is just one of the many tasks leading up to your big day, and it can feel like an overwhelmingly important one. Music sets the mood, and really does a lot for the ceremony. Take a breath and tackle the choosing in pieces, based on the ceremony itself.

1. Choose the Prelude Music: Choose music to provide for your guests as they’re being seated. The prelude leads up to the processional, and helps set a mood. Have up to 30 minutes of music, just to be on the safe side.
2. Step 2

   Choose the Processional Music: The processional music should be different enough from the prelude music that it alerts the guests. Traditionally, the processional music is very similar to the music used for the bride’s entrance.

3. Step 3

   Choose the Bride’s Entrance Music: We think of the bride’s entrance and we all have the same sounds playing in our mind; that da-dum-da-dummm sound is universal. Whether this is the music you want to use for the bride’s entrance or not, you get the idea. It should flow right from the processional music.

4. Step 4

   Choose the Recessional Music: The recessional is when the bridal party is parting the room. This music should, again, be very close to the processional music but usually has a much lighter tone, a “happy ending” compared to the solemnity of the processional music.

5. Step 5

   Choose the Interlude Music: Think of this as the reverse of the prelude. This is when all the guests are milling about, leaving the seating area.

6. Step 6

   Try It Out: Before you get set on the music you’ve chosen, sit down and play your songs in order. Does everything flow nicely, without any abrupt changes of mood?