| You want to walk down the aisle to wait for your | | | | - You have all sorts of options for musicians. Strings, |
| beloved or to join your beloved to music that you | | | | woodwind, harp. Solo, duet, trio, ensemble. Amplified |
| love. There's a lot of latitude for what you choose | | | | or unplugged. What makes sense? What reflects |
| and how you choose for it to be played. Just as with | | | | who you are? Avant garde? Find something that |
| every other aspect of your wedding it should reflect | | | | means something and have it played on an entirely |
| who you are. My husband's a musician: we walked in | | | | different instrument than is normally associated with |
| on the music of a bass trio and waltzed out (after | | | | it or have the musicians play with the rhythm. |
| we stayed to listen to the music) to a friend's | | | | - You have endless options for how you use your |
| rendition of "Into the Mystic." Let your music | | | | music. Why shouldn't a central tenet of your wedding |
| represent you. | | | | vows be celebrated in song? That said, unless you're |
| It's true, depending where you hold your ceremony, | | | | very accustomed to music, be careful about using it |
| there may be restrictions on the kind of music and | | | | in the midst of your ceremony. Brides and Grooms' |
| musicians you may have. If you're being married in a | | | | nerves can overcome them if they're not actively |
| church, they often like you to use their musician (and | | | | involved. Songs are long! 3 verses, three choruses |
| there's usually an extra charge for this if you're not a | | | | and a bridge or two can leave people shifting from |
| member. If you are a member and there's no charge, | | | | foot to foot, or worse, talking between themselves. |
| it's good form to tip.) If you're being married outside | | | | I have had to remind the bridal pair to stay centered |
| they may or may not allow you to have amplified | | | | and engaged during music, dance and readings. So |
| music. | | | | consider your comfort zones carefully. |
| - The options for your music choices are endless. | | | | - You can choose to have friends play for you which |
| The classics are great, but so are songs that are | | | | may limit your music options but deepens the |
| meaningful in your life. The most important question I | | | | meaning (and sometimes lowers the price, it's true!) |
| think as you make your decisions is "what are the | | | | Music isn't something to be stuck on a ceremony like |
| values on which you will base your marriage?" If one | | | | a ribbon. Rather it should be, because it can be, an |
| of the important answers is tradition, let your music | | | | integral piece of the ceremony, another element that |
| reflect that and use the Wedding March to Enter. If | | | | reflects the deepest desires of the couple getting |
| it's Love, let it be more romantic. If you are mad for | | | | married. Then when you hear the music in your daily |
| a certain genre of music, choose something from | | | | life, you will remember your wedding day and be |
| that. There's enough beautiful music that you should | | | | called back to that moment when you loved one |
| be able to have what you want. | | | | another so very, very much. |