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[Wedding Songs] Moving classical pieces to color your wedding ceremony and reception. Recommended classical music.
A wedding is one of the happiest moments in life.
Are you unsure about which BGM to play during your ceremony or reception?
In this article, we’ve selected classical music from among popular bridal tracks to beautifully and movingly enhance various moments of your wedding and reception.
Classical music not only helps create an elegant atmosphere, but if the pieces are in the public domain, there’s also the advantage that you can use the same audio you played at the wedding when preserving it on video formats like Blu-ray.
With a wonderful selection of music, let’s make your best moments unforgettable!
[Wedding Songs] Moving classical works to color your wedding ceremony and reception. Recommended classical music (1–10)
Love’s GreetingEdward Elgar
This is a piece Edward Elgar gave to his wife when they got engaged.
Elgar was a fledgling composer, and his wife was the daughter of an army lieutenant.
Even though people around them opposed the “mismatched marriage,” they never gave up; defying her parents’ objections, she married him, and the work overflows with his love for her.
After their marriage, his wife Alice devoted herself to supporting Elgar and guided him to great success in his musical career.
Even from this episode alone, you can see why there might be no piece more perfect for a wedding, right?
Song of SpringFelix Mendelssohn
A masterpiece born from Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words, it captivates the heart with its fresh melody and bright character, enriched by the warm sonority of A major.
Among the many celebrated works Mendelssohn composed, this piece stands out as a gem that balances gentleness with brilliance.
Published in 1844, it has long been beloved as background music for films and television, and exists not only as a piano solo but also in arrangements for various instruments such as violin and flute.
Its light, sunny atmosphere and refined melody make it perfect for weddings and receptions.
With graceful elegance and a warm tone, it is highly recommended as a beautiful soundtrack to brighten a special day.
Wedding MarchFelix Mendelssohn
A celebrated masterpiece by Felix Mendelssohn that splendidly adorns the wedding entrance scene.
Composed in 1842, this work was created as incidental music for Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Its bright, hope-filled melody seems to bless the newlyweds as they embark on their journey.
While the grandeur of a full orchestra is captivating, piano or music box arrangements can also create a lovely atmosphere.
It’s perfect not only for weddings but also as background music for anniversaries and other special days.
Why not spend those happy moments with someone dear to you accompanied by this piece?
Joy of LoveJean Paul Martini
A song composed in 1784 by French composer Jean-Paul-Égide Martini, celebrated in various arrangements for voice, piano, violin, and more.
It is also known as the original source for Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” With lyrics that delicately express the joys and sorrows of love and a graceful melody, this work—Martini’s signature piece from his time as a court musician for Marie Antoinette—continues to be cherished worldwide.
It’s a perfect choice for weddings and receptions, and is recommended for moments when you want to quietly savor your love for someone special.
Waltz of the FlowersPyotr Tchaikovsky
This is a jewel of a masterpiece that weaves an elegant, dreamlike worldview.
Composed by the Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky and performed in Act II of The Nutcracker, premiered in December 1892, it captivates with the exquisite interplay between strings and winds set in a three-beat waltz.
Its flowing melodies and rich harmonies conjure a fantastical scene as if flowers were dancing.
It was also featured in Disney’s Fantasia, beautifully accompanying the flower dance sequence.
Masterfully fusing European classical music with Russian folk elements, this piece is highly recommended for those who wish to lend an air of elegance to life’s important moments, such as wedding processions and recessions.
Suite “The Planets,” Op. 32, H.125, No. 4 “Jupiter”Gustav Holst
The fourth movement of Gustav Holst’s signature work, The Planets, is noted for its majestic yet energetic melody and is widely known through arrangements such as those by Ayaka Hirahara.
Premiered at London’s Queen’s Hall on September 29, 1918, the work’s middle section was later adopted for an English patriotic song.
Play it as background music at a wedding ceremony or reception, and the venue will surely be enveloped in a solemn atmosphere.
It’s a celebrated piece frequently used in films and commercials, so even guests unfamiliar with classical music will find it pleasantly engaging.
Andante cantabilePyotr Tchaikovsky
A masterpiece for string quartet that gracefully weaves in folk melodies.
Composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky in 1871 during his tenure as a teacher at the Moscow Conservatory, this work captivates with its lyrical melodies that resonate deeply with listeners.
The flowing sonorities of the strings gently envelop a romantic atmosphere.
Featured in the films The Pianist and Anastasia, its universal appeal continues to be loved around the world.
It has been arranged for various ensembles and can be enjoyed in diverse performances, including cello and orchestra or solo piano.
As wedding or reception background music, its calm melodies and warm expressiveness will elegantly adorn your special day.
Prologue to Act I from Die Meistersinger von NürnbergRichard Wagner
When it comes to iconic pieces that add splendor to weddings and receptions, many people probably think of the Prelude to Act I from Richard Wagner’s opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
Premiered in Munich in June 1868, this work is distinguished by its rich orchestration.
The brilliant melodies woven by a variety of instruments—piccolo, flute, oboe, and more—create an atmosphere perfectly suited to celebrating the couple’s new beginning.
Reflecting its story set in 16th-century Nuremberg, the energetic music of the Meistersingers is introduced, conveying a deep affection for German culture.
Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringJ.S.Bach
A serene and warmly glowing gem created by Baroque master Johann Sebastian Bach.
Composed in 1723 as a church cantata, this piece has long been cherished as a wedding classic, its rich lines and beautiful harmonies creating moments of pure bliss.
Its transparent melody gently envelops the hope and joy of couples embarking on a new chapter of life.
The piano arrangement by British pianist Myra Hess was published in 1926, after which it became performable in various instrumental settings and beloved by a wide audience.
It is perfect not only for solemn wedding ceremonies but also as background music for photo slideshows.
Ombra mai fuGeorg Friedrich Händel
This is a masterpiece whose elegant and delicate melody resonates in the heart.
Though it is a Baroque aria that sings of love for plants, it is also a gem that combines a gentle atmosphere with simple beauty.
Premiered by George Frideric Handel in London in April 1738, the piece has been featured in films such as Face/Off and Celebration, captivating many listeners.
It has been passed down through performances by renowned singers like Alfredo Kraus and Cecilia Bartoli, who have brought out its brilliance.
Bringing both serenity and emotion, this work is recommended as a heartwarming piece that gently colors life’s important moments, such as wedding ceremonies.