Royal Wedding

Archive for the ‘wedding songs’ Category

Setting your Wedding’s Special Moments to Music

Behind every good wedding is a great soundtrack, one that can move guests to dance, to dine and sometimes, even to cry. Choosing the right melody for every moment, from the ceremony prelude and processional to the cocktail hour and couple’s departure, can create a romantic, festive or even fun atmosphere for the event. Though often overlooked, music is an important and individual detail that can serve to truly distinguish your special day. So, here are a few hints on how to select the best songs for your bridal experience.

The Ceremony

Despite any notions that they many have about being “different,” most brides still lean towards tradition when it come to selecting the wedding songs for their ceremony. This means that much of the wedding’s music is also likely to be a little more standard. For this reason, classics like “The Wedding March” by Mendelssohn will never fall out of fashion. Some variation still occurs however, often caused by cultural, personal or religious preference. Among the most common selections though, are these contemporary favorites and traditional tunes:

Prelude (played just prior to the ceremony):

“Clair de Lune” – Claude Debussy
“Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey (instrumental)
“Four Seasons” – Antonio Vivaldi

Processional (played as the bridal party enters and proceeds down the aisle):

“Bridal Chorus” – Richard Wagner
“Canon in D” – Johann Pachelbel
“Mahtovu” (Jewish)

Interlude (played during any transitional moments in the ceremony with optional music):

“Ave Maria” – Franz Schubert
“The Lord’s Prayer” – Ken Davies
“You Raise Me Up” – Josh Groban

Special Ceremony (played during any special ceremonies included in the wedding, such as the Unity Candle):

“Candle on the Water” (from Disney’s Pete’s Dragon”) – Helen Reddy
“The Gift” – Jim Brickman
“The Rose” – Bette Midler

Recessional (played at the conclusion of the ceremony as the couple and bridal party depart):

“Hornpipe” (Water Music) – George Frideric Handel
“Ode to Joy” – Ludwig van Beethoven
“Wedding March” – Felix Mendelssohn

Postlude (played after the recessional for any remaining guests to enjoy as they depart):

“Allegro Maestoso for Organ in C Major” – Felix Mendelssohn
“Beauty and the Beast” – Angela Lansbury
“Trumpet Voluntary” – Jeremiah Clarke

The Reception

When it comes to selecting songs for a reception, there is an almost endless array of choices. However, much like any other article of decor, the reception music is usually a reflection of the bridal couple’s unique sense of creativity and style. Depending on the wedding’s theme, there may be obvious options for everything from background ballads to show-stopping swing numbers. Sticking to a particular musical style can help to narrow the focus, but should never be done to the exclusion of classic crowd pleasers like “The Hokey Pokey” or “Shout.” Go ahead, dare to be different, but remember, these favorites are always appropriate too:

Cocktail Hour

“Days of Wine and Roses” – Andy Williams
“Escape” (The Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes
“Margaritaville” – Jimmy Buffet

Reception Entrance (wedding party)

“All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” – Hank Williams, Jr.
“Let’s Get It Started” – Black Eyed Peas
“Alabama Jubilee” (Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All here – Fred Astaire

Bride and Groom’s First Dance

“Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Elvis Presley
“Here and Now” – Luther Vandross
“I Cross My Heart” – George Strait

Father / Daughter Dance

“Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle
“I Loved Her First” – Heartland
“My Girl” – The Temptations

Mother / Son Dance

“Have I Told You Lately” – Rod Stewart
“I Hope You Dance” – Lee Ann Womack
“In My Life” – The Beatles

Dinner Hour

“Always” – Frank Sinatra
“Forever and Ever, Amen” – Randy Travis
“The Chapel of Love” – Dixie Cups

Cake Cutting

“Cuts Like a Knife” – Bryan Adams
“Eat It” – Weird Al Yankovic
“Sweetest Thing” – U2

Bouquet Toss

“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
“It’s Raining Men” – The Weather Girls
“Single Ladies” (Put a Ring on It) – Beyonce

Garter Toss

“Fever” – Peggy Lee
“I Know What Boys Like” – The Waitresses
“She’s Got Legs” – ZZ Top

Reception Departure (couple)

“Bye, Bye, Bye” – ‘N Sync
“Happy Trails” – Roy Rogers
“See You Later, Alligator” – Bill Hailey and His Comets

Last Dance of the Evening

“At Last” – Etta James
“I’ve had the Time of My Life” – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
“What a Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong

Wedding songs form an important part of creating the right atmosphere at your wedding. It is important to choose them carefully according to the style of your wedding and with an element of your own personal taste.

