We talk a lot about consistency, contrasting style and flow both directly and indirectly throughout this website, so here, we're just going to give you a brief idea of the concepts and what they have to do with your wedding.
Consistency
Do all of the songs in your wedding have to be of the same theme, genre, mood, etc...? Our take is that although they certainly can be, they do not have to be. In fact, you can make your wedding ceremony more interesting by mixing things up a bit. Ok, now that you know that you don't necessarily have to be consistent, this brings us to the next concept...
Contrasting Styles
After listening to a string quartet for the Prelude, it can be a refreshing change to hear some light piano music for the Seating of the VIPs, and organ music for the
Processional. This is an example of contrasting styles demonstrated through musical instruments.
Contrasting genres might be represented by using Broadway show tunes for the prelude, classical music for the processional and recessional, and some new age background music for readings. You can mix some traditional ceremony pieces like the "Bridal Chorus" by Wagner", with some non-traditional songs like "In My Life" by the Beatles.
A little bit of contrast can = a more interesting ceremony. A little too much contrast can = a lack of connectedness. Which brings us to our last concept...
Flow
You are looking for smooth transitions between the activities of your ceremony, and an interconnectedness between the separate parts. You are also looking for a balance of consistency and contrast. Music can help with these things.
The right music can smooth the transition between activities. It can enhance the mood of the ceremony and dramatize certain important rituals. It can intensify the meaning of a reading, and/or create a reflective mood after a reading. Music adds variety to your ceremony, and it can help set the pace for the ceremony. It can also be used to indicate the opening and/or closing of certain parts of the ceremony, being used almost as a punctuation mark to end certain activities.
All of these things help to enhance the "flow" of your wedding ceremony. And all of these things are addressed on this webiste.
Now let's talk about how music can help you manage your stress on the big day, and on all the days leading up to it.