When it comes to this "Prince of Denmark" ("Trumpet the voluntary") march I say, well, it´s just a march. A march is much more neutral than an anointing hymn, isn´t it?[/QUOTE]
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Agreed. The appropriateness (or lack thereof) of wedding music is something organists deal with regularly. If you want to talk inappropriate, Wagner's ''Bridal Chorus'' (popular in the U.S., don't know about other countries) is part of his opera ''Lohengrin'' and sung as the guests accompany the newly married couple to the bridal chamber. Charming, huh?
When you mention that to prospective brides, they usually change their mind. The ''Wedding March'' from ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' by Mendelssohn is often used for the recessional. It's interesting to me that these two pieces are often paired; Wagner was an anti-Semite and Mendelssohn was born Jewish.
More recently, brides have requested Pachelbel's ''Canon in D'' as a processional. That's one of my favorite pieces of music, but as a processional, it doesn't work so well. I much prefer the British custom of using hymns. Princess Elizabeth (later QEII) used ''Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven.'' I believe Princess Anne used ''Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken'' but I'd have to look it up. If that is what was used, it's Haydn's ''Austrian Hymn'' which is also used for the German national anthem. We could go on all day!!!
I'm just happy when couples choose sacred music for a church wedding - that's as it should be. F&M had two wonderful hymns in their ceremony: ''Eternal Father, Strong to Save'' and ''Now Thank We All Our God.'' Both of them were good choices.
Sorry this post got so long, but this is a great thread. Thank you for letting me have my say.