Highlights of the evening included our pianist Paul Mutzabaugh’s note perfect coordination of six Jewish songs with the cantor from across the ballroom during the ceremony, the band’s surprisingly rockin’ version of Savage Garden’s “Truly, Madly, Deeply” for the bridal dance, and our rendition of the Allman Brothers song “Sweet Melissa” as a special request from the groom for the bride (yes, her name was Melissa). This was a wedding with dancing between courses, and the Peter Hennes Orchestra had the dance floor packed from the moment the doors opened!

Here’s what the parents of the bride had to say:

“Oh What a Night!”
Dear Peter,
Thank you for helping to make Melissa and Jason’s wedding a dream come true. We can only tell you we had nothing but rave reviews on your band! Thanks for a job well done!” – Joy and Ron Mayer

Brides and grooms are most involved in choosing music for the ceremony itself. The best way to approach this is to first have a final order for the procession, so that we can see where the logical places to change music would be. Typically, we need to choose one to three pieces for everyone until the bride. The bride needs a piece of her own, and we need some music for the recessional. Let’s look at a simple procession example:

1. Officiant
2. Parents of the Bride
3. Parents of the Groom
4. Four Groomsmen
5. Four Bridesmaids
6. Groom
7. Parents of the Bride walk back half way and stand on either side of the aisle
8. Bride enters, her parents meet her half way down the aisle and escort her to the Groom

This typically requires four pieces of music:

1. Officiant through the Parents of the Groom
2. Groomsmen and Bridesmaids
3. Groom and Parents of the Bride walking back half way
4. Bride

We would need a fifth piece for the recessional at the end of the ceremony, and maybe another for something during the ceremony itself.

What music to choose? It’s your wedding, so it’s up to you! It can be all classical, all pop, all Jewish, or any mix you like. In general, though, slow, stately pieces are best for the procession, and something more upbeat is best for the recessional. We have links to recordings of us playing many of the most popular choices on our wedding ceremony music page. If you prefer classical music for your ceremony, here are some recommendations from our list you can listen to for the scenario above:

1. Officiant, Parents of the Bride, and Parents of the Groom – Air from Water Music – Handel
2. Groomsmen and Bridesmaids – Four Seasons Winter – Vivaldi
3. Groom and Parents of the Bride walking back half way – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – Mozart
4. Bride – Canon in D – Pachelbel
5. Recessional – Four Seasons Spring – Vivaldi

Every wedding ceremony varies, but this should give you a good idea about how to go about organizing and choosing your music.