Mozart's Wedding Music
To celebrate the 270th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, here is my recommended list of his music which could be performed live or as a recorded soundtrack to a wedding ceremony with a classical music vibe.
Link to my Spotify playlist here.
Prelude music: March of the Priests - a beautiful and romantic piece from Mozart’s famous opera, The Magic Flute. This piece sets a wonderful classical ambiance for a wedding ceremony which chooses to merge a traditional soundtrack with a modern and personal celebrant wedding ceremony.
Processional (bridal party entrance): Laudate Dominum - This gorgeous piece of choral music is haunting and beautiful in equal measure. As it is nearly 4 minutes long, it is ideal if there is a large bridal party to enter before the bride finally appears. The slow build-up of the music will echo the developing anticipation of the bride’s arrival.
Processional (bridal party entrance): The Wedding March from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro - alternatively, this is a happy and upbeat piece to welcome any bride. It is not too long either, which is good news. In my experience, as many brides walk fast down the aisle!
Interlude: Ave Verum Corpus - Performed or played on a pre-recorded soundtrack, this angelic piece is wonderful either as a choral piece or simply played on strings or a piano. Whilst there is no “register” to sign in a Celebrant wedding ceremony, couples often want a commemorative wedding certificate signing to create a timely musical interlude after the emotions and intensity of the wedding vows.
Recessional (exit): Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - at the end of wedding ceremony, the newlyweds want to exit to something upbeat and happy. Mozart wrote this to entertain people in an evening and so it is light and jolly.
In England and Wales, you often only hear Mozart’s music in weddings taking place in churches and cathedrals. This is because, much of his music is religious in origin and current civil marriage law forbids any music or text with religious links being used when registrars are present. However, with a celebrant wedding ceremony, the legal bit is done before or after the wedding day. This allows couples to choose whatever music they like.
Photo: @j.c.coronel