| It used to be that musical choices at your wedding | | | | a completely different (and more permanent) place |
| were straightforward and limited. Most people | | | | than recorded music. You want the permanence of |
| belonged to a religious tradition. Each religious tradition | | | | live songs to settle into your psyche. That way |
| had traditional "wedding music" and everyone chose | | | | whenever you hear that song, you will recall exactly |
| from those pieces. As I was growing up there were | | | | how you felt on the day you married your beloved. |
| 3-4 Pieces that you heard again and again. When you | | | | It's much easier for recorded music to pass under |
| asked an organist to play (and you did, she or he | | | | your radar. There are so many good professional and |
| said, "do want this processional or this one?" Or more | | | | amateur musicians around. You can find someone to |
| simply, "I'll play this." | | | | play at your wedding ceremony. (and yes, I |
| Fast forward to today, and a far greater number of | | | | understand that you have to pay people, unless |
| people don't belong to churches than do. And even | | | | someone makes it a gift to you, but it makes a |
| the ones who do often have a very different canon | | | | difference. Live music is to recordings what real |
| of hymns and music, so that the "traditional songs" | | | | flowers are to silk.) If you're having a DJ for the |
| aren't part of people's lives. So what do you do? | | | | dancing, for the same reasons it's a great idea to |
| Well, there are some things to avoid doing. Not doing | | | | keep the ceremony musicians for the cocktail hour |
| these things will make your wedding ceremony far | | | | and dance your wedding dance to live music. |
| more meaningful. Not only that, using the right songs | | | | 3. Use music that everyone else does - or worse, |
| for you can give you anchors to draw you back to | | | | that the movies do. This music is about you and your |
| your wedding every time you hear those songs - | | | | beloved. What did you listen to growing up? What did |
| enhancing your marriage. | | | | you listen to with your families? What did you listen |
| | | | to when you were courting? Find the songs that |
| 1. Use traditional music. Tradition has meaning when it | | | | represent you. The great thing is that a good |
| has been a part of your life. Religious music in | | | | musician can often arrange a song from one genre |
| non-religious lives says nothing. Well, brides and | | | | (say rock) into a much different and appropriate for |
| grooms have always processed to this, people will | | | | wedding ceremony song. Let your music represent |
| say. But they were other people in other times. If | | | | you and your fabulous relationship. |
| you're using it now, you're often not using your | | | | Why not consider your wedding music as the |
| imagination. Why would you want music that has | | | | soundtrack for your courtship and marriage? Start |
| nothing to do with you at your wedding? Choose | | | | with the wedding ceremony and then keep it going |
| songs that come from your life, that are part of the | | | | during your reception. Every time you hear those |
| emerging tradition of your family and your friends. | | | | songs from then on your wedding vows will be |
| 2. Use canned music. OK. Going out on a limb here. | | | | reinforced and you will be glad to be in love with |
| But here's the fact: Live music lodges in our brains in | | | | your beloved partner. |