Wedding music (Where do i start?)

Hi, Emma

Google, for all that it's useful, can often make things more confusing rather than less, as you've found.

The thing is, it's your wedding, so who cares what other people have done and what 'advice' there is from specialists? (He says, giving advice as a specialist...)

Make a short list of songs that you like and/or that have special meaning to you - the norm would be slow and sedate, but it doesn't have to be... you've probably seen the video with wedding party boogying into the church, and with a fast song you can take a step every second beat to make it work. Just go with what feels right for you - make a decision sooner rather than later, though, so that you can spend some time with that decision made and see if it still seems right after a few weeks... if so, you've got a winner!

Is it a church wedding? Or do you have to be sure that whatever you choose doesn't mention religion in anyway?

For church weddings I'm personally rather fond of Seal 'Love's Divine' or 'Wedding Day'.

If you want to think out loud when it comes to your short-list I'm sure the assembled people, here, will be happy to put in their two penn'orths.

Good luck!

Alan

Hi

Thanks for that.

Its not a church wedding but it is a minister conducting the wedding (its in scotland so the rules are different) I can have anything i want.

But i didnt realise this at the time, to be honest i didnt realise there was a choice i thought you just went with whatever the norm is. But my venue told me that they would need me to let them know what my ceremony music choice was to be.

Right i guess i need to get thinking (or listening) and try to find something suitable!

Emma x

We have now managed to secure a piper for our wedding for which H2B and i quite like the sound of flower of scotland (H2B will also be wearing flower of scotland tartan) and gift of a thistle but havent really got much further than that!

Is this what you will be walkin into Lorna? Thatssomething to hink about especially as w are marrying in scoland? Where are u gettin married?

I will probably be walking in to 'flower of scotland' and the 'outward bound journey' will probably be gift of a thistle as for any other songs we will speak to the piper about it when we meet.

We are getting married at The Limpley Stoke Hotel near the city of Bath, but H2B is originaly from Edinburgh so we felt it important that this played a part in our day! x

Sounds lovely - i will google and have a listen to those tomorow. Im off to deliver a cake now and then going to a party.

Its a lovely idea to include his heritage in your big day!

Thans for the added ideas x

That does bring up another point - does the venue play CDs or give you access to a musician/musicians - the latter would of course limit your choice.

I know one church I played at the regular minister was quite shirty about CD music so they had a to hire a different celebrant as well as the church at full price ?

They will prolly need to know for PRS reasons (Performing rights society - venue will have to pay a fee so will need to have a note of your tunes).

Our minister gave us ideas of tunes and I youtubed them.....

I don't understand how using musicians would limit your choice. I have a library of over 30,000 songs and am happy to learn and arrange any items I don't already know. There's nothing as memorable as live music... you can put a CD on anytime!

Spoken like a true musician ?

No offense meant at all, Simon, just that some pieces with their production-heavy layering aesthetic are sometimes hard to re-create live. Also, in the case of the example(s) I gave, Seal's voice is quite unique and somewhat pivotal to the songs' effect.

Hmmm i needed to email the venue before i could reply to this...their answer was

The music is my choice, i can have a musician or they will play a CD. They said they had contacts for pipers but didnt mention any other musicians?? They said there are no restrictions on religious or non religious content but i may want to consider the ministers feelings if there were to be strong content of any particular matter???

That doesnt help, to be honest, or is it just me ha ha ha. I wouldnt mind having a CD, and i am not sure i could even afford a musician i bet they cost a fortune? And how would i find one in Gretna green - is there a musicians website or something?? (yeah just read this bak to myself and i think it must just be me? Im making it harder than it needs to be. Oh the joy of wedding planning)

Then stick with a CD..... Theres loads of instrumental CDs out there (I got a fair amount of CDs from charity shops (they are brand new cds, just v v cheap and the shops an outlet for them) and theres chill out albums too... all with nice toons.

My walking in tune was the theme from the series Band of Brothers. I chose it to go with my 40s theme. The organist managed to play it but I was backed up with a CD just incase she made a hash of it - which initially she did - but was fine on day. We also signed the reg to Don Henleys For My Wedding....which was modern but v nice and was OHs choice, and we walked out to a traditional classic piece Te Deum Prelude .... (sp)

as long as you aint walking down the aisle to Iron Maidens 'Bring your daughter to the slaughter...' the minister shouldnt be too peed off about your choice, LOLOL.....

find it, choose it and have a reason for it..... minister will be cool

Thank you TeeHee i think i feel a bit better about this now and i think i understand more (id started looking at 'proper' wedding marches)

I will have a listen to our CD collection - cuddled up on sofa with h2b later - an see what comes to us. Some of our favourite songs are nice slow ones that might work.

Actually there is a song he used to sing to me - he'd phone me at work when i worked in an office and sing it down the phone - cant remember who sang it but it was called Its always better when we're together! Will google that and listen to it to jog my memory! That would really surprise him and mean something!!

Jack Johnson 'Better Together'?

Great song, that, and with such a cute back story, too!

Perfect choice I would've said - used it a few times for first dances and ceremonies.

Thank you Music man - that will help me find it. I love the idea of surprising him when i walk in to this x

I played Better Together just a few weeks ago - and it certainly sounds better without layers of studio processing. ?

Another option is hiring your DJ to provide your ceremony music.

Advantages: Played on quality PA, faded in and out rather than the clunk of a CD player, most DJs will sit with you with their library and go through options, they will also source particular versions (I currently have several different versions of canon in D, orchestral, piano and organ versions of many popular songs),

I've sat for up to 2 hours with couples helping them with sorting out their music....its so much easier when you've got a vaste library at your finger tips. I've often found the ideal song.... but the intro wasn't suitable, or they would prefer it instrumental etc....which can easily be accomodated. After that meeting, the worry and work is over for the B & G....and its up to me to sort it out at home.

The music for the ceremony is so important, not so much your choice as thats very personal, but cuing at the right time and ensuring everything runs smoothly. If its within your budget, I would definitely go for a DJ or live musician.

For our wedding my husband who is a music programmer and has been in the music industry for a number of years did an amazing 3 hour mix. We got married abroad and didn't want to hire a dodgy local band or shell out for some cheesy DJ. He has since set up www.mypartymix.co.uk - a service which will take your music and professionally programme and mix it together into a continuous party mix for playback at your event. Check out the site and https://soundcloud.com/mypartymix for some sample mixes. Enjoy!

Here are a few popular suggestions for ‘traditional’ wedding ceremony music http://www.jmfdisco.co.uk/blog/wedding-ceremony-music-advice-from-a-kent-wedding-dj.html for anyone coming back to this for reasearch