1st Movement from Eine
Kline Nachtmusik by Mozart CD1
Minuet by Boccherini
CD2
Air from the Water
Music by Handel CD1
Air on the G String by
Bach CD1
Berceuse from Dolly
Suite by Fauré CD2
The Processional
This is music played for the bridal party's procession
into the marriage room. One piece of music is chosen, which should be
stately and regal and last the duration of the walk to where the ceremony
will be conducted. The most popular classical pieces of music played during
the processional are:
Wedding March from
Lohengrin by Wagner CD2
Arrival of the Queen
of Sheba by Handel CD1
Grand March from Aida
by Verdi CD1
Wedding March from the
Marriage of Figaro by Mozart CD1
Trumpet Voluntary
(Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke CD1
Trumpet Voluntary by
Stanley CD2
Trumpet Tune by Purcell
CD1 
Air from the Water
Music by Handel CD1
The Rejoicing from
Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel CD1
Salut D'amour by Elgar
CD1
Hornpipe from the
Water Music by Handel CD2
Spring from the Four
Seasons by Vivaldi CD2
The Signing of the Register
Whilst signing the register, there will be time for one
piece of music to be played - maybe two pieces if you are having
photographs taken during the signing. Suitable classical pieces to choose
from are:
Canon in D by
Pachelbel CD2
Air from the Water
Music by Handel CD1
Pavane by Fauré CD2
Meditation from Thais
by Massanet CD1
Air on the G String by
Bach CD1
Morning from Peer Gynt
Suite by Grieg CD2
Chanson De Matin by
Elgar CD1
Salut D'amour by Elgar
CD1
Dome Epais from Lakme
by Delibes CD1
4th Movement from Eine
Kline Nachtmusik by Mozart CD1
Sheep May Safely Graze
by Bach CD2
The Recessional
As you leave the marriage room, walking arm-in-arm as
husband and wife, you will want a piece of music that is triumphant, joyful
and celebratory. Traditional recessional music includes:
Wedding March (from a
Midsummer Night's Dream)
by Mendelssohn CD2
Radetsky March by
Strauss CD2
Arrival of the Queen
of Sheba by Handel CD1
Trumpet Voluntary
(Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke CD1
Trumpet Voluntary by
Stanley CD2
Trumpet Tune by
Purcell CD1
Spring from the Four
Seasons by Vivaldi CD2
Brandenburg Concerto
No 3 by Bach
The Rejoicing from
Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel CD1
Grand March from Aida
by Verdi CD1
Overture from The
Marriage of Figaro by Mozart CD2
Hornpipe from the
Water Music by Handel CD2
3rd Movement from Sonata
in D by Purcell CD2
Please note, you must get the prior approval of
the superintendent registrar that will be officiating at your wedding for
all music you wish to play during your service.
Evening Music
At your evening reception, the bride and groom
traditionally dance first on their own to a waltz. However, as ballroom
dancing is not so popular these days, the newlyweds usually dance to a
favourite romantic song. During the playing of this song, it is traditional
for the groom to dance with his new mother-in-law and then with his mother,
while the bride dances with her new father-in-law and then with her father.
The best man also joins in dancing with the chief bridesmaid and the ushers
with the other bridesmaids when the bride and groom first change. After the
first dance, all the guests are invited to join the newlyweds on the
dancefloor.
150 first dance suggestions
If you don't have a particular favourite song in mind
for your first dance, here are 150 romantic suggestions. Those titles shown
as hyperlinks will play a MIDI rendition of the song (not the real thing!).
Please note, the quality of the sound you hear will be dependent upon your
media player and the quality of your sound card.
A Million
Love Songs - Take That
All I
Ask Of You - Michael Crawford
All I Want Is You - U2
All My Life
- Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville
All Out
Of Love - Air Supply
All The Way
- Frank Sinatra
Always - Atlantic
Starr
Always
And Forever - Luther Vandross, Heatwave or Eternal
Angel Of
Mine - Eternal
Angels - Robbie
Williams
Annie's
Song - John Denver
As Time Goes
By - from 'Casablanca'
A
Whole New World - from 'Aladdin'
Babe - Styx
Beautiful
In My Eyes - Joshua Kadison
Because
You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Can
You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John
Can't Get Enough Of Your Love - Barry White
Can't
Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley
Can't
Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valley or Andy Williams
Colour
Of My Love - Celine Dion
Close To
You - Carpenters
Crazy For
You – Madonna
Dreams - Gabrielle
Embraceable
You - Nat King Cole
Endless
Love - Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey
Eternal
Flame - The Bangles
Every
Breath You Take - Sting
Every
Thing I Do, I Do For You - Bryan Adams
Fly Me
To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
From
This Moment - Shania Twain and Brian White
Get Here -
Oleta Adams
Glory Of
Love - Peter Cetera
Groovy
Kind Of Love - Phil Collins
Grow
Old With Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter
Have
I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart
Heaven - Bryan
Adams
Hello -
Lionel Richie
Here And
Now - Luther Vandross
Here We Are - Gloria Estefan
Hero - Mariah
Carey
How
Deep Is Your Love - Take That
How Do I
Live - Leanne Rimes
How
Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - James Taylor
I
Can't Help Lovin' You - Leo Sayer
I
Believe I Can Fly - Roger Kelly
I
Believe In You And Me - Whitney Houston
I Belong
To You - Lenny Kravitz
I Do I
Do I Do I Do - Abba
I Don't Want To Live Without You - Foreigner
If - Bread
I
Finally Found Someone - Barbara Streisand and Bryan Adams
If
You Don't Know Me By Now - Simply Red
I
Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles
I
Get A Kick Out Of You - Frank Sinatra
I Got You
Babe - Sonny and Cher
I
Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
I
Just Can't Stop Loving You - Michael Jackson
I'll
Stand By You - The Pretenders
In My Life -
The Beatles
I Swear -
All 4 One
It Had
To Be You - Harry Connick Jr.
