Timeless Pre-ceremony Music

Read on to envisage your perfect pre-ceremony playlist, where the beautiful sound of classical instruments set the tone before 'I do'.

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Antlia Music Quartet

It has to be said that classical instruments create a uniquely special atmosphere, fitting for an occasion as momentous and special as your wedding day. It's a real joy for us to be part of, and the magic truly starts with the first note. Once we’ve set up in your ceremony venue and everything is ready, we begin with our first set of music — the pre-ceremony playlist. This creates a calm and welcoming backdrop as guests arrive and settle in, setting the perfect tone for the ceremony to come.

From years of experience, and a touch of personal preference, I feel that there's one word that captures a perfect pre-wedding ceremony playlist and that is - timeless. There’s something about certain pieces of music that make them feel outside the bounds of time. They don’t belong to any particular decade or trend — they simply exist in that space where emotion and memory meet. On a wedding day, that quality becomes especially powerful, and before the ceremony we aim to create stillness amid the excitement.

Antlia Music Quartet performing Vivaldi’s Winter

Antlia Music Quartet performing Concerning Hobbits

For many couples, music from the Classical era is a must. Works by Pachelbel, Bach, and Handel have been woven into wedding ceremonies for generations, and there’s a reason they’ve lasted. Their structure and beauty bring a sense of calm, grace, and timelessness to the moment. We choose classical pieces with a dreamy or profound nature - nothing too upbeat, that's better suited to your drinks reception! - such as Pachelbel’s Canon in D and Vivaldi’s Winter. Under the Classical umbrella we also have some wonderful film music repertoire that creates a beautiful atmosphere, a prime example being Howard Shore's Concerning Hobbits. Not only is it a stunning melody but the original score features the flute in such a magical way so, naturally it is an Antlia favourite.

Of course it’s possible to achieve this timeless appeal using more modern music. Pop music, reimagined and performed on classical instruments, has been massively popularised in recent years and for good reason - it brings a fresh energy while still keeping that elegant, classical sound. It’s a wonderful way to blend something current and personal with the traditional feel of a live ensemble. Some Antlia faves in this ‘Bridgerton-esque’ category include: Ed Sheeran - Perfect, Billie Eilish - Birds of a Feather, & Taylor Swift - Love Story. I also enjoy a touch of Hollywood glamour with songs such as Moonriver, and there’s a special place in my heart too for some of the heart felt rock classics… Think The Goo-Goo Dolls - Iris, Elbow - One Day Like This, & Sting - Fields of Gold.

For a quartet or trio booking we will start performing our pre-ceremony playlist thirty minutes before your ceremony time, coming to a natural close when it is time for the ceremony to start. With the aim of suspending time while creating a warm and fresh vibe, as well as entertaining your guests, I feel that a mixture of genres works best. We'll draw from the best that classical music has to offer - showing off the depth and resonance of these beautiful instruments - as well as incorporating favourites from eclectic genres such as film, pop and rock. If you have a genre that is preferred, a must have song, or indeed an artist that you'd rather we don't feature, you can simply let us know when booking and we'll adjust accordingly. A typical thirty minute Antlia pre-wedding playlist, with something for everyone, might look like this:

Pre-ceremony setlist:

The Flower Duet - Delibes

Water Music - G.F. Handel

The Four Seasons, Winter - Vivaldi

Bridgerton - Main Theme

Concerning Hobbits - Howard Shore

The Swan - Saint-Saens

Birds of a Feather - Billie Elish

Canon in D - Pachelbel

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

Clocks - Coldplay

Fields of Gold - Sting

Perfect - Ed Sheiran

Song Bird - Fleetwood Mac

Halo - Beyonce

One Day Like This - Elbow

Now, if you're thinking 'I understand the beauty of timeless music, but I actually want my wedding to feel like a party from start to finish' then our 'Celebratory Reception Music' blog post might provide more inspiration. Stay tuned for that post - where we'll delve into music that evokes a sense of fun, whimsy, and romance to reflect the joy of being newly married.