Piano Music for Weddings (in Letter Notes You Can Play)

Wedding music has a small, beloved core repertoire — and the good news is that all of it is old enough to be public domain, which means you can play every piece below for free, in letter notes, without reading a note of sheet music. Here's what to play, when to play it, and how hard each one really is.

The processional — walking down the aisle

Canon in D — Pachelbel (medium) The definitive modern wedding processional. Properly titled the Canon and Gigue in D major, it's built on a repeating ground bass — which is exactly why it's so learnable: one looping pattern, with the melody blossoming gradually on top. Remarkably, it was obscure for centuries and only became famous after a 1968 recording. (Wikipedia) (Walkthrough: How to Learn Canon in D)

Bridal Chorus — "Here Comes the Bride" — Wagner (easy) The most recognisable processional of all, and the easiest piece on this list — a genuine option even if you've only been playing a few weeks.

Air on the G String — Bach (medium) Serene and timeless. The music began as the "Air" from Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3; the famous "on the G String" version is an 1871 arrangement by violinist August Wilhelmj, who set the melody so it could be played entirely on the violin's lowest string. (Wikipedia)

The recessional — walking back out

Wedding March — Mendelssohn (hard) The triumphant exit music, from his 1842 incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream. It became the standard recessional after Victoria, the Princess Royal, chose it for her 1858 marriage. (Wikipedia)) Be warned: it's the most demanding piece here.

During the ceremony — reflective moments

Ave Maria — Schubert (medium) A wedding and ceremony staple. A lovely piece of trivia: Schubert composed this melody in 1825 not as a prayer at all, but as a setting of a song from Walter Scott's poem The Lady of the Lake. Because the character's song opened with the words "Ave Maria," people later fitted the Latin prayer to his tune — and it stuck. (Wikipedia)

Arioso (BWV 1056) — Bach (medium) Warm, flowing and less predictable than the usual choices.

Panis Angelicus (medium) A traditional choice for religious ceremonies.

Which should you choose?

If you're a beginner with a few weeks: Bridal Chorus — it's the one on this list rated easy.
If you have a few months: Canon in D or Air on the G String.
If you're comfortable and want the big moment: the Wedding March.

Practical tips for playing at a wedding

Choose one level below your ceiling. Nerves make everything harder; play something you can do comfortably rather than your hardest piece.
Learn to loop the opening. Processionals often need to stretch — practise repeating a section seamlessly, so you can keep playing until everyone is in place.
Practise slowly, right to the end. The last bars are the ones people remember, and the ones we tend to under-rehearse.
Print a letter-note sheet to have at the piano, so you're not relying on a screen.

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