Every bride and groom want a wedding that is unique; despite trends that sort of set the tone for a wedding season or similar tastes between brides, there is always something that should set each wedding apart from another. One way to ensure that your wedding tells a story that is uniquely your own is with music selection. It seems through the years, there are songs that stand the test of time when it comes to first dances, entrance songs, etc. but what happens when everyone chooses the same songs?! You don’t want your guests to be able to place a bet on what you’re walking down the aisle to - so what do you do?! Keep reading for some diamonds in the rough I’ve discovered over the years!
Among the top things that guests tend to remember about a wedding are the food, the look, and the music. Of the three of those items, only one of them tends to elicit an actual feeling. Music has the amazing ability to set the tone of an entire event, and make people feel emotions that they may not otherwise feel without it. These days it’s tough, though, to choose something that not everyone else has already thought of. The ceremony very much serves at the introduction to the rest of your wedding; it sets the tone for the experience your guests are going to have. Do you want to convey an upbeat and playful party or a more intimate, romantic affair? Consider the below list as a starting point to get your creative juices flowing when it comes to your song selections!:
Processionals
In my life - The Beatles
Hymn for the Weekend - Coldplay
Make you Feel my Love - Adele
More than Words - Instrumental by Orinoco Haven
Here Comes the Sun - Instrumental by Fred Benedetti
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - various versions
Bridal processionals
So this is Love - Cinderella Love Theme
The very Thought of you - Nat King Cole
Sunday Kind of Love - Etta James
All I ask of you - Phantom of the Opera
I love you, always forever - Donna Lewis
Registry Signing
I’m Yours - Jason Mraz
Feels Like Home - Chantal Kreviazuk
Stand by Me - Florence and the Machine
Better Together - Jack Johnson
Come Away with me - Nora Jones
Recessional
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
You’re my Best Friend - Queen
Home - String Quartet Tribute to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Heros
Higher Love - Steve Winwood
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
All you Need is Love - The Beatles
Do you Believe in Magic - The Lovin’ Spoonfuls
Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest
Can’t Take my Eyes off of you - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
You’ll notice my list incorporates some new and some old, and that’s because I come from a large family spanning over multiple generations, with an eclectic musical palette. For my own wedding, I chose songs that would not only convey the feelings I wanted out of my younger crowd, but that would be appreciated by all of the generations of guests attending (the songs I chose are mixed into this list!).
This is definitely not an end-all, be-all list, but just serves to maybe prod another part of your noggin that is having trouble remembering the name of that beautiful tune you heard on an easy-listening station four months ago. Download the songs to a playlist, pour yourselves a glass of wine, and listen through to see how you’re feeling and what speaks to you most.
Enjoy!
Xo, Shana
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