String Quartet Bridal Exit Music – Wedding Recessional Songs

String Quartet Bridal Exit Music Wedding Recessional Songs – In our previous two articles (entitled ‘The Bridal Entrance Music ‚Äì Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To’ and ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered ‚Äì Signing the Register Music. . .’), we explored ways of making the music for¬†the bridal¬†entrance and signing of the register that little bit more personal with some examples of modern rock and pop¬†songs which can work just¬†as well as more traditional classical pieces.

When it comes to choosing music for the exit (or Recessional) brides are usually looking for something which fits perfectly with that moment of celebration, when the couple walk arm in arm back down the aisle to a fanfare of cheering from family and friends. Many couples feel that Mendelssohn’s ‘Wedding March’ for string quartet (from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’) encapsulates this moment perfectly (by all means take a look at our article called ‘The Wedding March for String Quartet’ for more information on this popular item), but for couples looking for something a little bit more personal there are a wealth of possibilities to potentially accompany the exit from a wedding ceremony.

As many couples getting married have pieces of music which are particularly personal in their relationship, many choose to incorporate these into their ceremonies.  It may be a piece that they both enjoy on a long car journey, or one that was played at a significant moment in their lives together. Brides can ask their wedding string quartet whether they have this piece on their repertoire list and if not, enquire how much extra it would cost for them to arrange it especially.

Many modern pop and rock numbers work particularly well for recessional music. ‚ÄòIt Must Be Love‚Äô by Madness and ‚ÄòMarry You‚Äô by Bruno Mars are two particular pieces that never fail to raise a smile on everybody‚Äôs faces, as well as being the perfect accompaniment to the popping of Champagne corks and the beginning of the drinks reception. In many wedding ceremonies we have played at, songs such as these have prompted a spontaneous round of applause from the guests when they have come to an end! Here is a video of us performing one of the recessional songs listed below – ‘It must Be Love’ by Madness:

As a string quartet who have now performed for over 700 wedding ceremonies, in both churches as well as civil venues, here is a suggested list of the top ten wedding exit songs which work well, both for those who would prefer more traditional classical choices as well as those who would prefer to go out with a favourite rock and pop number:

Classical

Mendelssohn  Wedding March (from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’)

Grieg  Wedding Day At Troldhaugen

Handel  ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’

Handel  Hornpipe from ‘Water Music’ Suite

Handel  ‘La Rejouissance’ from

Clarke  Prince of Denmark’s March (Trumpet Voluntary)

Mozart  Wedding March (from ‘The Marriage of Figaro’)

Mozart  Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Beethoven  ‘Ode To Joy’ (from Symphony No. 9)

Verdi  Grand March (from ‘Aida’)

Modern Songs for the Bridal Exit

Beatles: All You Need Is Love

La’s: There She Goes

Madness: It Must Be Love

Bruno Mars: Marry You

Elbow: One Day Like This

Take That: Greatest Day

Stevie Wonder: Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours

Journey: Don’t Stop Believing

Barry White: You’re My First, My Last, My Everything

Guns ‘n’ Roses: Sweet Child O’ Mine

This list, with a couple of exceptions, can be interchangeable with the list given in our earlier article about bridal entrance musical choices.