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WEDDING SERVICES AT THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
OF WELLFLEET
Music Services for Weddings
Congratulations and thank you for choosing First Church for your upcoming wedding! The following is a set of guidelines that we hope will help in planning music for your wedding ceremony. Since a church wedding is religious by nature, it is important that the music reflect the grace, solemnity and joy of this special occasion. The music used throughout the ceremony should of course convey a sense of celebration. Please remember, however, that certain music can seem inappropriate, especially when played on a pipe organ. Show tunes, pop, rock and the like are best left for the reception; playing amplified music or CD’s seldom fits with the wedding service that we offer. Please read the following material for an idea of what we usually do.
Prelude
The organist plays a selection of quiet classical and baroque music, which sets a tone of prayerful and joyful preparation. For this selection, the organist can easily include any particular favorites of the bride, the groom or their families. More often than not, wedding parties choose to let the organist deal with most or all of this part of the service, which is fine. The various pieces of music played during the “Prelude” time are usually not listed individually in the printed wedding program. The designation “Prelude of Organ Music” or something of that sort is the typical notation.
Processional
Music for the entrance of the Bride and the Bridal Party should reflect a dignified and stately tone, in contrast to the louder and more joyous music used for Recessionals. Many bridal couples also like to have special music for the entrance of the Mothers--also an appropriate time for a solo to be sung, if you so desire.
During the Service
There are usually two places in the service, when musical selections may be played. If there is to be a soloist or instrumentalist, a good time to perform is either after the “intentions” when the Bridal Party goes up to the altar area, or during the lighting of the Unity Candle (if that ceremony is to be part of your service). Some weddings include a hymn, which is sung by the entire congregation. This can be effective if the guests are comfortable with hymn-singing.
Recessional
The Recessional should be big and joyous; its purpose is to accompany you down the aisle while a smiling congregation witnesses the final stage of your ceremony. More often than not, the wedding couple hears only about the first 15 seconds of this music; the rest is lost to excitement. But the music has an effect on the congregation, to be sure. The service is now over.
Music Fees
The organist will advise you of the fee once all the planning has been decided. Please note that any musical changes you want to make must be made no later than three weeks prior to your wedding date.
Soloists
We host many weddings at First Church and have worked with many soloists and instrumentalists in the area. Should you wish to have a trumpet, string group, flute or vocalist(s), make that decision very early in your planning process, so you are not disappointed. Please contact the organist, so that we can make arrangements for you. We prefer to work with people we know and have found dependable – it can save us time and you money!
Following is a list of suggestions for processionals and recessionals.
Prince of Denmark March (Trumpet Voluntary in D) … Jeremiah Clarke
Wedding March … Richard Wagner
Wedding March from Midsummer Night’s Dream … Felix Mendelssohn
Trumpet Tune in C … Henry Purcell
Air from the Water Music … George F. Handel
Canon in D … Johan Pachelbel
Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring … Johann Sebastian Bach
Allegro Maestoso (Hornpipe) … George F. Handel
Ode to Joy … Ludwig van Beethoven
Miscellaneous music for use during the service or as preludes.
Bist Du Bei Mir (Be Thou By Me) … Johann Sebastian Bach
Ave Verum … Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ave Maria … Franz Schubert
Panis Angelicus … Cesar Franck
Largo from “Xerxes”
Hymns suggestions from the Pilgrim Hymnal
#8 Joyful, Joyful , We Adore Thee (Ode to Joy)
#15 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
#16 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
#35 When Morning Gilds the Skies
#38 Morning Has Broken
#66 For the Beauty of the Earth
#227 Fairest Lord Jesus
#251 Holy, Holy, Holy
#228 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
#465 O Perfect Love
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