Unique Weddings: Unique Music for Unique Weddings

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Unique Weddings

Brides and grooms spend anywhere between several weeks to over a year planning for a wedding, spending time on details that will customize their wedding to their personal taste. Many times, however, when it comes to the ceremony music, they resort to CDs or default to the traditional pieces, not knowing that there are more choices out there.

Aerial View at Highlands Inn, Carmel

Weddings are special and each one is unique. That is why Alice works closely with each couple to customize music that reflect that particular couple's tastes, styles, and special memories.

Here are a few steps to planning the music at your wedding:

List the order of your ceremony. This may include: prelude, seating of parents, candle lighting, bridesmaids entrance, flower girls, bridal entrance, special music, communion, message, exchanging of vows, exchanging of rings, unity candle, veil/cord/coin ceremony, sand/rose ceremony, parent appreciation, kiss, recessional.

Determine where music will be needed in the ceremony music. Obvious places include the bridal procession and recessional. How about a special number during the public recognition of the parents? Even short interludes could also be used during transitions (between readings, for example) or when waiting for someone to move from one side of the stage to the other.

Figure out what music you would like. This is where you can customize your music. Read on for more ideas!

Consider Style

What sort of mood do you want to convey at your wedding? (elegance, joy, casual, reverence, drama)

What style of music would you like in your wedding? (traditional, classical, contemporary, popular music, eclectic, a mix)

For instance, some of these pieces are the same song, but played in different styles.

Bridal Chorus, by Richard Wagner Also known as "Here Comes the Bride" or "Bridal March"	[Piano - (663 kb)]	[Harp - (632 kb)]
Bridal March, by Wagner/Jonathan Cain This is the same traditional march played in a contemporary style.	[Piano - (558 kb)]	Can be played on harp
Canon in D, by Johann Pachelbel	Can be played on piano or organ	Can be played on harp
Canon in D, Jazz Version	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, by J.S. Bach	Can be played on piano or organ	Can be played on harp
Joy, by George Winston This piece is based on the theme of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp

Consider Alternative Sources for Music

You can really have fun with this. One couple liked Disney movies. Alice designed a ceremony that used different love songs from Disney movies−Beauty and the Beast for the processional, Can You Feel the Love Tonight? from Lion King as a special number, and A Whole New World from Aladdin for the recessional. The music they selected put a smile on everyone's face.

Sources for music include tv shows, movie theme songs, musicals, or albums from their favorite singers or musicians. Couples have used selections from Sound of Music, Pride and Prejudice, Cinema Paradiso, Robotech, Evita, Enter the Dragon, and Cirque du Soleil and have included music ranging from George Winston, Journey, to Celine Dion for their ceremony music. One couple even used a song from a video game!

100 Years by Five for Fighting	[Piano - (529 kb)]	Can be played on harp
A Whole New World from Aladdin	[Piano - (508 kb)]	Can be played on harp
Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
China Rose by Enya	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Edelweiss from Sound of Music	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Eyes on Me from Final Fantasy VIII	[Piano - (740 Mb)]	Can be played on harp
Forrest Gump Suite from Forrest Gump	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
La valse d'Amelie from Amelie	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Now We are Free from Gladiator	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
O from Cirque du Soleil	[Piano - (837 kb)]	Can be played on harp
Storybook Love from Princess Bride	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Such Great Heights from Garden State	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Theme from Cinema Paradiso	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Til Kingdom Come by Coldplay	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera	[Piano - (736 kb)]	Can be played on harp

Consider Blending Music

It is easy to incorporate a favorite song into an otherwise traditional piece. One couple a classical recessional piece (Trumpet Tune), but they included a song from the Star Wars series (May the Force Be With You) in the middle of the song. Another couple incorporated the Cal Fight Song into a classical piece (Rigaudon) for their recessional piece. Inspired by these beginnings, many couples have come up with their own creative mixes!

