wedding_ideas

On February 3, 1996 my daughter Sheri McKechnie was married to Michael Joseph.  Of course the music and the wedding ceremony was very important in the overall planning.  We all agreed that this should be a worship service and an elegant celebration.  Sheri requested that I play a concert before her wedding and that her father, not only walk her down the aisle but also perform the wedding.  We were very excited to be asked and it worked beautifully.  A 26 piece orchestra was hired and my brother, Don Marsh conducted.  Since that wedding, I have received numerous calls from brides-to-be and their mothers requesting music from my albums for their wedding.  It has been fun to act as “music co-ordinator” for them since I had so much experience planning my  own daughter’s wedding.

 It is my goal to add to this list of music which we have used.  Of course, not many will  hire a 26 piece orchestra for a wedding, but many will have an organ and piano, a Violin, Flute, or Trumpet or perhaps even a string quartet available.  In the next several months, new ideas will be added- to also include wedding ceremonies from traditional to contemporary as well as suggestions for vocal solos.   Please feel free to e-mail me at: Linda@LindaMcKechnie.com if you have questions or suggestions.  We did not use any secular love songs but only focused on the love of Christ and dedication of the wedding  couple to Him in starting their new life together.

Planning your music for a Christian wedding ceremony is very important

You want it to be special and memorable. Although the wedding day is “all about you”, the wedding ceremony itself has even a higher meaning. This is a worship service. This is a time to praise God, to dedicate your marriage to the Lord amongst your friends and family, and to plan the scripture, message, and music specifically for this time of worship.

Having played for hundreds of church wedding ceremonies, including the planning my own children’s wedding, I have had a wide range of experiences: From playing a rented electronic keyboard in an outside chapel ……to playing a five manual pipe organ in a cathedral…..from accompanying “aunt Susie”( in which I had to teach her the song)…. to accompanying a 100 voice choir…. playing the piano with an organist, a violinist, a string quartet and even a full piece orchestra…..playing for a wedding in which the church secretary was the only “witness”…..to playing for a wedding party of 12 bridesmaids, 12 groomsmen, and 6 toddlers!!!!

As a church musician, I am convinced that there is a great need to offer a variety of music that adds a strong Christian perspective and witness. There is a need to help the bride and groom make decisions from replacing their favorite love song with appropriate music that is worshipful and yet reflects their musical preference.

Through my arrangements offered on this website, I reach to a broad spectrum of worship traditions and musical tastes, breathing new life into traditional hymns, praise choruses, Christmas carols and love songs by blending these familiar melodies with powerful themes of the great Classical composers. I am pleased that this music has no boundaries, whether it is a casual or formal worship setting.

These arrangements have been recorded on Hymnworks I & II, Hymnworks Christmas, Symphony of Praise I & II, Moments with the Savior, and Rhapsody of Love. MP3s samples are available under “CDs and tapes” on this website.


There are several obvious areas of the wedding ceremony in which music is appropriate:

The Prelude: 15-20 minutes before the set time, music is performed as the guests are being seated. Many times the choice of music is suggested by the church musician, organist, or wedding consultant. Hopefully this may be an opportunity in which the bride may be able to present personal suggestions from this website. She will first need to decide whether she wants organ, piano, instrumentalists, a vocalist or choir, a string quartet, or a combination. This will be determined by many factors: budget, flexibility of musicians and facilities, a casual or formal setting, and expectations of both bride and groom and their families. Any of the following titles are suitable for the prelude.

Vocal music: There are 3 areas that are most appropriate for a vocal selection: before and after the mothers and grandmothers are seated and then in the ceremony. Usually after the vows and rings have been exchanged there is a prayer of dedication and then a musical selection that is prayerful in nature.

Special seating: The sign that the wedding is about to start is obvious when the mothers, grandmothers, and honored guests are seated. Usually the music changes or there may be a slight break in the mood so that the guests give their attention. Sometimes this may also be a time for the house party (honored friends of the bride that are not in the wedding party) to also have a special entrance.

Wedding party processional: The processional for the wedding party and the bride is an important decision. Consider the length of the aisle, amount of people in the wedding party, and how fast the processional will be. The choice also needs to be flexible so that the musicians can shorten or lengthen the music according to how fast the wedding party processes.

- Suggestions for wedding party processional that is quiet and elegant

- Suggestions for wedding party processional that is more bold and festive


- Bridal processional: Usually, there is a big distinction and change in music before the bride’s entrance. Many times the bride knows exactly what she wants here. It may be a trumpet fanfare before “Here Comes the Bride” or a total change from the expected. Most popular recently is Trumpet Voluntary or Trumpet Tune by Purcell or music by Handel.

Bridal recessional: Suggestions for the bridal recessional are similar to the above list. Of course, the music must be joyous. The musicians will offer other options from their repertoire such as hymn tunes- Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee or Now Thank We All Our God and other classical music.

On this website, there are numerous choices. Please feel free to e-mail me if you need consultation or have questions on the various musical options that are offered.

  • The keyboard music is written for 2 keyboards or a piano and organ.
  • Many of the titles are written so that a single keyboard and a solo Treble C (Violin, Flute, oboe) or Bb (Trumpet) instrument can play the same arrangement.
  • Orchestrated CD tracks are available for all music except Hymnworks I.
  • Several arrangements also include optional vocal parts.
  • Many of the arrangements can be played with a small string ensemble and flute along with the solo piano.
  • All of the following arrangements have full orchestration available and can be purchased on this web-site- see piano and orchestra.

Although my recordings are piano and orchestra, I have published these arrangements in various formats and options.

  1. Piano and organ music-duo keyboard
  2. Piano and treble solo instrument
  3. Piano and string quartet
  4. Piano solo and CD track accompaniment
  5. Organ and treble solo instrument