Monthly Archives: April 2014

Song Choices for your Ceremony

Wedding Songs

Music preference is a very personal choice. We all have different tastes, be it classical, pop, country or rock. The music you choose for your ceremony should reflect the type of ceremony you are planning – is it formal, fun, romantic, or a combination of styles? Don’t forget that you also have music selections to make for your reception, including your first official dance.

Classical pieces might include Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (your choice of Season), Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, The Prayer performed by Andrea Bocelli or Richard Wagner’s Traditional Wedding March.

Do you prefer the big band era? Popular crooners you might consider are Frank Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr, or Michael Bublé.

Theatre might be important to you. Consider options such as All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera, Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof, or One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story.

If you are a movie buff, do you have a favourite movie that has an appropriate song? Some examples might be Dirty Dancing, The Princess Bride, Juno, The Bridges of Madison County or even The Wedding Singer.

What about your favourite artist? Whether your preferred music era is the 1950s or today, there are so many artists to choose from: Elvis, The Beatles, Sade, Barry White, Nina Simone, Roberta Flack, Shania Twain, Nick Cave, Regina Spektor, Florence + The Machine, The Flaming Lips … the list is endless.

Or maybe it is the song itself. Classics include At Last by Etta James, Unforgettable or When I Fall in Love by Nat King Cole, Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison, Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers.

Any of these options should be able to be used with either recordings or live music at your Ceremony. Remember: Your ceremony is all about celebrating your love, and the music you choose is a reflection of that love you have for each other.

Music for your Ceremony

Beautiful bouquet of flowers on the piano

It is not a requirement to have music as part of your Ceremony, however, it can often add to the atmosphere of what is happening at a point in time or set the mood or tone for what is to come. You may wish to have live music or pre-recorded music.

When opting for live music, there are so many options.

Will you use a solo artist, a band, or a string quartet? Consider whether you want only music or vocals as well. How will your music sound in the space your Ceremony will be held – will it echo at an inside location or be clearly heard at an outside venue?

If using pre-recorded music, most celebrants should be able to play your music from an mp3 player or CD through their PA system. You should check that the quality of your recording will work effectively through the PA system that will play the music.

So do you go with classical or contemporary music? The options are endless and, unless you are using a venue with music restrictions, you are able to choose the music that you like and that will make your Ceremony memorable and meaningful to you as a couple.

Testimonials

  • Our written ceremony was perfect – it was clear that Rosemary understood what we wanted and delivered. On the day, the ceremony was above and beyond what we expected. We would definitely recommend Rosemary’s services to other couples planning their wedding.

    K and B

  • Rosemary was a friendly, helpful, thoughtful and professional celebrant who helped us create a ceremony that was perfectly suited to us. She was helpful throughout the whole process of planning and went over and above at the rehearsal and ceremony to make sure everything went smoothly.

    Anisa

  • Rosemary is a very calm, personable and professional celebrant. She helped us continuously in the lead-up to our outdoor wedding, ensuring our ceremony was wonderfully smooth. Of the many highlights of our wedding day, the ceremony was definitely one of them!

    Jaime and Nigel

  • For us, the ceremony was the most important aspect of our day and Rosemary helped us to find the right words to express our love and commitment to each other. Many people commented on how moving they found the ceremony and how well it reflected us as both individuals and as a couple. We would highly recommend Rosemary to anyone seeking a celebrant sensitive to and able to respond to the clients requirements.

    Karen and Grant

  • We’ve had great feedback about how lovely our ceremony was. Thank you for making this memorable not only for us but for our families and friends as well.

    Ruby and Mike

  • We really appreciated the work that you put into making the service just right for us – a great way to start our life together as husband and wife.

    Mark and Anna

  • Thanks for making our day so special for us. The ceremony was absolutely what we wanted and meant so much to us.

    Sandra and Terry

  • Rosemary was always very friendly and most helpful in providing suggestions. We were very happy and everyone commented on how wonderful the ceremony was.

    Laura and Tim