Liz Daley
Maurita and Lucas wanted something “different”…
She didn’t want the “white dress” and they didn’t want “fuddy-duddy” music. They wanted to be DIFFERENT! I was happy to oblige.
Wedding Ceremonies, which are, as they should be, the “serious” part of a wedding celebration, are often really boring musically.
I haven’t had a bride ask for “The Bridal Chorus” (from the 1850 opera “Lohengrin” by Richard Wagner) in years.
Brides tend to eschew this choice because it seems OLD. Little do they know that in the original opera, the marriage did not have a happy ending,
which is a far better reason for them to choose another song.
Many brides stay within the “status quo” and choose a variation of “Canon in D Major” to walk down the aisle.
It’s a beautiful song, and I love it…no harm, no foul. And…there are a gazillion recordings of this tune.
Brides can choose different instrumentations or different interpretations; whatever…nonetheless, their choice is still somewhat “traditional”.
Non-Traditional Wedding Ceremony Music
What about the brides and grooms who unequivocally want non-traditional music?
They are not particularly religious and they are not getting married in a church. What are the options musically?
Of course, the broad but simple answer is anything, but where do they start? How do they decide?
Today’s brides and grooms are often trying to find ceremony music that truly represents them and their personalities.
One fun alternative that has supplied a plethora of options is a group called “Vitamin String Quartet”.
You can find them on iTunes. They record string quartet versions of modern music.
Think of their repertoire, as the Opus your grandmother never knew existed.
Pick a Signature Band, Musician or Musical Group for your Ceremony Music
Of course, if you want to get really fancy….pick a signature band, just like you pick a signature drink.
Several years ago, I did a wedding where the musical group “Queen” was the preferred artist for every song chosen for the ceremony.
There was an additional level of frivolity for the wedding guests and me because we knew that the bride had “two dads” (meaning she was raised by two men in a committed relationship)
Here is the musical program for the ceremony:
Seating of the Mothers: “Somebody to Love” by Queen
Groom’s Entrance: “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy” By Queen
Bridesmaid’s Entrance: “Crazy Thing Called Love” by Queen
Bridal Entrance: “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen
Recessional: “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
The choice to have music that was uniquely them and completely NON-TRADITIONAL suited this couple perfectly!
They were quirky and fun and walked their own path. It was an amazing choice and an amazing day!
Professional Advice: Don’t let “old school” musical traditions stifle your wedding day.
Embrace the new…take chances….and let your ceremony music be as unique as you and your beloved.
Congratulations on your creativity, Maurita & Lucas!!!!
The above article was written by Liz Daley for her monthly column, “A Passion for Performance” on ProMobileDJ.com.
Liz Daley is the WED® Guild President and an Accredited Bridal Consultant™ with The Association of Bridal Consultants
Mobile Beat always seems to be the kick off for the DJ industry each year. Education, Seminars, Gear and most importantly networking with hundreds of entertainers and some of the greatest minds in the industry. Not only do conventions bring in great speakers and presenters, but the newest information about our industry allows us to learn about the technology to improve what we do as entertainers when it comes to performance, production, and planning with our clients. Mobile Beat launches some of the new and exciting gear that hits the market and allows you to see it and use it so you can make sure it is the right fit for your company.
The biggest reason you should attend conferences and workshops is the networking. By networking with others across the nation it allows you to create great business relationships and strong friendships. As Wedding Entertainment Directors® we want to meet people and learn from them. With this never ending changing industry we all learn from each other. Don’t be afraid to approach a person you don’t know or would like to get to know. As WED Guild® members we want to build a stronger community of great relationships and great entertainers. If you have thought about a WED Guild® Application, make sure to reach out to the WED Guild® Members who will be attending and presenting at Mobile 2014. Some of the WED members who will be presenting this year at Mobile Beat are Randy Bartlett, Jeremy Brech, Jim Cerone, Mark “Peace” Thomas. Other WED Guild® members who will be present at the conference are Peter Merry, Liz Daley, Mitch Taylor, Bill Hermann, Dave Ternier. Approach these WED Guild® members and ask questions or just get to know them. Networking with a Wedding Entertainment Director® can be very beneficial and may help make your application process an easier and faster goal to obtain.
We look forward to seeing you at Mobile Beat 2014!