A guide to choosing your music for your wedding

Music is a significant feature of your big day. When it comes to choosing your music for your wedding, it isn’t just the procession and first dance you need to think about. We’ve put together a handy guide to choosing your wedding music.

Your wedding soundtrack begins as everyone starts to arrive for the wedding. You need to think about your choice of entrance music, but also, you would need to decide about the filler music during the reception and of course, what’s going to be happening on the dancefloor.

The music shouldn’t stop until you and your partner have your last dance.

1. Pre-ceremony

Pre-ceremony music is what is played as guests arrive and take their seats in the ceremony room. At this point, guests will be talking, and there will be some hustle and bustle as people look for seats and greet others.

You want to choose something that isn’t too overpowering. Light classical music, or a simple piano track, would do the trick.

How about some French accordion music?

2. Pre-processional

The pre-processional is a slightly more solemn moment, prior to the ceremony. At this point, everyone will have been seated and quietly awaiting the arrival of the bridal party. The groom and ushers will be waiting, while you and the bridesmaids prepare for your entrance.

There is no need to choose a specific pre-processional piece. If you do, you would want to choose something that flows quite nicely into the processional music.

3. Processional

The big moment, your entrance. The choice of music here will depend very much on your own personal musical taste, the venue and how formal the day is. But remember that music will be played as your enter and exit, so you’ll need to explore a few ideas.

You can choose something traditional, modern, or upbeat, but ultimately, you want to choose a piece that reflects you and the love you have for each other.

4. Signing the register

Once you’ve exchanged vows, there is the register signing. This takes around 10 minutes, so you may want to factor this in when you choose your song. A little like the pre-ceremony music, you want to choose something that is going to lead into the recessional music.

5. Recessional

When you choose your track for the recessional music, select something upbeat. You and your husband are happy and are about to start the rest of your lives, so you will want to leave your guests with a smile.

6. Food background music 

Now the reception has begun, you may want a little background music. Try and choose something that isn’t too intrusive, allowing people to chat, and ideally something that matches the venue.

7. First dance

When you choose your first dance song, you will want to choose something that truly reflects you as a couple. Think about the lyrics, in particular, as some romantic-sounding songs have lyrics that don’t match the happiness of a wedding.

If your having a ceilidh why not start with the traditional Grand March and get everyone involved.

8. Reception

The moment where all your guests get to share in your happiness. The reception. You want to choose the right wedding band for you. This can be based on your own personal music loves – it could be swing, rock or an iconic Scottish ceilidh band. You just need a band that will get people up and dancing. Reputable wedding bands will come with all the equipment, but you’ll need to advise them if you’ve got any favourite songs. 

And finally…

Making the right choices will mean that you and everyone around you will remember this as a fantastic day and a memory to cherish.

What better way to involve everyone, than with a Scottish Ceilidh with Iron Broo! or tick all the boxes with a ceilidh & disco combi.

Guest post article by Lucas Howard.