Weddings: Strings
String duos, trios and quartets look and sound amazing. They create the perfect atmosphere for both your wedding ceremony and reception. Whether you'd like a string duo, trio, or quartet it is important that the music you select is special for you. We have included some MP3s (music samples) of popular music for each part of the ceremony and the reception. This will assist you in selecting the best possible music for your wedding.
What are the options?
You can have a string duo, trio or quartet perform at your wedding.
A string duo consists of either a violin and a cello, or two violins.
A trio consists of two violins and a cello or a violin, a viola and a cello.
A quartet has two violins, a viola and a cello.
When will the strings be playing?
On your wedding day, the strings will play:
- a 15-minute prelude (background music) as your guests enter the church
- your chosen processional as the bride and attendants walk down the aisle
- the music that you select throughout the service
- the recessional as you leave the church or walk up the aisle as husband and wife
- a postlude as your guests depart
The Ceremony
The two most frequently requested services are the full wedding mass and the wedding service.
If you are having a full wedding mass you will select music for:
(1) The Processional
(2) The Gifts or Offertory
(3) Communion
(4) The Signing of the Registry
(5) The Recessional
If you are having a wedding service (not a full mass) you will select music for:
(1) The Processional
(2) The Signing of the Registry
(3) The Recessional
Below are some sound samples of appropriate pieces for the various parts of the ceremony. You may like to select some hymns or songs to be sung by everyone during the service.
Processional
Wedding Chorus (Wagner)
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Handel)
Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)
March from Marriage of Figaro (Mozart)
Gifts/ Communion/ Signing of the Registry
These pieces can be played at any of the intermediate stages of the service.
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
Arie (Bach)
Ave Maria (Schubert)
Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart)
Panis Angelicus (Franck)
Recessional
Wedding March (Mendelssohn)
La Rejouissance (Handel)
Ode to Joy (Beethoven)
March from Marriage of Figaro (Mozart)
Contemporary Ceremony Options
For weddings with a more contemporary feel, the strings can play arrangements of popular songs and themes - maybe the two of you have a favourite? These can be suitable for any part of the service, whether it's for the Processional, Signing of the Register, Recessional or at the reception - wherever you choose. Here are a few choices:
All You Need Is Love (The Beatles)
Always On My Mind (Elvis Presley)
Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve)
Can't Get You Out Of My Head (Kylie Minogue)
Con Te Partiro (Andrea Bocelli)
Even When I'm Sleeping (Leonardo's Bride)
Fields Of Gold (Sting)
Foxy Lady (Jimi Hendrix)
Groovy Kind Of Love (Phil Collins)
I Try (Macy Gray)
Kissing You (Des'ree)
Love Is All Around (Wet Wet Wet)
Nothing Compares 2 U (Sinead O'Connor)
What The World Needs Now (Burt Bacharach)
With Or Without You (U2)
You're Beautiful (James Blunt)
The Reception
String duos, trios and quartets provide an ideal accompaniment to pre-dinner drinks and canapes. Here are some examples of different styles of music:
Spring from The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
Tango (Albeniz)
Moment Musicale (Schubert)
From This Moment (Shania Twain)
