Wedding season is upon us (and I’m late with this article). Has someone asked you to play for their wedding yet? If you’re agonizing over playing in a church wedding then don’t. Don’t make things harder than they need to be. Get some nice and easy music and spend time enjoying the ceremony rather than reading each and every note.

These days you can find the Wedding March in chord version, Canon in D in the key of C and more. This is not a time to stress over playing the right note it’s a time to enjoy the Wedding Ceremony and not everyone is a classical pianist.

If you have been approached or have fears of being approached to play at your best friend’s, our cousin Jean’s wedding get yourself in gear and get organized.

Will you be playing by yourself or are you working with another instrumentalist or soloist? Make sure you have plenty of time to practice, together, and come prepared. You can work out your songlists and which arrangements by email and/or telephone. Get your part of the music together and practice it and make notes all over your music. When you get together with your accompanist make a point to note all the rough parts and work over them on your own too.

Maybe you don’t want to accompany a soloist. Tell the couple if you are unprepared to do this. Maybe the soloist can use some nice taped music.

Are you playing the whole ceremony? Get your songlist together and make sure it’s there on the program.

What songs has the couple requested? Can you play them well? Be honest with them. In fact give the couple a private concert of your playing skills so they know what they’re getting into.

Have you worked out your honorarium? Surf the internet to get an idea of what some musicians charge to play a wedding. At this point I make it a gift because I only play for friends and family.

I lucked out at my wedding. She could play classically AND by ear. I just gave her my list and trusted in the Lord it would work out all right and it did.

Still looking for some wedding sheet music?

Then try one of the following…

Wedding Music Made Easy Easy Piano.I have this book and used it for my first wedding. An easier version of the Bridal Chorus can’t be found. Not every song includes chords only the Bridal Chorus, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Ode to Joy, Trumpet Tune, Trumpet Voluntary, and the Wedding March do. By Various Composers. Easy Piano Songbook (Easy arrangements for piano and voice). Size 9×12 inches. 72 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (310492)

Classical Music For A Classic Wedding – Easy PianoI also have this collection. A few more songs than Wedding Music Made Easy but the ones that are the same are arranged the same since it’s also published by Hal Leonard so I guess it just matters which one holds the song you need. Collection (simplified piano arrangements) for easy solo piano and easy solo voice. 88 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.310716) See more info…

Wedding Music – Instrumental Keyboard SoloFor the more seasoned pianist and edited by my favorite Carol Turnquist this collection has some beautifully arranged wedding classics for those not into improvising on chords. My favorite is Sweet, Sweet Spirit which includes an optional C instrument part in case a flute wants to accompany you. This nice collection also has two versions of some traditional wedding songs, a topical index, 6 songs with optional C instruments, and processional ideas. By Various Composers. Sacred Folio. Size 9.5×12 inches. 184 pages. Published by Word Music. (309729) See more info…

So don’t sweat if you have a wedding to play for. Get some easy arrangements, or if you are (or think you are) wonderfully accomplished pick up some lovely tasteful arrangements and help make this a day to remember for some lovely couple.

God Bless!