As a wedding violinist who has performed for 650 weddings over the last 15 years, I'm always helping my couples, by lifting the veil off of these traditional wedding terms. "What's Prelude Music?" is our number one FAQ, so if you've clicked this post to find out, know you aren't the only one!
Today, I'm breaking down Prelude Music and giving you real, practical advice like:
How to include Prelude Music in your wedding
Why Prelude Music exists
How much Prelude music you need
What kind of music to choose for Prelude
Photo credits: Right - Dan Brehant Photography Below (left) Alicia Ann Daw Below (right) Robert Zajac
Last - Colleen Anne Leenehan
Let's dive in: What is Prelude Music?
Simply put, Prelude Music is the welcome music as your guests arrive on site for your wedding ceremony. Usually, it's background music that sets the scene for your wedding day.
Since it's the very first experience that your guests have at your wedding, classical wedding musicians become the unofficial welcoming committee and create the whole atmosphere and represent your style: elegant, sophisticated, romantic, upbeat and lively.
Why do I need Prelude Music?
Live musicians keep the party going and smooth over any wrinkles that come up. Wedding string quartets are a rarity, so the novelty is a distration that helps soothe wedding nerves when the timeline starts to slip.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but let's be real: Most weddings start late. The average is 5-15 minutes, but we've even played a 90-minute prelude! One time, the groom's family was caught in airport traffic because they flew in on the same day as the wedding. Another time, we kept the party going when the bride's hair and makeup team ran over an hour late.
When the highway is closed and the wedding party is stuck in traffic, musicians are the ones who keep guests' toes from tapping nervously to tapping with delight. It makes a huge difference in your guests' experience, keeping the energy up.
How much Prelude music do I need?
That depends on the number of guests you have, your venue, and the time of year. Since we're performed for hundreds of weddings, we have it down to a science.
Based on the venue
If you're having your wedding at a church and/or have over 100 guests, you'll want your prelude music to begin 30 minutes prior to your ceremony.
If you're having an outdoor ceremony at a formal wedding venue like the Wadsworth Mansion or Eolia Mansion, 15-20 minutes is plenty.
If you're having an indoor wedding at a formal wedding venue like The Society Room, Prelude music shoudl begin 30 minutes prior to your ceremony.
If you're having your wedding at a private residence, 10-15 minutes is more than enough.
Based on the nuber of guests
In general, more guests = more prelude music. The more people you have, the more likely you'll encounter the early birds (who just have to beat the traffic) and the incorrigibly late-to-everything friends .
If you're having 50-75 guetss, you'll want your prelude music to begin 15 minutes prior to the cermeony.
If you're having 100-250 guests, you'll want your prelude music to begin 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.
If you're having over 250 guests, you may want your prelude music to start even earlier. Consider if you are shuttling your guests or what kind of holding/waiting area your venue has before bumping above 30 minutes, though.
Based on the time of year
If you're having an indoor wedding in Fall or Winter, expect your guests to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your wedding.
If you're having an outdoor wedding in Spring or Summer, expect your guests to arrive no more than 15 minutes prior to your wedding. Think about it: When it's really hot and humid outside, people always try to limit their time outdoors.
Whenever I receive a new inquiry, I always ask these questions, so I can best advise you on the amount of prelude music you'll actually need.
How many songs should I choose?
The real answer: Pick more than you need. You never know how long prelude music will be. We often rely on having a variety of short and long songs to be able to fill specific gaps, so I don't recommend selecting an official order for your prelude music. Let your classical wedding musicians be flexible with what is happening around them.
For instance, it's very common for the venue coordinator to tell us we have two minutes before the ceremony will start, so we need to pick something that fits. It's also very common for the same venue coordinator to change their mind after those two minutes and to ask for another five!
Instead of hand-picking an entire prelude selection, most couples leave it up to us and sometimes give us a few guidelines. For example, brides often mention what kind of atmosphere they'd like and then ask us to include a few of their favorites. We have specially curated setlists with a variety of music that will speak to all of your guests.
We also take note of which songs your guests seem to be enjoying (yes, we can tell!) and often add in more like it. Since it's impossible to predict just how many songs you'll need, we fill in the blanks. We always bring plenty of extra music.
If your Prelude music is starting...
15 minutes before your ceremony, choose 10-15 songs.
30 minutes before your ceremony, 15-25 songs.
What kind of Prelude music should I have?
Want to sound like the classical music moments of Bridgerton?
I'd call this classical background music with an elegant feel, so ask your wedding string quartet for traditional wedding music with pieces from the Baroque and Classical era. Translation: Upbeat and light melodies, like Mozart, Handel, and Haydn. We'll sneak in a Waltz here and play excerpts from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. These should be all instantly recognizable favorites that your guests will adore.
Want something classical, yet lively and daring?
Ask your classical wedding musicians to step it up with Strauss Waltzes and sultry tangos, like Por Una Cabeza. Bold and vibrant pieces are inspiring and guests often tell me they're the most enjoyable.
Want something like the Bridgerton carriage scene? (You know the one!)
Add a sophisticated twist by asking for modern pop string covers of your favorite songs. Looking for inspriation? Check out my latest post all about including Bridgerton music on your wedding day.
Can't decide?
You can always ask for a mix of classical with contemporary music from musicals, jazz, classic rock, Disney, and today's pop hits. We often play Elvis Presley's Can't Help Falling in Love, La Vie En Rose, Fly Me to the Moon, A Whole New World, and Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud. It's the sort of mix where every one of your guests will find a favorite and lean in with interest. Sometimes, they even get up to dance!
Did I answer all your questions about Prelude Music? Reach out to us on Instagram.
Are you newly engaged and looking for classical wedding musicians in Connecticut? Visit the contact page to inquire for our availability. We would love to perform for you!
