This week, I wanted to talk specifically about our wedding music. I'm going to be completely honest and say that I was inspired when Joelle shared her wedding music with us a few weeks ago.
I put a lot of time into picking pieces that would be timeless to us and guests in most aspects, and that were really meaningful. Oh, and did I say that I spent forever working on the music details? I should at least be able to brag about it.
And thanks so much to my matron of honor's husband for doing all the music and sound stuff for us at the wedding...it took a lot of work!
Ceremony Music
PRELUDE
Guests were seated to a small compilation of classic and jazzy songs.
Mello as a Cello - The Big Broadcast, Vol. 1 by Joe Venuti & His Blue Four
Camulonincapoop - Up (For Your Consideration) by Michael Giacchino
Thank Heaven for You - The Big Broadcast, Vol. 1 by Rudy Vallee
Dining Room Source - Up (For Your Consideration) by Michael Giacchino
PROCESSIONALS
Grandparents, Parents and Wedding Party
Up with End Credits (beginning repeated) - Michael Giacchino
Bride's Processional
Carl Goes Up - by Michael Giacchino
Recessional
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - by The Proclaimers
Reception Music
BACKGROUND MUSIC
(Throughout Reception)
For this portion of the music, we broke away from the jazzy theme somewhat to use songs we like that were meaningful. Expecting to open a dance floor, we had narrowed down the list from about 30 songs to 10 songs, so when we didn't dance to anything but the first dance, those songs started repeating pretty frequently. So my advice, put more on than you think you'll need!
I won't list them all, but some of my favorites were Life in Technicolor, The Moon Represents My Heart, Easier to Be, and I Have and I Always Will.
FIRST DANCE
My Girl - by Dave Barnes
Not having a DJ meant we could change our plans if we wanted to. And we did.
We had planned an entire playlist of dance music (that may or may not have included this awesome song and dance that has been played many times during late night study sessions) but when the moment came to whether or not to start the dance floor, it just didn't feel right. I think it could have been fun, but we really liked how the night ended up going without forcing it.
Side note: if you skipped the link that says "this awesome song and dance" then go back and click it. I'll even give you another link to go watch it. Wouldn't that be awesome on a crazy wedding dance floor? I think so.
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I love the music we chose for the wedding and I still listen to my playlists all the time!
Wow, you guys incorporated quite a bit of music! When we first arranged to have our wedding at my grandparents' church, we were told that the church didn't allow any dancing. (Scandalous people dancing at their own wedding?? Shocking thought!) So we only had music in our ceremony. I picked Rich Mullins songs for most of the first part because he was the singer that we originally started talking about, and we walked out to "Joy to the World"--because it was 3 weeks before Christmas and we're super cheesy. :P
ReplyDeleteHaha, its funny how churches generally just think dancing is bad...although it happens at celebrations in the Bible! So so scandalous.
DeleteOh girl, if I could have had a Christmas time wedding, I would have had Christmas songs all the way! Joy to the World sounds like such a great song to walk out to as well! I love it!
I love that you guys did the music yourselves. We hired a DJ just because that seems like a LOT of work that I don't necessarily want to worry about! HA! We will be doing our ceremony music and the first dance, but after that....it's all up the DJ and the mood. It's scary to put that much faith in someone, but I am....so we will see!
ReplyDeleteKristyn, I think DJs can be really great! They do pretty well at keeping the energy up at weddings for sure! If we had unlimited funds, I might have considered hiring a DJ, but it fine for us to not have one as well! There are definitely lots of pros to having one!
DeleteIt was beautiful. Congratulations and as Rachel above said when we married 53 years ago the requirements of the church dictated the music, but thank goodness on in the church. In 1960 we know the kind of music we had. Loved your post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Peggy! Yes, I'm sure the church has saved many people from severely dating their wedding with the music they chose! I suppose one day our children can watch our wedding video and laugh at the music their silly parents chose. :) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed your music! I loved putting together the music for our processional and chose some pretty random (but perfect) songs. To be honest, though, my parents weren't too happy that I didn't go with more traditional songs.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is so much fun picking out songs that fit you as a couple! I can imagine a lot of families prefer the traditional songs. I know my grandma was expecting "Here comes the Bride," but then (several months before the wedding) I showed her and my grandpa the video of Carl and Ellie from Up and they cried...so I think it ended up being a success! Up kind of has that classic sound as well, so I think it was easily accepted by the older people. haha
DeleteThat's such a good point of the control you have when you are your own DJ. Sounds like such a fun time!!
ReplyDeleteIt was nice in the sense that everything was our own for sure...and it was cheaper since my matron of honor's husband controlled the sound stuff, and we borrowed the equipment from our church! I would definitely say it is a lot more work to do things this way (especially for the person you ask to help you)!
DeleteGreat music picks! I love 500 miles as the recessional. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Katie! That was the hubster's choice...which worked really cute so that was his contribution to wedding music! haha
DeleteHow fun! Love the way you displayed the choices!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pinky!
DeleteI love that you used the Up theme! I think it's a little crazy how popular it's become lately, at least on blogs, but I mean that in a good way. All of our ceremony music was from movies too, but looking back part of my wishes I had used the Love Actually theme for the processional, instead of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Mis. I made my decision because I thought the Love Actually theme would be too depressing, but in actuality, what we picked was probably even more depressing!
ReplyDeleteWe really liked the story behind Up, and more so the style of the music. It is unfortunate that it is used by other people's weddings too I guess? I try to be a little bit more non-conformist than that, but oh well. :) I actually haven't seen either of those movies yet (if you're talking about the new Les Mis, that is), but from what I've heard about them I would imagine the soundtracks would be great!
DeleteYour wedding looks and sounds like it was amazing! I love the songs you chose! My husband and I danced to a Coldplay song (Till Kingdom Come) for our first dance :)
ReplyDeleteI found my way here through the Fluster's Creative Muster link party and I wanted to let you know that I'm currently doing a series on my blog called Wedding Wednesday and I would absolutely LOVE for you to guest post sometime!
Here's my blog: http://happilyevercrafterz.blogspot.com/
My e-mail address is CatherinePageWood@gmail.com if you'd like to talk more about it!
Thanks Catherine! I think we might have actually had Till Kingdom Come on our big playlist (which ended up being significantly shortened and I wish I had just left it the way it was since our other songs started repeating!) That is a really sweet song for a wedding, I thought. I'm sure it was a great first dance. :)
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