The organ is the most commonly used instrument for weddings, especially if it is a church wedding. There is nothing more grand than the sound of a great pipe organ to usher in the bride for the processional. The organ is known as "The King of Instruments" and is able to play softly and meditative to very loud and festive. The organ can play for the entire wedding and it can be used to accompany soloists, instrumentalists, choirs, and congregational hymns.
A first-class trumpet player along with the pipe organ is a dynamic duo! A lot can be done with this combination of instruments. The first piece of the prelude can be a louder piece with trumpet that announces that the prelude has just begun and it is time for people to gather. The trumpet with its mute can also play some more meditative style pieces such as "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" or "Prayer of St. Gregory" during the mothers seating. Then of course, it can announce the royal fanfare just before the bridal processional and add to the festive sound to the organ as the bride comes down the aisle. The trumpet can also be used to add a descant if a congregational hymn is being sung. The addition of a trumpet is especially nice if it used with piano or if the organ does not have a wonderful trumpet solo stop.
The only thing more grand than just the organ is the organ combined with a brass ensemble. For a duo or two players, the most popular are two trumpets. For trio or three players, the most common are trumpet, french horn, and trombone. For quartet or four players, the most common configuration is two trumpets, french horn, and trombone. For a quintet or five players, there are two trumpets, french horn, trombone, tuba. The tuba adds another dimension to the sound. If you want to pull out all the stops, you can hire an octet or four trumpets, three trombones, and tuba. A brass group that is a trio or larger can be used for outdoor weddings without accompaniment.
A vocal solo can be a meaningful added touch for a wedding. You can use a female (soprano or alto) or a male soloist (tenor or bass), whatever your preference is. Soprano and tenor voices can sing in the higher range and the alto and bass voices typically sing in the lower range. You may wish to have a duet on a piece such as the popular "The Prayer" by Sager/Foster which requires a first-class soprano and tenor. Other possibilities are a quartet (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) or octet (two sopranos, two altos, two tenors, two basses) for a fuller, choir like sound. The most common places in the wedding for vocal songs are during or after the seating of the mother's, or during communion or the unity candle. Some weddings have one vocal piece and some others have two or three. For those who have access to a church or community choir, you may wish to have them sing which can be a great honor and addition to the ceremony. If you would like to have a choir but do not have access to one, you may wish to hire one such as a community children's choir or an ensemble from a community adult choir.
The piano is a more intimate instrument than the pipe organ for weddings. If you are having a smaller wedding or the setting is more intimate, you may wish to use the piano. If you are having a church wedding and the organ is not a very good instrument, it is better to use a piano. There are some great pieces from the piano literature that can be played for the prelude and the more common processionals and recessionals can be played on the piano as well. Some vocal solos that are more modern (such as "How Beautiful" or the "Wedding Song") sound better when they are accompanied by the piano than the organ.
A solo violin with accompaniment can be a beautiful and meaningful addition to a wedding ceremony. The violin can be used as a nice addition to the more standard music such as "Canon in D", "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" or "Ave Maria" or it can be used for so many other wonderful pieces in the more general light classical style of music by composers such as Handel, Corelli, Mozart. etc. This website also includes some solo works by cello that includes pieces that are unaccompanied (such as a Bach Cello Suite) or numerous other outstanding pieces that can be accompanied by piano or organ. Like the violin, the cello has the ability to penetrate to the soul and uplift the spirit when it is played well. Strings are often heard at weddings and add a beautiful element of intimacy to the ceremony. A trio can include two violins and cello or violin, viola and cello. String quartets are common and have the fullness of harmonies that a lot of music requires. The instrumentation of a quartet is two violins, one viola, and cello. A string ensemble can play for the entire ceremony or can be in addition to the organ or piano.
The bagpipe adds a unique and wonderful flavor to a wedding ceremony, especially if you have Scottish ancestry. Because of the sheer volume of the bagpipe, the instrument is usually only used for the processional and/or the recessional. Oftentimes, if a bagpiper is employed, he or she will play outside before and/or after the ceremony. If the wedding reception is nearby, the bagpiper can even lead everyone down the street to where it is held. Be sure, however, that you have a permit from the city to do that! For the processional, the bagpiper can come down the aisle playing a a couple phrases until reaching the front and then the organ can join in when the bride enters. For the recessional, the bagpiper often lead the wedding couple down the aisle. The most popular pieces for the processional and recessional with bagpipe are "Highland Cathedral" and "Scotland the Brave". The bagpipe can play a piece by itself without accompaniment but if the organ is available, it can add a dimension to the bagpipe that absolutely makes the spirit soar!
The harpsichord is a particularly beautiful and unique sounding instrument. it is even a more intimate sound than the piano. It looks like a smaller version of a baby grand piano and was a common instrument during the baroque period or the 17th and 18th centuries. The harpsichord is softer than a piano and the sound is a result of a plucking type effect on the string as opposed to the percussive type of a sound when the hammer strikes a string on a piano. The harpsichord is rarely used for a wedding but is a nice alternative if you have a special love or affinity for baroque music.