Walking down the aisle on your wedding day is the start of a life-changing journey, so it’s only appropriate you pick a song that best expresses how you and your hubby-to-be feel about each other – and that doesn’t always mean Wagner’s Bridal March, aka Here Comes the Bride.
“Your processional song is the first song in the soundtrack to one of the most memorable occasions of your life, so it’s important to get it right,” says Caitlin Benetatos, director of Funkified Entertainment in Sydney, which manages some of the state’s best live bands and musicians, everything from string quartets and jazz trios to funk-infused covers band.
“When selecting your processional song, it’s important to consider a few things, such as whether you’re hiring live musicians to perform on the day.
“If so, make sure to inform them of your selections as early as possible, so that they can be prepared. If the musicians haven’t performed the song before, extra fees may incur for arranging.”
Caitlin, a trained classical violinist, says other points to ask yourself when planning your processional tune include:
– Think about how fast your chosen song is. It’s best to choose a song that has a constant, steady beat, and isn’t extremely slow or fast. Running up the aisle in your wedding dress won’t make for a great look!
– How many members are in your bridal party? If you have a large entourage walking up the aisle on the day, make sure the song you have selected is long enough to last from the flowergirl’s first steps, right through until you have reached the altar or the top of the aisle. You don’t want to be the bride walking up the aisle in silence because the music ran out!
– If you’re picking a contemporary song, check the lyrics first. “You’d be amazed how many catchy tunes we love have meanings some of us haven’t ever contemplated,” says Caitlin. “Others may contain offensive language or just be inappropriate for older or younger guests”.
– If you are having your ceremony in a church, ensure to run your selections by the priest first since churches sometimes have strict rules about what can and can’t be played on their premises.
Classical Songs
- Canon in D – Pachelbel
- Bridal March – Wagner (Here Comes the Bride)
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Bach
- Concerto for Two Violins, 2nd Mvt – Bach
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Bach
Traditional Songs
- Ave Maria – Schubert
- Flower Duet – Delibes
- What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- Moon River – Mancini
- At Last – Etta James
Modern Songs
- Marry Me – Train
- Better Together – Jack Johnson
- I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
- Without You – Keith Urban
- When You Got A Good Thing – Lady Antebellun
Feel-Good Songs
- Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve
- Beautiful Day – U2
- As – Stevie Wonder
- Amazing – Alex Lloyd
- This Will Be – Natalie Cole
Quirky Songs
- Fall At Your Feet – Boy and Bear cover
- Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole cover
- Is This Love – Bob Marley
- Gorecki – Lamb
- Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer
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