# Aargh. Please help me chose my wedding "entrance" music! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824 "2008-06-30T22:12:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/41 "2008-07-01T14:11:12Z")
We used some non-denominational religious music - specifically, “Say a Little Prayer” by Aretha Franklin. Then, as soon as I broke the glass… _Good loving! good loving! Good loving! good loving! I was feeling so bad I asked my family doctor just what I had I said doctor…_ ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/42 "2008-07-01T14:36:18Z")
[QUOTE=Hello Again] Hey, I need processional/recessional music too! 1. It can’t be “churchy” ie ANYTHING that was originally written to be played in a church is out. This was, independently, a formal request of my Rabbi, and a personal request by my father. However music by the same composer not originally written for the church is ok. So, “Joy of Man’s Desiring” out, “Brandenburg Concerto” in. 2. It must be playable by a string trio 3. It cannot be anything recognizable from pop culture. 4. Nothing too ponderous. Oh, and they played the “March from Aida” at my high school graduation (Pomp & Circumstance being far too short for my graduating class of 900) so not that. 5. We will both be walking in, each with our parents, + 3 bridesmaids, +3 groomsmen, so it has to be long enough for that. [/QUOTE] **Hello Again** , I’ll also lend _you_ the _Rondeau_. It was not written for a church; it’s from “Symphonies and Fanfares for the King’s Supper.” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/43 "2008-07-01T14:46:33Z")
I don’t remember everything we used…I know Canon was in there, as was Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring. The recessional is one I do remember, though: “It Had To Be You”. If you think Clark’s Trumpet Voluntary is too stuffy and formal, you could go with the rock and roll version, [Trumpet Volunteer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkWlo7GgYdE) (song starts at the 4 minute mark, but the interview’s worth listening to as well; Peter Sellers interviewing himself). ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/44 "2008-07-01T14:51:45Z")
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood a beautiful day to be neighbors would you be mine? could you be mine? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/45 "2008-07-01T14:53:12Z")
I walked down the aisle to Jeremiah Clarke’s _Trumpet Voluntaru_, played by our organist. It’s not specifically religious, and it sounded lovely. Our recessional was Charles-Marie Widor’s _Toccata (Symphony No. 5)_. Some other secular pieces we had were _Voluntary in G_ by John Stanley, _Prelude on Rhosymedre_ by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Bach’s _Minuet in G_, which is one of my favorites, _Allegretto (Sonata No. 4)_ by Mendelssohn and Elgar’s _Nimrod_ from the _Enigma Variations_. They were all very nice pieces and included a couple of my favorites. My husband’s suggestion was either Darth Vader’s march or _Devil With the Blue Dress On_. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/46 "2008-07-01T15:04:41Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] My daughter entered to a song by Celtic Women - can’t recall which one, but they’ve got many beautiful songs. [/QUOTE] Maybe it was [Nella Fantasia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2QTIPChkfs), which is from Morricone’s “The Mission” and arguably **The Most Beautiful Piece Of Music Ever Written**. Here’s the program: - Music starts with dramatic and expectant intro on flamenco guitar - 25 seconds: vocal comes in and you emerge - processional 'til the end of the first chorus and 1:31 (a little over a minute) - at altar, first chorus ends with flourish on guitar - music continues with theme on oboe, and fade it at 2:24 (another 30 seconds) Sigh, I wish it was me, but I would look silly in a dress! ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/47 "2008-07-01T15:49:27Z")
We used Mark Motherspaugh’s Canon from the Royal Tenenbaums Soundtrack for the processional and Linus and Lucy for the recessional. And yes, we did dance up the aisle. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/48 "2008-07-01T17:37:28Z")
The Canadians on the board will appreciate this - my sister and her husband had the Hockey Night In Canada theme at the end of their recessional. 😃 (You really can’t have an organist in Canada and not play our unofficial national anthem.) ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/49 "2008-07-01T17:44:25Z")
We used **The Final Countdown**. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/50 "2008-07-01T17:46:51Z")
My processional was Handel’s[The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba](http://www.classicalwedding.co.uk/sample9.html). It was what my mother had as her processional too, so for me it was a nice link to the past. It’s 02:12, so it might be too long for you, or too fussy and baroque for your taste, but it is a very apt piece of music. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/51 "2008-07-01T17:48:37Z")
Sorry for the hijack: **Siege** I didn’t realise the big day was over and done , congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/52 "2008-07-01T17:58:26Z")
[QUOTE=Jennyrosity] It’s no good asking me asking the groom, he wants me to use the Emperor’s march from Star Wars! [/QUOTE] Well, there is that lilting, poignant love theme in 3/4 meter from the prequels. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/53 "2008-07-01T18:48:20Z")
Tubular Bells The Ch-Ch-Ch-Ka-Ka-Ka sound from the Friday the 13th series The Theme from A Nightmare on Elm Street although you really cannot go wrong with the Imperial March 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/54 "2008-07-01T19:31:31Z")
Isn’t there a piece call Luke and Leia from the original triology? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/55 "2008-07-01T19:34:46Z")
I personally am fond of Yakkety Sax. No, I’m not joking. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/56 "2008-07-01T21:16:14Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] Hee, I was going to suggest the Rebel March from Star Wars (the tune that plays when Luke, Han, and Chewie walk down the aisle to get their medals for blowing up the Death Star) [/QUOTE] You know, I’m a real traditionalist, but at the wedding described in the OP, I might just say, go for the Star Wars music. Either the Emperor’s March, or the Rebel March. It can’t hurt, and you’ll be pleasing the man who you plan to spend your life with. So for this one thing, let him choose. There’s not going to be much of anything that hasn’t been heard before, so have fun. I went to a non-church, but religious ceremony wedding, and the recessional was “I Feel Good” by James Brown. Or further upthread someone suggested using the Peanuts theme as a recessional. At my wedding I had tradtional music, the Purcell as recessional and “Prince of Denmark’s March” for the processional. The latter is pretty good, and can be made to fit different lengths of time. There’s some short Bach cantatas that are also lovely, you might look into those. In any event, let us know what you choose! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/57 "2008-07-01T21:29:33Z")
Getting married, huh? I suggest _Mars, Bringer of War_. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/58 "2008-07-02T01:35:08Z")
I love Rimsky-Korsakov’s _Procession of the Nobles_ from Mlada. It’s long, but could be used as processional for the entire wedding party or cut to a 1 minute portion. From YouTube: [1](http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ao110-VtXp8&feature=related) [2](http://youtube.com/watch?v=-vMsjyqynu0&feature=related) [3](http://youtube.com/watch?v=KwmPSfKBvvE&feature=related) And definitely not overused. ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/59 "2008-07-02T01:45:58Z")
Our processional was Scotland the brave played on bagpipes inside lol 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824/60 "2008-07-02T07:27:21Z")
Contemporary, but with a stately feel to it, and the lyrics are sweet: [Tish Hinojosa’s “Who Showed You the Way to My Heart?”](http://www.last.fm/music/Tish+Hinojosa/_/Who+Showed+You+the+Way+to+My+Heart). It was a very small outdoor wedding, sung by my new brother-in-law, and it fit perfectly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-please-help-me-chose-my-wedding-entrance-music/454824.md?page=4)