If you are reading this, chances are you have fantasized about walking down the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon in D. You have spent so much time (definitely not at work) daydreaming about your perfect wedding ceremony, and it always included a string quartet swelling into that elegant melody right as you reach the top of the aisle. Your almost-spouse wipes away a tear and the guests sigh at how lovely the scene is … ah yes, we all have a streak of hopeless-romanticism, and Pachelbel’s Canon is the quintessential ingredient for wedding day amour.
So, you’re walking down the aisle to Canon in D – easiest wedding decision you’ve made yet. Now, the question is: What other music should you include in the ceremony? How do you set the tone of the wedding from the guests’ arrival to the moment you are pronounced married (woo!)? The great thing about this particular tune is that it is very flexible and can easily be paired anything from traditional wedding pieces to top 40 pop songs.
To get you started, we have put together several unique, string playlists to fit your perfect wedding day vibe, all built around Pachelbel’s indefatigable masterpiece:
Vibe 1: Classically Romantic
This one is all about tradition and white-wedding romance. If you’re looking for a classic string sound, this is for you (and also church-approved if you are hosting a religious ceremony):
Prelude
Air from Suite No. 3 – Bach
Ave Maria – Schubert
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Traditional hymn
“Pastorale” from the Christmas Concerto – Corelli
La Rejouissance – Handel
Processional
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Bach
Air from Water Music – Handel
Canon in D – Pachelbel
Recessional
Wedding March – Mendelssohn
Hornpipe from Water Music – Handel
Vibe 2: Modern Chic
Are you set on walking down the aisle to Canon, but the classical ceremony isn’t really your style? We’ve got a song list for you that includes some of the most beautiful contemporary music we could think of – and also happens to go nicely with Canon in D:
Prelude
Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
Stand By Me – Ben E King
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Unchained Melody – Alex North
Processional
Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis
Falling Slowly – Glen Hasard
Canon in D – Pachelbel
Recessional
You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift
Vibe 3: Classical Fusion
Can’t decide between classical and contemporary? Have a relative who would like some traditional music, but you prefer the pop tunes? Not to worry! Thanks to the string quartet’s flexibility in sound and the easygoing nature of Canon in D, we can easily mix the two genres:
Prelude
A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
Air from Water Music – Handel
Entrance from the Queen of Sheba – Handel
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Falling Slowly – Glen Hasard
Processional
Be Thou My Vision – Traditional hymn
Unchained Melody – Alex North
Canon in D – Pachelbel
Recessional
Brandenburg No. 3 – Bach
My Girl – The Temptations