Below I have listed some of the most frequently-chosen pieces of classical music for weddings. Additionally, you can hover over the title of some pieces and redirect to YouTube to listen to a third-party sample of the piece if you are unfamiliar with it.
Preludes
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach)
- Adagio from Sonatina No. 6 (Mozart)
- Air in G from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major (Bach)
- Air from Water Music (Handel)
- Prelude in C Major (Bach)
- Largo (Handel)
- Sarbande in F Major (Handel)
Processionals
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach) (see Preludes for link)
- Adagio from Sonatina No. 6 (Mozart) (see Preludes for link)
- Air in G from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major (Bach) (see Preludes for link)
- Air from Water Music (Handel) (see Preludes for link)
- Prelude in C Major (Bach) (see Preludes for link)
- Largo (Handel) (see Preludes for link)
- Sarbande in F Major (Handel) (see Preludes for link)
- Canon in D (Pachelbel)
- Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)
- Winter, Largo, from “The Four Seasons” (Vivaldi)
Bridal Entrance
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach) (see Preludes for link)
- Air in G from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major (Bach) (see Preludes for link)
- Air from Water Music (Handel) (see Preludes for link)
- Canon in D (Pachelbel) (see Processionals for link)
- Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke) (see Processionals for link)
- Overture to Music for the Royal Fireworks (Handel) (end audio sample at 1:54)
- Rigaudon (Campra)
- Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Handel)
- Bridal Chorus (Wagner) (not permitted for Catholic liturgies)
During the Mass/Service
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach) (see Preludes for link)
- Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
- Ave Maria (Schubert)
- Panis Angelicus (Franck)
- The Prayer (Sager/Foster)
Recessionals & Postludes
- Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke) (see Processionals for link)
- Rigaudon (Campra) (see Bridal Entrance for link)
- Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Handel) (see Bridal Entrance for link)
- Prelude to the Te Deum (Charpentier)
- Overture to Music for the Royal Fireworks (Handel)
- La Rejouissance (Handel)
- Trumpet Tune (Purcell)
- Wedding March (Mendelssohn) (not permitted for Catholic liturgies)
- Hymn to Joy (Beethoven)
- Rondeau (Mouret)
- Alla Hornpipe (Handel)
- Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven (Andrews) (no sample recording available)
This list was last updated on 24 October 2013.