ceremony songs???

[happy in love]

Gwyn''s post got me thinking about ceremony songs...
What are/did the rest of you ladies use for the processional and recessional?
I am looking for some inspiration

 

[goldenstar]

I downloaded a piano version of Coldplay''s "Yellow" that I''m considering for the processional.

For the recessional I would really like to use "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" by Louis Armstrong. But if end up using "Yellow" for the processional, I might use an instrumental version of "Clocks" for the sake of symmetry.

 

[happilyeverafter]

I LOVED our songs and think they fit the mood/day perfectly.

For the processional (just me and my dad - no bridal party) we used the first 50-some seconds of Kenny Chesney''s Me and You (we shut it off right before the song picks up).

There really was no recessional for us, once the ceremony was over we just turned around and celebrated with the people who were at the ceremony. The song that was supposed to start playing when we were announced husband and wife (the little old lady running the music forgot to start it - but better late than never!) was Keith Urban''s Somebody Like You. After that we kept playing music - the next few songs were the reggae mixes off of the 50 First Dates Soundtrack - very happy music!

 

[Independent Gal]

For a formal processional, I love Handel''s "Let the Bright Seraphim..." from the Samson oratorio. Particularly the version sung by Kiri Te Kanawa. But I think you need a cathedral to pull that off... Or a big garden ceremony. Wish we could use it, but I think it would sound funny and out of place in a funky restaurant / cocktail lounge. And there won''t be any processional music for WP1.

 

[~*Snow*~]

so typical but so lovely: Pachelbel's Canon
and that's as far as i've got so far...
Oh also i think awhile back someone was going to have Bitter Sweet Symphony and i've always thouhgt that was a cute idea too

 

[misysu2]

I''m thinking about this too, so this is right on time!!

I''m thinking about a few songs for the ceremony, but I''m not sure about their placing in it.
1. "Brighter than sunshine"- Aqualung
2. "Let''s do it (let''s fall in love)-- probably the Louis Armstrong version. This song would be special because we put a quote from this song on our invite, and we aren''t sure many people know this song, so it will be a big "ohh!!" to everyone when they hear it. It''s got silly lyrics (the quote on our invite is "people say in Boston even beans do it...")

Still thinking about others...

 

[happy in love]

Oohh, those are some great ideas! My FI thinks I am nuts for wanting to find a non-traditional song, he says "no one will ever rember the songs" but I knew I wasn''t alone!

 

[nytemist]

We used "The Writing of My Father''s Hand" by Dead Can Dance (I know it sounds so morbid but the song is beautiful) for the processional and we used "I Belong To You" by Lenny Kravitz for the recessional. It made an impact since months later my aunts and a couple of friends wanted to know what the songs were. But then, there really wasn''t a lot of traditional anything at our wedding.

Our first dance was "Come Rain or Come Shine" from Bille Holiday.

 

[sumbride]

We went untraditional on the music too and it was a hit! It really gave us the lighthearted mood we were going for! Some people go for somber, but we went for fun!

Our list:

Seating of the Mothers: Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Iz K (the Hawaiian guy)
Bridesmaids Processional: Lovely Day by Bill Withers
Bridal Processional: My Cherie Amour by Stevie Wonder
Recessional: Everlasting Love, the U2 version

People were smiling and dancing along with us and we got a lot of comments on how fun the music was.

 

[happy in love]

Somewhere over the rainbow/what a wonderful world mix by IZ is on of FI''s favorites... great idea to use it in the ceremony!

and, HappilyEverAfter, thanks for the Kenny tip... I think I''m stealing it!

Pachelbel''s Canon is one of my fave wedding songs too though, maybe that is what the kids can walk to, and then Kenny for me and dad. (we are only having kids in the bp, no bms or gms.)

 

[ChinaCat]

We also used Somewhere Over The Rainbow but kind of different:

We had a solo guitarist which changes the sound a bit:

Prelude/General Guest Seating: Music by Villa Lobos (really cool Spanish composer)
Seating of Mothers and Grandmothers: I Will by The Beatles
Bridesmaids: Moon River
Bride: Somewhere Over The Rainbow - slow, classic version
Recessional: Somewhere Over The Rainbow- Hawaiian version by Izzy Kamakawiwo''ole

It was cool, because I entered to the slow version of SOTR, but HH and I left together to the upbeat, Hawaiian version. It was a neat bridge.

Also, we just got our wedding video, and some of the songs they chose are awesome, and I never would have thought of them:

Our Way to Fall- Yo La Tengo
Love Song by The Cure- it''s very ethereal and romantic, yet reggae-like at the same time

 

[FLgirl41]

The only thing I think FI and I have our hearts set on is Antsmarching by Dave Matthews Band. We are huge DMB fans our first dance is Steady As We Go by DMB.

We are hoping if we find a decent string quartet that they would learn the music and play Antsmarching for the recessional.

 

[tberube]

I DON'T KNOW!! I'm struggling with that same thing myself. We're having a classical guitarist at our ceremony. I was going to go with Canon in D for my processional and Ode to Joy for the recessional, but I'm still not sure. I hope lots of people chime in here, because I need some inspiration too. Thanks for starting the thread.

 

[tberube]

The last wedding I went to the bride came down the aisle to "here comes the sun" and it was so splendid. I can''t use it now for obvious reasons, but it''s a great idea.

