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 Like the prelude before the ceremony, the postlude is really not a part of the ceremony, but it is still useful to mention this portion as it is a great spot to have music. The postlude follows the loud and happy recessional. Sometimes all of the guests have exited (if the wedding is particularly small) and other times there is an opportunity to play music for 5-10 minutes following the ceremony (especially if there is a Champagne toast or pictures.)

If there are no pictures or toast following the ceremony, Duo d’Amore would be happy to choose an additional song to keep the mood upbeat, and this is how 90% of the music for the postlude gets chosen. In all likelihood, it is so loud that the music can not be heard by everyone, and the guests are also walking away from the musicians. In other cases the bride and groom may have more songs that they would like to incorporate into the ceremony and prelude, but for time constraints or other reasons they did not get performed. In this instance we would play one or two songs, again to keep the mood light and happy. So there are lots of options!

Unlike the processional music, which is all about the bride’s (and wedding party’s) walk down the aisle, the signing is much more relaxed, and the music during this period is typically quieter and slower. If the wedding has more modern music, then we recommend choosing two pop songs for the signing. If the wedding has a more classical feel, or you want to give the wedding a more traditional vibe but still have pop and upbeat selections as the main portion of the ceremony, then the signing is a great place to have classical music. It is also helpful to choose music that will contrast with the recessional, so slow and beautiful tends to work very well. We have a number of non-traditional classical music selections and well-known pop selections that we can recommend for the signing. Just ask us—we love to help!

Most brides and grooms fall into two categories when it comes to choose the processional music: They either have a specific song that they would like performed, or they have no idea what to choose!  In both cases, Duo d’Amore has you covered. For the bride that knows exactly what she would like, we can most often play a great version of the song, and we may already have it in our repertoire. Otherwise we are happy to look into getting an arrangement. For the bride that has no idea, this is where our years of experience come in, and where we begin to ask questions (see the earlier post How to choose wedding ceremony music: an introduction) and the mood of the ceremony and the feel that the bride and groom would like to create. Sometimes it is helpful to choose the bridesmaids music first and find a song that either compares or contrasts with the bridal music. The processional music is where the bride really shines in the ceremony, and it is absolutely vital that the music songs fantastic, and matches the style of the couple.

It’s a little off topic for this post, but a question that I am often asked by the bride and groom is some form of: how long is the processional so we can time the walk at the rehearsal. The answer is that we take care oft this—all the bridal party and bride have to do is walk down the aisle, and we will time everything so it fits very well, and depending on the song etc., will either come to a harmonious cadence, or will discreetly fade out—again Duo d’Amore has performed for thousands of weddings, and we are happy to use our knowledge and experience to make the day (and the music) beautiful and seamless.

The prelude takes place about 15-20 minutes prior to the start of the wedding ceremony. Though music is not the focus of the prelude is can really help set the mood for the ceremony and make the guests feel welcome as they enter and are seated. It also provides a wonderful cue for the guests to take their seats, notifying them that the wedding ceremony is about to start. The music for the prelude is often chosen by Duo d’Amore, as it is not really the focus in the same way that the processional music is. That being said, some clients have let us know a few songs that they like and we can easily incorporate these into the prelude. Depending on the mood that the bride and groom want to create (see the previous blog for more information) the prelude can range from music that is soft and welcoming, with predominantly classical music selections, to upbeat and bright with pop music. Other times clients want a mix of both, and that option is increasingly popular. However, most clients leave the actual selections up to Duo d’Amore, as we really enjoy selecting interesting music to play—sometimes the music can be quite loud (if there is a room full of people, for instance) or soft and intimate. An important thing about the prelude is the timing—for years we started playing for a full 30 minutes prior to the ceremony, but we have since changed this to a 15 minute time frame, and many guests appreciate this, as it give people a few minutes to chat amongst themselves prior to the wedding. It also provides a nice cue for people to take their seats as we begin to play.

I am always wiling and eager to help my clients, and they can call or email me anytime. www.duodamore.com