Wedding Ceremony & Reception Music Discussions

Trying to figure out music timing for ceremony - help!

So we're about a week away from our wedding (eek!) and I think we've got most of the songs we'd like to use nailed down - I'm just wondering how it'll all work logisitically for the ceremony. I know all aisle sizes are different and all that, but if anyone can offer any insight, I'd appreciate it! I'm going to talk to my DJ about this as well, but we might not be able to meet with him until Tuesday-ish. So...

We will have some pre-ceremony music playing (most likely Section Quartet and/or Vitamin String Quartet songs)

When the ceremony starts, the Pastor, Groomsmen and Groom will come stand up front (probably still just with the pre-ceremony stuff playing).

FI is going to go to the back and escort my grandma in, walk back, escort his mom in, walk back one more time and escort my mom in (I've seen this done at other weddings, and my mom really liked the idea as she doesn't have any sons to escort her in).

My bridesmaids, flower girl, and ring bearer will all walk into "Forever" by Ben Harper, which is about 3:30 long.

I will then walk in (with my dad) to "Wild Horses" by Iron and Wire (the DJ can just fade it out once I get to the altar, so I'm not worried too much about the length on this one).

My question is - I'd like to start the Ben Harper song when FI starts walking grandma/MOG/MOB in, but I don't know if it's a long enough song to get that many people down the aisle. I'm not really sure how long it's going to take all these people to walk down an aisle! I never really paid attention at anyone else's wedding I guess! If not, I guess I can just ask the DJ to continue playing the Quartet stuff until it's time for the bridal party to enter. I've just been to a few weddings where they didn't pick a long enough song to get the bridal party in, and then the DJ just starts the track over or there is silence and it just gave me that nails-on-a-chalkboard feeling - like "oooh, that wasn't supposed to happen!"


Re: Trying to figure out music timing for ceremony - help!

  • Can you time it at your rehearsal or anything?  The problem with measuring these things is that it depends a LOT on how close together people are walking, and how fast your grrom can get back up the aisle.  Wish I could be more help than that- good luck!
  • Thanks, I just got back from my venue and realized how short of a walk it really is, so I think we might be able to get away with it. Our DJ won't be at the rehearsal, but I'm thinking maybe I can just play the songs on my phone just to see how long it'll take. Thanks for replying!
  • What I'm doing in my wedding,because you don't want the music to stop right in the middle of a verse or chorus. Have each lady for whoever has a different song wait until the words start. Tell them to pause and count to three so everyone can take in how beautiful they look then when they get close to the end or at the end of the aisle,if it's short, have the next person go and do the same thing. Be sure to do the rehearsal and tell who is in charge of the music not to stop it right away. It's your wedding. There is no need to rush it besides once the chorus or verse is over that is the perfect time to start another song and doesn't make it weird that it's in the middle of a word. The music you choose is important and you should treat it as much. Besides nothing sets the mood like the right music. GOOD LUCK AND I HOPED I HELPEDCool
    Feels like I just walked right into Heaven. I walked right into his arms.
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