“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” Victor Hugo
Choosing the right music and songs for your wedding ceremony can be great fun but a little overwhelming! If you’re a music lover – or even if you’re not – it is important that the music and words reflect you as a couple, and sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start.
With this in mind, I’ve put together a list of frequent requests and a few ideas of my own to enhance your special day, and communicate to and include the people you have invited to share it with you. I hope it helps!
Classical
- Ave Maria (Bach/ Gounod)
Classical crossover singer Hayley Westenra sings:
Ave Maria (Schubert)
These two songs are often confused. (I won’t state the obvious.) Both are usually now sung in Latin but the option of the original German text in the Schubert is equally beautiful.
Here is Renée Fleming singing the Schubert version in a very different and beautiful way:
- Caro mio ben (My dearest love by Giordani)
- Ich liebe dich (I love you by Beethoven)
- Irish blessing (Chilcott)
Some beautiful words to pave the way for your future life together:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again.
May God hold you, May God hold you
Ever in the palm of His hand.
- Panis angelicus (Bread of heaven Franck)
This might be sung during a Catholic wedding ceremony as the congregation take communion. - This day (Chilcott)
Another suitable blessing upon the bridal couple for the signing of the register:
This day will you strength us.
This day will you bless us.
This day will you lift us, visit us for good.
This day inscribe us for a happy, happy life.
This day hear our cry.
This day accept our prayer in mercy and favour.
This day support us with your righteous hand.
This day accept our prayer in mercy and favour.
This day, this day.
This day will you strength us.
This day will you bless us.
This day will you lift us, visit us for good.
This day inscribe us for a happy, happy life.
This day hear our cry. Amen.
Folk
- I know where I’m goin’ (Irish Traditional)
- She moved through the fair (Irish Traditional)
Be sure to tweak the rather maudlin last verse! A lovely version of this can be heard by Camilla Kerslake.
Jazz
Moon river (Mancini & Mercer)
- A nightingale sang in Berkley Square (Maschwitz & Manning Sherwin)
- Till there was you (Willson)
Pop
- How long will I love you (Scott/ Goulding)
- A thousand years (Perri & Hodges)
The Twilight favourite! I’ve had a lot of requests for this in recent years!
It might be worth pointing out that civil marriages do not allow religious music in the ceremony itself. Depending on the guidelines of the individual registrar and venue, you may be able to work around this by singing in Latin or performing the song purely as an instrumental with no words.
