Piano Wedding Music

Planning a cozy, intimate wedding and want an instrument that would fit the setting? Piano wedding music--either live or via CD--could be the perfect answer. Luckily, both are easy to obtain.

Fortunately, there are many accomplished pianists in the world and you shouldn't have much trouble finding one in your area. Organists can also be terrific pianists. If you don't know a pianist or an organist, contacting a local college/university can help you find a wonderful pianist in short order! A reputable piano teacher can also be an excellent source in your quest.

Obviously, piano wedding music CDs with song clips can easily be found online. Here are just a few:

• The Ultimate Wedding Collection is a CD by pianist Danny Wright that features classical songs that are often performed at weddings.

• Christopher West's The Gift of Love is a 2-CD set with 10 songs on each CD that contains a nice mix of pop and traditional piano wedding music.

• Tender Moments by artist Newell Oler is a CD that features some 2 minute song clips of well-known---but not classical---love and wedding songs.

As far as piano websites are concerned, I think a must-see site is:

• The Piano Brothers (The O'Neill Brothers) which is an all-encompassing piano music site that, of course, contains a wedding music section. The easiest way to get there is to click on the following CD:

  Obviously, the music you're listening to now is from that the above CD.

  Specifically, they offer 3 wedding CDs and each song has a song clip of decent length. Each CD places every song into either the prelude, processional, ceremony, recessional or reception category to make planning easier!

  CDs can be purchased individually or in package deals. MP3 downloads are only $0.99. In addition to the music downloads, many of their arrangements can be purchased for your wedding musicians in either hard-copy form (for $3.98 + shipping) or as digital downloads for $4.98.

  Here is the beauty of the sheet music digital download feature: If need be, the music can be transposed into another key before you print it! Talk about music heaven!

  In my opinion, The Piano Brothers have many beautiful arrangements (not just wedding songs, either) played with melodious expression which creates a wonderfully relaxing listening experience. Again, well worth your time!

• Ivory Treasures is the website of pianist Steve Siu. Again, there is a wedding music section (click on the "wedding music" heading which is 2nd from the right on his website's somewhat small and light toolbar!) that lists 7 wedding music CDs. Audio samples are available and you can buy CDs or download them.