Processional Music Ideas:

Bridal Chorus and Canon in D The traditional piece with a popular classical piece. Other classical pieces are also possible, like Arioso.	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Bridal Chorus and O The traditional piece paired with a beautiful instrumental piece. Other instrumental pieces can also be incorporated.	[Piano - (1.0 Mb)]	Can be played on harp
Bridal Chorus and Wonderful Tonight The traditional piece with a contemporary love song. Other love songs are also possible.	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Wedding Medley Arranged as a showcase of classical and sacred wedding songs, Alice is able to intertwine various melodies into one cohesive piece. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (beginning) + How Beautiful + Canon in D + I Will Be Here + Sheep May Safely Graze + Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (ending)	[Piano - (1.7 Mb)]	Can be played on harp

Recessional Music Ideas:

Cal Song Mix Rigaudon and the Cal Fight Song on the organ	[Organ - (1.0 Mb)]	Can be played on harp
USC Fight Song Mix The Trumpet Tune and the USC Fight Song was the happy ending for two USC alums.	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Arizona Fight Song Mix For the Arizona Die-Hard Family (the groom's family was listening to the game right before the ceremony, and with half an hour to spare, asked Alice to learn the Arizona Fight song and incorporate it into the recessional). She blended the Wedding March with the Arizona Fight Song, and even added (at a groomsman's request) the Cal Fight Song as well.	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Broadway Show Tunes The finale began with the drama of Phantom of the Opera, but also included Broadway hits from Les Mis, Cats, etc.	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp
Ode to Joy and Looney Tunes This was designed for a couple who loved the classic cartoons.	Can be played on piano
Rocky! Starting with the introduction to the Rocky movie theme, Gonna Fly Now, Alice segued into Eye of the Tiger, another Rocky movie favorite.	Can be played on piano
Trumpet Tune and May the Force Be With You Used as the recessional, this classical piece was paired with a Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back melody.	[Piano - (763 kb)]
Star Wars Medley For a bit of fun, Alice combined the Hallelujah Chorus, the Star Wars Theme Song, the Wedding March, the Throne Room, and Ode to Joy..	Can be played on piano
Wedding March and Star Trek Next Generation A musical debut into worlds unknown.	Can be played on piano	Can be played on harp

Consider Different Instruments

You are not limited to only one instrument, either. You can have soft piano music for the prelude while guests are being seated. Then the heavenly sounds of the harp can be heard during the candle lighting and seating of the parents. The grandiose sound of the pipe organ can announce the entrance of the bridal party and later during the recessional, convey the joy and happiness of the new couple.

Graceful Music can also arrange ensembles for an ethereal experience for your guests, including Piano & Flute, or Harp & Flute.

For the budget conscious, this does not need to break the bank. Because of Alice's versatility, you can have it all in one package!

Consider Embellishments

You can add musical decorative touches. One couple had harp glissandos playing during their kiss, to the surprise and delight of their friends and family [listen]. Another couple used the Hallelujah chorus for their kiss [listen].

Consider the Prelude, Cocktail Hour, Tea Ceremony, and the Reception

So much music, so little time? Do you have a list of songs that you love but don't know how to incorporate them into your celebrations?

Other ideas include:

Prelude as guests arrive	Classical selections or contemporary love songs to set the mood
Bridal Party Luncheon	Love songs on the Harp
Chinese Tea Ceremony Generally after the traditional American wedding, before the reception.	Chinese classical and folk songs on the Harp
Japanese Sake Ceremony	Japanese folk and inspired songs on the Harp, including Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)
Cocktail Hour	Jazz favorites or love songs on the Piano Beautiful love songs on the Harp
Reception	Beautiful dinner music on the Piano or Harp - perfect because people can enjoy the music but still have conversation without being drowned out
Theme Parties	Period pieces centered around the theme. For instance, for a Casablanca theme dinner, Alice played songs like As Time Goes By, It Had to Be You, and La Vie en Rose.

The possibilities are endless! ♫

For ideas and stories about real weddings, please click here.

Note: Please check with your officiant before making musical selections. Some faiths, churches or officiants do not allow particular selections for the wedding ceremony.

phone: 408-656-3344 I e-mail: alice@gracefulmusic.com