Choosing songs for an informal wedding opens up a huge range of choice; from traditional and classical to modern and contemporary, you can really choose anything you want. One thing you must consider is if your choices are appropriate to a wedding. For a civil ceremony you wedding music must not have any religious references and you may want to take a look at the lyrics for any songs you have chosen for particular elements of your day. Some songs which may seem appropriate actually turn out to be the opposite once you check out the lyrics!

What is important is that your choice of wedding songs creates the atmosphere you want. For an informal wedding you will want an atmosphere which is relaxed and which allows your guests to kick back and enjoy themselves. Lively music with a joyful melody is ideal just make sure it isn’t too loud or your guests will be competing with it to make themselves heard!

At certain points of the day you will want have some gentle background music playing, such as during the cocktail hour and wedding breakfast. You may look to hire a musician such as a harpist or string quartet for these times or choose a CD of instrumental covers. Just make sure if using a CD you have enough tracks on it to last the length of time required. A CD which stops abruptly half way through the wedding breakfast could plunge the room into silence and have your best man scurrying to turn it back on!

Don’t go for anything too wild or raucous as it could have the opposite effect to what you want! Keep it light and jovial and choose songs which your guests are likely to recognize. It is also a good idea to include songs that cover a broad range of genres and eras, in effect include something for everyone – young or old.

Live music is great for any kind of wedding and can range from a band to a soloist. Make sure that you get an advance preview of any live musician you want to hire and that you spend time with them to find out what type of music they prefer to play and if you can put together a list of songs to play at your wedding.

Your wedding is definitely the most important day of your life. All these years, you have been dreaming for that day to come and now that it is almost here, you can’t help but prance with joy and excitement. You go and plan your wedding day complete with wedding decor – Toronto or elsewhere – details, ideas for wedding favors and wedding invitations. Of course you won’t leave the most important part of the planning, the quest for the perfect gown among the thousands of equally fabulous wedding dresses.

You have dreamt about this day all your life and now that it’s finally here, you would never allow even a simple glitch to ruin it. It is for the same reason that you want to be in control even of the songs that are played during the wedding ceremony and at the reception party. Although your wedding planner would generally be in-charge of the song selection, they would of course need your go signal.

So here are a few song suggestions. These will truly make your march down the aisle – and the entire celebration – worth remembering. These songs will complement your fabulous wedding dress. After all, you’ve searched high and low and rummaged through tons of wedding dresses before finally being able to pick one.

Two Words (I Do) by Lea Salonga

You would truly be familiar with this songstress as she is the singing voice behind many of Disney’s characters. Most notable of these characters are Princess Jasmine of Aladdin and Mulan from the movie of the same title.

The song Two Words (I Do) is the very same song that Lea Salonga used and sang during her bridal march. Indeed, “no trace of sadness, always with gladness, I do” will be your drama on your wedding day.

So to all Disney and Lea Salonga fans, it would not hurt to make use of this tune as a wedding song. This would truly make you look more fabulous on your wedding day – and this is true most especially if you are donning one of those Monique Lhuillier wedding dresses!

I am So In Love with You by UNV

Who doesn’t want to go down the aisle with a song that starts with “You are to me, what poetry tries to say with a word?” No one, right? So if you’re still planning your whole ceremony – getting worried about wedding dresses and wedding songs – then make this song a part of your playlist. Indeed, people will be moved by this song – and by the whole romantic ceremony.

I Do by Boyz II Men

The voice of this R & B trio would truly melt anyone’s heart away – what more with the romantic connotation of this wedding song? Although the lyrics would be just about “do I promise you, I do,” still you’ll never go wrong if you make this a special entry into your wedding songs list.

Indeed, weddings are one of those occasions that are full of drama. Anyone would basically cry with joy over a wedding ceremony – be it about the stunning wedding dresses, the splendid decors, or even the romantic songs. Indeed, weddings are celebrations that are full of positive emotions – so don’t be afraid to make songs fill the air with love and romance.

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