Mendelssohn Wedding March: Easy Piano and Duet Arrangements
The Wedding March is the best-known recessional in the Western world. Easy piano and duet versions keep the famous fanfare and theme in a form that amateurs and students can play.
About our arrangement: Our easy piano arrangement of the Wedding March, simplified for beginner pianists and for weddings and special events. A violin and cello duet is also available.
Our arrangement is available on Sheet Music Plus.
About the piece
The march comes from Felix Mendelssohn's incidental music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, composed in 1842. It became a wedding tradition after it was played at a royal wedding in 1858.
What easy arrangements simplify
- Octave leaps and fast repeated chords in the left hand.
- Dense chords in the opening fanfare.
- Long runs, replaced by simpler figures.
Piano or duet?
An easy piano version suits a single player at the ceremony. A duet suits two instruments, such as trumpet and organ or two melody instruments, when you want a lighter sound or two musicians share the occasion.
Practical advice
Practise the opening fanfare until it is steady, because it sets the tempo for the whole recessional. Plan for a ceremony tempo that is a little slower than a concert performance so the couple can walk comfortably.
Listen and watch
Frequently asked questions
Is the Wedding March public domain?
Yes. Mendelssohn's composition is in the public domain. Arrangements are protected as the arranger's work.
Is it a processional or a recessional?
It is traditionally used as the recessional, when the couple leaves. The Bridal Chorus from Wagner's Lohengrin is the traditional processional.