Music to Walk Down the Aisle To
Your personal wedding march might not be one of the most pressing matters on your mind as you plan your nuptials, but it certainly isn’t a detail that should be left until the last second. Your options aren’t exactly numbered, but it’s worth it to keep a few things in mind while choosing the right tunes for your walk down the aisle:
Does it fit your personal style?
If you and your fiancé spend all of your free time at metal shows where at least half of the audience leaves with blood on their leather vests, it might not be true to your nature to hire a concert pianist. That’s not to say that pianists aren’t a completely viable option, but it might be prudent to think long and hard about what sort of music represents your style. If you and your fiancé are huge fans of the Rolling Stones, there is no rule that says you can’t march up to the altar to “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” though “Paint it Black” might make your future mother in law fall out of her chair. Will it scare your family?
If your family is less than liberal about their musical tastes, and the last piece of contemporary music they heard was Ke$ha at the mall (and it ruffled some feathers), you might not want to start your big day off with a hearty rendition of “Poker Face.” While you want to be true to who you are (and the music that you care about), it often isn’t worth it to alienate your family with R&B hits that feature the word “booty” more than once. Consider alternatives such as string quartet versions of contemporary songs. You get the music you love, and your grandmother survives the ceremony.
Does it mean something to you?
If the traditional wedding march really is your thing, by all means, set the harpist to work. But if you and your fiancé are choosing your own wedding march, don’t be afraid to pick a song that is meaningful to your relationship. Was the song you danced to at prom “Video Killed the Radio Star”? Did you catch him crying while listening to the theme music from “Up”? Nothing is cheesy if it’s meaningful – don’t let your family bully you into a decision if it isn’t something you really want to walk down the aisle to. After all, it’s the song you’ll probably remember forever. Do you really want it to be some Sarah Mc Lachlan song you’d only heard of the week of your wedding? Do you have the budget?
Most venues can accommodate a mix CD and a walkman with few problems, so seriously consider how fancy you want to get with your musical choices after that. If you have your heart set on a live string duet but you would have to sacrifice a wedding cake, remember that quality recorded versions of string music exists, and your guests probably won’t throw their hands up in rage if they can’t see where the cellist is. Remember also that bands you hire for your reception are usually fine with showing up a little early for some ceremony mood music (for an extra fee – though it’s much smaller than hiring two separate musical performers).
Does it fit your personal style?If you and your fiancé spend all of your free time at metal shows where at least half of the audience leaves with blood on their leather vests, it might not be true to your nature to hire a concert pianist. That’s not to say that pianists aren’t a completely viable option, but it might be prudent to think long and hard about what sort of music represents your style. If you and your fiancé are huge fans of the Rolling Stones, there is no rule that says you can’t march up to the altar to “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” though “Paint it Black” might make your future mother in law fall out of her chair. Will it scare your family?
If your family is less than liberal about their musical tastes, and the last piece of contemporary music they heard was Ke$ha at the mall (and it ruffled some feathers), you might not want to start your big day off with a hearty rendition of “Poker Face.” While you want to be true to who you are (and the music that you care about), it often isn’t worth it to alienate your family with R&B hits that feature the word “booty” more than once. Consider alternatives such as string quartet versions of contemporary songs. You get the music you love, and your grandmother survives the ceremony.
Does it mean something to you?If the traditional wedding march really is your thing, by all means, set the harpist to work. But if you and your fiancé are choosing your own wedding march, don’t be afraid to pick a song that is meaningful to your relationship. Was the song you danced to at prom “Video Killed the Radio Star”? Did you catch him crying while listening to the theme music from “Up”? Nothing is cheesy if it’s meaningful – don’t let your family bully you into a decision if it isn’t something you really want to walk down the aisle to. After all, it’s the song you’ll probably remember forever. Do you really want it to be some Sarah Mc Lachlan song you’d only heard of the week of your wedding? Do you have the budget?
Most venues can accommodate a mix CD and a walkman with few problems, so seriously consider how fancy you want to get with your musical choices after that. If you have your heart set on a live string duet but you would have to sacrifice a wedding cake, remember that quality recorded versions of string music exists, and your guests probably won’t throw their hands up in rage if they can’t see where the cellist is. Remember also that bands you hire for your reception are usually fine with showing up a little early for some ceremony mood music (for an extra fee – though it’s much smaller than hiring two separate musical performers).