When you’re planning a wedding, it can be difficult to figure out the number of songs needed for the ceremony. So, how many songs do you need for a wedding ceremony? While there’s no exact number of songs for any wedding, you can get an estimate of the songs you need to play based on the parts of the ceremony.
How Many Songs Do You Need For a Wedding Ceremony
This guide details all the different portions of most wedding ceremonies where there could be music. The post covers most variations of different weddings to estimate the number of songs that would be played at most weddings. This way you have your wedding songs figured out.
Seating of the parents
For some ceremonies, the wedding couple will select music for seating of the parents. In some cases, the parents will walk in with the regular processional music. Pretty much anything quite will work for this part of the ceremony.
A song for the processional
This is almost always for the bridesmaids walking down the aisle but sometimes the groom and the groomsmen will walk to the processional as well. However, this is not the bride’s song.
Groom and groomsmen
In some weddings, the groom and groomsmen are already at the altar. While they sometimes walk to the processional, they can choose to have their own separate entrance song. There’s no right or wrong way, it really comes down to personal preference. If you have an extremely large wedding party, it’s possible to have two songs for one long processional.
Flower girl
As far as the music is concerned, is the flower girl walking with the bride or bridesmaids? Some people opt to pick a separate song for the flower girls.
Bride song
The bride needs to walk down the aisle with one song. This can be a funny song, traditional, indie. or heartfelt; this one is totally up to you to decide.
Ceremony begins
Typically, you shouldn’t have any music while the officiant is talking but some people prefer some light background music if the officiant is mixed.
Readings, vow, rings
If you are exchanging vows, you may want some nice instrumental music in the background. You may opt to have different songs for these, or not.
Prayer (if applicable)
If your wedding is going to have a prayer, you might want to have a song for this. Sand ceremony, unity candle, hand binding. You may choose either to have a song for this portion of the wedding or not.
Communion
If you’re going to be doing communion, consider having a song or more depending on the length.
Recessional
This refers to the period when the couple is walking down the aisle when the ceremony is over so you might want to have a song for this as well.
Postlude
This is the exit music. For this, you may opt for some background music.
Bottom line
The wedding ceremony song order is important to remember. So, how many songs do you need for the wedding ceremony? The simple answer is that it depends on the parts of the ceremony. With the tips mentioned, you should have a rough estimate of the number of songs needed. It also helps to hire a competent DJ or band that will always pick something nice to fill any gaps.