The exit

The music played or sung at the end of the ceremony, as the bridal party and their guests leave the church, should be joyous and uplifting.

The traditional recessional is Mendelssohn's Wedding March (), from the incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream. However if you want something a bit different (and your church has a good organ - and organist!), one of the following would sound magnificent:

• Bach JS - Toccata in F
• Karg Elert S - Choral Improvisation on 'Nun danket alle Gott'
• Strauss J - Radetsky March ()
• Vierne L - Finale, from Symphony No. 1
• Widor CM - Toccata (), from Symphony No.5

Alternatively, if you have a good soloist or choir, there is no reason why they should not sing, accompanied by the organ, as the bridal couple leave.

Here are a few ideas of solo pieces:

• Bach JS - Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen
• Handel GF - Let the bright seraphim
• Verdi G - Libiamo ne' lieti calici, from La Traviata

…and a choir might sing:

• Handel GF - Hallelujah Chorus ()
• Vivaldi A - Gloria in excelsis Deo, from Gloria
• Haydn F - The heavens are telling

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