Planning the music for your wedding may seem like a small detail when compared to outfit fittings, choosing a wedding colour scheme or menu tastings, but it helps to shape the atmosphere from the first guest arrival to the last dance of the evening.
Music is what ties your celebration together. It tells your story, smooths the transitions between moments, and brings joy to guests of every generation.
On a purely practical note, music acts as a timekeeper throughout your special day, signalling changes of pace or activity.
The right tempo ushers people from the welcome drinks to the ceremony seats, creates a celebratory spirit for the recessional, and gracefully transitions the proceedings to speeches or the first dance as a married couple.
The appropriate music often conveys emotions beyond words, making guests feel truly part of your celebration.
From the moment you enter to the quiet music as you read your vows, carefully chosen pieces set the scene for your whole ceremony.
Music frames spaces, setting the tone and enhancing the atmosphere for every moment. A string quartet brings classical elegance to a formal hall, an acoustic duo creates a relaxing ambience during the wedding breakfast, while a DJ can energise a grand evening reception.
Live performers offer a unique experience. A guitarist circulating during the reception or a pianist taking requests from guests creates engagement and brings an elegant sense of occasion to your celebration.
Lyrics and melodies reflect your journey, marking the day as uniquely yours. Whether it’s from your first encounter, a significant moment in your relationship, or a shared passion for particular artists, key moments can be brought together with music.
Thoughtfully chosen music also brings guests of every age onto the dance floor. Combining different genres and eras ensures all generations feel part of the celebration.
Read our guide to wedding roles.
Begin by considering the emotions you would like to evoke at each stage of your day. Your venue, theme and guests will help guide your musical selections.
For instance, you might include songs that hold special memories, such as shared favourites or pieces that mark significant moments in your relationship.
You may also wish to consider how your music complements the character of your venue. Historic wedding venues such as The Old Palace at Hatfield Park, for example, may feel ideally suited to elegant string quartets.
Musical styles to consider:
Find out more about how Hatfield Park is the ideal Asian wedding venue in Hertfordshire for your celebration.
Consider how sound interacts with your venue to enhance the musical experience.
Large rooms with high ceilings and stone walls, characteristic of historic settings, allow music to resonate beautifully, while smaller rooms are better suited to intimate ensembles and controlled volume. Carpeting and soft furnishings absorb sound, which benefits speeches but can diminish the clarity of live performances.
As you tour wedding spaces, pay attention to how sound carries, where there are echoes and how background noise could intrude on your celebration.
If you’re featuring live musicians, confirm with the venue their performance location, available power supply, weather protection if needed, and whether staging or additional sound equipment will be required.
Your venue team can provide expert guidance on sound levels, configuration, and supplier selection, ensuring that the music and wedding celebration flow seamlessly.
If you are considering a seasonal celebration, read our guide to winter weddings.
Select what suits your style and venue, combining live music with recorded options for a personalised programme. There is no single ideal approach – only what best suits your celebration, budget and preferences. Many couples choose a combination of formats, such as live musicians during the day and a DJ for the evening reception.
You might consider these options:
Ultimately, your choice will depend on what resonates with you as a couple and what your selected venue permits.
Every wedding is unique, but we have outlined an example template below to guide your musical selections.
If you are hosting a marriage or civil ceremony at a separate venue before your reception, your musical selections for the ceremony may differ.
Time: 20-30 minutes/6-10 songs
Classic choices include Debussy’s Claire de Lune; Bach’s Air on the G String, or Vivaldi’s Spring (Largo), but more contemporary options to consider are Ludovico Einaudi’s Nuvole Bianche or modern pop by the Vitamin String Quartet.
Time: 6-8 minutes/1-2 songs
For the processional, you may need one song for the wedding party and another for the bride.
Pachelbel’s Canon in D and Wagner’s Bridal Chorus (from Lohengrin) are traditional choices, but instrumental covers of modern songs, such as Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years, have also become popular.
Time: 6-10 minutes/2-3 songs
Elegant background music during this interlude might include classic choices such as Handel’s Air (Water Music) or contemporary pieces, such as a string cover of John Legend’s All of Me.
Time: 3 minutes/1 song
Create a joyful atmosphere with an uplifting piece such as Wedding March by Mendelssohn or Natalie Cole’s This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) as you leave the ceremony as a married couple.
Time: 60-90 minutes/15-25 songs
For a drinks reception, consider Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik or acoustic interpretations of favourite pieces. For a more contemporary atmosphere, sophisticated jazz selections such as Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me to the Moon and Norah Jones’s It’s a Wonderful Time for Love work well.
Time: 3 minutes/1 song
For your grand entrance as a married couple, select a memorable piece. Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba brings dramatic flair, while a contemporary choice such as Hall & Oates’ You Make My Dreams is an uplifting option.
Time: 3-5 minutes/1 song
Mark this a romantic moment with a meaningful piece. Instrumental arrangements of La Vie en Rose or Moon River convey timeless romance, as do selections such as Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling In Love.
Time: 3-6 minutes/1-2 songs
If you include parent dances, heartfelt choices such as Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World create memorable moments.
Time: 3-5 minutes/1 song
Bring your celebration to a close with a memorable final dance. Consider classic pieces such as Nat King Cole’s Unforgettable or Elton John’s Something About the Way You Look Tonight.
Hatfield Park is a music lover’s dream wedding venue. Our ceremony and reception spaces offer beautiful natural acoustics, with scenic gardens ideal for intimate live music and adaptable reception rooms with discreet power, staging, and inventive layouts for bands or DJs.
Take the time to make thoughtful, intentional choices to create a wedding soundtrack that is unmistakably yours.
Explore Hatfield Park’s heritage setting, flexible spaces and musical support for a truly unforgettable day.
Contact us today to enquire about further details.
