Selecting Chicago Wedding Music for your Wedding Ceremony

by Janet Janz, Cellist

Music is a wonderful way to enhance the beauty of your wedding ceremony. Live music brings a warmth and personal touch to your special day. Greeting your guests, walking down the aisle, lighting the candles; these are all special moments during your ceremony. Music will make all of these moments more memorable. This guide can help you with all the aspects of planning the music for your ceremony.

Types of Ceremony Music

There are many solo and/or instrument combinations that can be used to perform your wedding music. Do you want a singer, a solo instrument, a small ensemble or all of the above?! Here are some examples of combinations:

  • Organ
  • Piano
  • Piano Trio (violin, cello, piano)
  • String Trio (2 violins & cello or violin, viola & cello)
  • String Quartet (2 violins, viola, cello)
  • Harp
  • Trumpet
  • Flute and guitar
  • Woodwind Quartet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon)

You can use an organ or piano for the processional and recessional, and then have other musicians play other parts of the service. Or, you may want one ensemble to play all of the music.

Musical Spots during the Ceremony

During the wedding ceremony, two people are united in marriage in front of friends and family members. There are many opportunities during the ceremony to punctuate the love between two people.

Here are some spots to include music during the ceremony:

  • Prelude (20-30 minutes)
  • Processional
  • Candle Lighting
  • Communion
  • Meditation/Quiet Time
  • Recessional
  • Postlude (10-15 minutes)

Finding Musicians for Your Wedding

You can find a number of talented musicians throughout all of Illinois. Here are some places to get reliable musicians for your wedding:

  • At your Church. Check with the music minister about the Church’s guidelines regarding the use of their musicians and outside musicians.
  • Ask family members and friends for recommendations.
  • Local music schools. Call the school directly and ask if they have performing groups.
  • Local Universities/Colleges. Call or post a flyer asking for musicians to contact you.
  • Internet

Remember to get a list of references from prior clients. Feel free to contact the references for more information about the musicians.

Musical Arrangements

Please keep in mind that not all pieces are arranged for the instruments you want. The musicians can give you ideas and help you choose music. Unless you have specific requests, the prelude music can easily be chosen by your musicians.

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