Weddingbee PRO

Hello, dear readers!! Thank you for your patience with my lack of posting.  I have been very busy with a few secret projects that I will be sure to share with you all soon. For now, let's jump right back into the swing of things…

We are sooo overdue for another installment of Fab Finds.  Recently I've been chatting with a lot of my clients about personalizing their ceremonies by using unique, somewhat unexpected and completely custom-tailored music. Although there is something very elegant about using the traditional tunes à la Wagner and Pachelbel, I love hearing something fresh as a bride walks down the aisle. It's a fantastic way to infuse your wedding day with your personalities and tastes!

For my own wedding back in 2005, I used a fun mix of songs I love. The parents + bridal party walked in to “One Hand, One Heart” from West Side Story. I chose the ultra-romantic “All I Ask of You” by Andrew Lloyd Webber (from Phantom of the Opera - my favorite musical of all time) for my own teary entrance. We sang a beloved hymn during the ceremony: “Be Thou My Vision.” After we had sealed the deal with a kiss, I fulfilled a childhood fantasy by recessing to “Wouldn't It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys. Amazing and so much fun! Although we had a string quartet play the show tunes + hymn, I opted to play the Beach Boys tune off of a CD. The lyrics are so sweet!

I have had the incredible delight of hearing many unique ceremony music selections throughout the years. I recall one couple that chose all Beatles tunes for their ceremony. Think “Here Comes the Sun” and “All You Need is Love.” Another bride walked down the aisle to the moody “All I Want is You” by U2. Still another used Coldplay tunes, including “Clocks” for an upbeat recessional.

To get your wheels turning about some potential unconventional ceremony music choices, I enlisted the help of a dear friend in the biz - the fabulous Ian Gotler of RedShoe L.A.

Ian is hands down my fave DJ: personable, eclectic and so much fun! Anytime he is working with me, I know the guests are going to be packed on the dance floor all night. Below Ian offers a few of his favorites for various moments during your ceremony.

Bridal party processional

• “Love and Some Verses” by Iron and Wine
• “Catch the Wind” by Donovan
• “Knuddlemaus” by Ulrich Schnauss

Bride's processional

• “Heartbeats” by Jose Gonzalez
• “Songbird” by Eva Cassidy
• “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson

Recessional

• “If There's Love” by Citizen Cope
• “I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)” by Stevie Wonder
• “Ain't That Love” by Ray Charles

And just for fun, here are some of *my* personal faves for ceremony music. These are the tunes I'd use if I was going to do it all over again.

• “Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois” by Sufjan Stevens
• “The Scientist” by Coldplay (Super sad, I know, but perfect for a love that has withstood the test of time and various trials. This is actually my favorite song of all time and never fails to make me cry…)
• “Somebody Loved” by The Weepies
• “Childhood Dreams” by Nelly Furtado

What do you think? Did we mention any of your faves, or do you have some of your own? Share your ideas in the comments section… I'd love to get a glimpse at your personality via your musical choices! xoxo, Angel