Entrance

Firstly, remember that you aren't obliged to have the Wedding March from Lohengrin ('Here comes the bride...') unless you want it! Here are some popular alternatives.

All can be played by an organist alone, but would benefit from the addition of a trumpeter. All could alternatively be used for the exit of the bridal couple at the end of the ceremony.

• Charpentier M - A Prelude to 'Te Deum'
• Clarke J - The Prince of Denmark's March () 'Trumpet Voluntary'
• Handel GF - Hornpipe in D, from 'The Water Music'
• Handel GF - La Rejouissance () from 'Music for the Royal Fireworks'
• Purcell H - Trumpet Tune in D
• Verdi G - Grand March, from 'Aida'

If you have a good choir, why not get them to sing as the bride comes in? The following pieces are all suitably grand and triumphant:

• Parry CHH - I was glad ()
• Hadley P - My beloved spake
• Handel GF - Zadok the priest
• Vivaldi A - Gloria in excelsis Deo () from Gloria

Alternatively, for a more serene choral entrance, you might like to consider these pieces:

• Tallis T - If ye love me ()
• Parsons R - Ave Maria

Most of this music is featured on the CDs Love Divine or The Power & the Glory, obtainable online at www.cdsforlife.co.uk