 

[Erin]

Date: 1/8/2008 2:34:18 PM
Author: ChinaCat
We also used Somewhere Over The Rainbow but kind of different:

We had a solo guitarist which changes the sound a bit:

Prelude/General Guest Seating: Music by Villa Lobos (really cool Spanish composer)
Seating of Mothers and Grandmothers: I Will by The Beatles
Bridesmaids: Moon River
Bride: Somewhere Over The Rainbow - slow, classic version
Recessional: Somewhere Over The Rainbow- Hawaiian version by Izzy Kamakawiwo'ole

It was cool, because I entered to the slow version of SOTR, but HH and I left together to the upbeat, Hawaiian version. It was a neat bridge.

Also, we just got our wedding video, and some of the songs they chose are awesome, and I never would have thought of them:

Our Way to Fall- Yo La Tengo
Love Song by The Cure- it's very ethereal and romantic, yet reggae-like at the same time

Oh, I love "I Will"
I have thought of that as my father walks me down - he's such a huge Beatles fan, and therefore am I

The last wedding I went to the bride came down the aisle to "here comes the sun" and it was so splendid. I can't use it now for obvious reasons, but it's a great idea.

That is a great idea. Now, if I can just find a fiance to plan a wedding with

 

[sunnyd]

while reading the responses, i thought what mono "life in mono"...i better write that down somewhere or i''ll forget! the instrumental is really pretty, and it''s kinda funky. love that song! (from the great expectations movie?)

 

[hopefulheidi]

I''m actually listening to what will possibly be my ceremony music right now!

I''ve had it in my head for almost two years now that I"m walking down the aisle to this awesome a cappella version of Bens Fold Five''s "Luckiest". Of course when I was originally planning it the a cappella group was still together and I had my heart set on them performing the song at the ceremony, but Nate waited so long to propose that the group has since parted ways which means I''ll need to rely on the recorded version

That disappointment aside, having one pre-recorded song means I can use a number of un-traditional pre-recorded songs to set the mood.

This is the list right now. I''ve got about 4o mins worth of music right now, so I need to cut it down to at least 30 mins but it''s a start:

"You belong to me" - Jason Wade
"Just for a moment" - Aqualung
"Tupelo Honey" - VanMorrison
"Somewhere over the rainbow" - Israel Kamakawiwo''ole
"Real Love" - Regina Spektor
"These are the days" - VanMorrison
"This years love"
"Home" - Vanessa Carlton
"Young and Beautiful" - Elvis
"Nearness of You" - Nora Jones
"Luckiest" - Sons of Pitches

Also, if we really do end up going with pre-recorded music I thought about creating a CD of the ceremony music for each of our guests and placing it in their programs. Does that seem like a lame idea? hehe

~Heidi

 

[ladypirate]

I'm a LIW, so I don't get to plan my music quite yet, but that doesn't stop me from thinking about it on occasion! I told Kris that when we get married, I want to walk down the aisle to "The Perfect Girl" by The Cure. When we started dating, he told me that when we were "just friends" he used to listen to it all the time because it reminded him of me. (Granted, given the lyrics, I don't know if that's a compliment!

) Also, I really want to incorporate "Everyone's a VIP to Someone" by The Go! Team into the ceremony somehow...maybe when the family is being seated or when the BMs are walking.

 

[LauraSLP07]

I still need to hear my organist playto be sure, but this is my starter list...I''m traditional, so it is pretty "typcial":

Seating of the mothers: "Can''t Help Falling in Love with You" - sung by my brother (P.S. Happy Birthday Elvis!)
Processional: "Canon in D" leading into "Here Comes the Bride"
During ceremony: "The Lord''s Prayer" - sung by by my brother
Recessional: "Trumpet Voluntary" (I think)

 

[Haven]

We're thinking of using songs from Trio Rococo's Norwegian Wood album. It's all Beatles music but done in a rococo style, and I think we're going to use Blackbird for the processional and, oh geez I forgot what we liked for the recessional. It's a gorgeous album if you're a Beatles fan, I highly recommend it.

 

[karasue91]

I saw a wedding video where they used the theme song from Charlie Brown as they were walking back up the aisle (is that the recessional?) It was super cute, and I thought it was very unique too!! Heres a youtube video of some guy playing some of it....but I''m sure you know what i''m talking about http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByoV84uu5uQ

I''m not sure what I want to do for mine, I think I want something with a little more jubilation. We are having a stringed quartet, and I was thinking about having the quartet burst into the chorus of "Beautiful Day" as we walk back up the aisle, but I''m not sure if a lot of people do that song.

As for the walk down the aisle, FI''s great uncle will be singing the same song he sang at FMIL and FFIL''s wedding almost 40 years ago!!

 

[ChinaCat]

Date: 1/8/2008 4:14:38 PM
Author: tberube
I DON''T KNOW!! I''m struggling with that same thing myself. We''re having a classical guitarist at our ceremony. I was going to go with Canon in D for my processional and Ode to Joy for the recessional, but I''m still not sure. I hope lots of people chime in here, because I need some inspiration too. Thanks for starting the thread.

Rube-

Have you met with the guitarist? This is how I picked my music, he played some stuff for me, I told him what kind of stuff I wanted, and we just brainstormed. He suggested the Beatles, which I never would have picked, but it sounds so beautiful on a solo guitar.

The reason I ask is that I had him play Pachobel''s Canon and it really sounded sad and lonely with just a guitar. With those kind of songs, you really need strings or something to burst. My guitarist also said it doesn''t work very well with just a guitar. Now, by all means, you should have the music you want, so I am not trying to say it will sound bad. I am just saying maybe your guitarist will be able to point you in a direction of what kind of music sounds best with a classical guitar.

Good luck!!! And have fun with it.