It Must
Be Love - Madness
I've
Been Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner
I
Wanna Know What Love Is - Foreigner
I
Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
I've Had
The Time Of My Life - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
Just
The Way You Are - Billy Joel
Killing
Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack
Kiss The
Rain - Billy Myers
Lady In Red
- Chris de Burgh
Let's
Stay Together - Al Green
Love
Is All Around - Wet Wet Wet
Love Me
Tender - Elvis Presley
Lovely Day -
Bill Withers
Loving You -
Minnie Ripperton
More
Than Words - Extreme
Moon River -
Breakfast At Tiffany's and Andy Williams
My
Eyes Adore You - Frankie Valley and The Four Seasons
My Girl - The
Temptations
My
Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
My Love -
Wings
Nobody
Does It Better - Carly Simon
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship
Now - Karen
Carpenter
Now And
Forever - Richard Marx
One
Moment In Time - Whitney Houston
On
The Wings Of Love - Jeffrey Osborne
Only You -
Platters
Our
Love Is Here To Stay - Nat King Cole or Frank Sinatra
Perfect
Day - Lou Reed
Perfect Moment - Martine McCutcheon
Right
Here Waiting For You - Richard Marx
Save
The Best For Last - Vanessa Williams
Saving
All My Love For You - Whitney Houston
Sexual
Healing - Marvin Gaye
Solid As A Rock - Ashford and Simpson
She's The One - Robbie Williams
Someone
To Watch Over Me - Frank Sinatra or Linda Ronstadt
Sometimes
When We Touch - Dan Hill
Somewhere -
from 'West Side Story'
Stand By Me
- Ben E King
Stuck On
You - Lionel Richie
Suddenly -
Billy Ocean
Take
My Breath Away - Berlin
The
Best Is Yet To Come - Frank Sinatra
The One - Elton
John
The
Power Of Love - Jennifer Rush
These Arms Of Mine - Otis Reading
Three
Times A Lady - Lionel Richie
Tonight
I Celebrate My Love - Peobo Bryson and Roberta Flack
True - Spandau
Ballet
True
Love Ways - Buddy Holly
Truly - Lionel
Richie
Truly
Madly Deeply - Savage Garden
Unchained
Melody - Righteous Brothers
Unforgettable
- Nat King Cole
Up
Where We Belong - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
Waiting
For A Girl Like You - Foreigner
We
Have All The Time In The World - Louis Armstrong
We've
Only Just Begun - Carpenters
What
A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
When
A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge
When
I Fall In Love - Celine Dion
When I
Need You - Leo Sayer
Wind
Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
With
You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston and Syreeta
Without
You - Mariah Carey
Woman - John
Lennon
Wonderful
Tonight - Eric Clapton
Words - Boyzone
You
Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder
Your Love Is King - Sade
Your Song -
Elton John
You're
Still The One - Shania Twain
You're
My Best Friend - Queen
You're The Best Thing - Style Council
You're
The Inspiration - Chicago
Recorded music
Playing recorded music at your wedding reception, that is hiring a disc
jockey, is usually much less expensive than hiring live musicians. However,
just because it is less expensive does not mean that it will be second
rate. DJs offer much greater versatility than live musicians because they
are able to play any type and any piece of music. Although live music has
distinct advantages, dancing to your favourite tunes played by the original
artists can be just as enjoyable if not more so.
DJs will usually play continuously from the start of your reception until
the end, without breaks. They will provide quiet and suitable background
music during the wedding breakfast and will step into party mode for the
evening celebrations.
Legalities of playing recorded and live music
The Performing Rights
Society classifies weddings as private functions. Therefore, a public
broadcasting licence is not required to play music, live or recorded, at
either your ceremony or reception venue.
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