We have excellent musicians but we also have a good quality sound system so we can offer a wide variety of choice.

If you choose musicians…

Many couples like to use the church’s musicians, like the organist or choir, throughout the whole service because their sound suits the church acoustics so well. Please talk to us about the costs and availability of the choir, organist or band. Unfortunately, our choir are not usually available in August.

But you might also like to hire your own musicians, and you can, from classical soloists to rock bands. You may have friends or relatives who are talented with a particular instrument and you’d like them to be involved in the service and that is fine too.

Alternatively we can produce good music through the sound system so

Some ideas

Some popular choices of traditional music are offered below, but you can discuss other ideas too with our vicar or our church organist; the organist’s capabilities and the type and size of organ they use all need to be taken into account.

For the bride’s entrance

Music for this moment might be gentle, dramatic, emotional and touching, but always positive.

The type of music you choose may depend on the size of the church and which songs or music really mean something to you both. These are some popular, classic pieces:

• Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin – Wagner
• Trumpet Voluntary, also known as the Prince of Denmark’s March – Jeremiah Clarke
• Trumpet Tune – Purcell
• Canon in D – Pachelbel
• St Anthony Chorale – Brahms
• Salut D’Amour – Elgar
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – J S Bach

For signing the paperwork

You and your two witnesses may move to a different part of the church, (or even go into a separate room), to sign the paperwork. Either way, it is a moment of pause in the ceremony and music is often played at this point.

You can choose a hymn for your guests to sing, or have a piece of music played, either by a live musician, or through the sound system.

If you choose our choir here are some suggestions but you are welcome to talk to our Director of Music about alternatives which we will do our best to help with.

• Rutter – All things bright and beautifulFor the Beauty of the Earth
• Rutter – I will sing with the Spirit
• Howard Goodall – Psalm 23 (The Vicar of Dibley Theme) 
• Mozart  – Ave Verum Corpus

For leaving the church

Music for this part of your ceremony is always upbeat and cheerful. These are some popular, traditional classics, but again please talk to us if you’d like something different:-

• Wedding March – Incidental Music No.9 from Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mendelssohn
• The Queen of Sheba, from ‘Solomon’ – Handel
• Trumpet Tune in D – John Stanley
• Hornpipe in D – from Handel
• Canon in D – Pachelbel

For something special

There may be another part of the service where a piece of music is appropriate for your ceremony, for example if you have chosen an additional reading and you’d like it read out while some music is played quietly in the background.

See what the vicar says about all your choices – they’ll want to ensure your service reflects your story, but also that it runs smoothly and sounds the best that it possibly can in the church.