I'm a sucker for the classics, I mean they're classics for a reason, right? Has there ever been a time where you have ever been to a wedding and the Bride's dramatic entrance to the Bridal March by Mendelssohn and thought "ugh, something new please!"? Or that you rolled your eyes while Bride and Groom danced to "The Way You Look Tonight" or "I Will Always Love You"? Even my most jaded days I can't help but feel a few tears come to my eyes over these songs' opening notes, they're timeless!
However, it's one of the biggest things couples struggle with in the wedding process... how to mix not only their families, but their musical tastes. Sometimes going a little different on your music choices is what makes the difference of it feeling like a bride and a groom, but a family unit. I spent some time trolling websites to make sure I didn't hit any of the really common ones you'll see anywhere on TheKnot or Brides.com, each of these should in some way sound a little different to you and make you a one-of-a-kind bride.
Am I missing any forgotten gems?
Procession:
Classic with a twist? Even for the non-U2 fans out there (like me), try some Jon Schmidt Pachelbel Meets U2... can you picture the Bride's entrance right around the 3:30 mark? Especially good for a big bridal party, but you can always cut it down a bit, or just let everyone enjoy the intricacies of the piece for a minute.
Don't Think About the Lyrics. If you don't really care what the lyrics are actually about, check out one more from The Piano Guys, a classic Adele hit, Rolling in the Deep may seem a strange choice for your wedding march, but it's hard to deny its anthemic qualities and the cello certainly adds something to the piece for a walk down the aisle!
Classical Rock. No, not classic rock. Well, actually, yeah-- it is. Love something a bit harder, never really got into the music masters of the 17th and 18th centuries? Try taking a favorite piece, such as Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, or Somebody to Love by Queen (try it with or without the vocals) and putting it to a symphony. Great Aunt Greta will never even know it wasn't originally a piece by one of the Masters.
Ceremony Music:
Now this is a post I would like to hear more about, what are some good songs for family or friends to perform during the wedding? It does depend on your venue, a lot of churches/ places of worship have restrictions on the type of music that can be sung in the sanctuary, so always check first! I was at a great wedding where the bride and groom chose "Silly Love Songs" because it was playing in the delivery room when their son was born. I've also been in the wedding of a Broadway Baby and she made sure her ceremony was chock-full of classic showtunes about love.
Some of my favorite ceremony performance choices?
Show Tunes:
You Are My Home from The Scarlet Pimpernel (don't worry about the brother/ sister part, it's still beautiful and makes for a great duet OR solo) If I Loved You from Carousel; All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera (Although I do admit that the names being in the song present a re-write challenge... but if you're friends are actually named Raoul or Christine, you're GOLDEN!) and a new choice I've fallen in love with, from Memphis: Love Will Stand When All Else Falls, especially if you can wrangle a few members of a gospel choir for back up.
Radio Hits:
I Just Can't Stop Loving You (Check out the Glee version for a good arrangement); Norah Jones Be Here to Love Me; Faith Hill and Tim McGraw's It's Your Love; or pretty much ANY standard a la Sinatra/ Buble-- Witchcraft, Try Some Tenderness; The Best is Yet to Come.
Recessional:
Not that I don't laugh when immediately following the Bride and Groom's first kiss, on comes the Hallelujah chorus or strains of Etta James singing, "At Last". But this is such a missed opportunity for so many couples to signal the end of the serious stuff and get to a PARTY! Some options I'd love to hear during the triumphal saunter back up the aisle? Maybe a little Michael Jackson in The Way You Make Me Feel or a different 80's hit-- What a Feeling from Flashdance? Feel like strutting? Michael Buble's Feeling Good is perfect for a little bit of a swagger, or maybe try the chorus of So Happy Together by the Turtles, a classic!
So, I'll continue in another post the fun ones for a reception in a follow-up post, but to recap:
- Remember to check with the officiant about any rules the church may have re: music
- Don't be afraid to use an instrumental you love of a song that you particularly love (was part of a wedding where the bride walked down the aisle to a marching band version of "In My Life", a nod to the bride and groom meeting through their college marching band)
- If you are having trouble choosing a song for a first dance, think about whether it would work for a part of the ceremony-- you don't have to pick just one song that describes your relationship!
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