What’s the perfect song for your bridal entrance?
There are more love songs in the world than there are bicycles in Beijing, but which is the right one for your big entrance?
A beautiful bride looking perfect, ready for her audience…
(photo by Soroush Karimi via Unsplash)
So how do you choose the perfect love song to walk down the aisle to? Does it even have to be a love song? One of the best parts of my job is having the honour of playing the music that tells everyone the bride has arrived and singing her all the way down the aisle. Or up the aisle, opinions remain divided on which is right - I suppose it depends where you’re standing - but you get the idea.
Frankly, it’s not for me to say what makes a song perfect for you, but from someone who has the pleasure of doing this all the time, here are a few questions you might want to ask yourself, followed by the answers you were looking for.
What song did you fall in love to?
I know, this is the most obvious one and that’s why I started with it. If there’s a song that linked the two of you back in those starry-eyed early days then maybe that’s the one. This needn’t be complicated.
Should I go with the original recording or have someone sing it live?
Obviously I’m somewhat biased here but I’ll be honest - as with everything, it’s up to you, of course. I recommend that you take a minute to ask Alexa to pay the original while you close your eyes and picture yourself walking down that aisle; does it feel like the only way that moment can be absolutely right is to have that exact version playing as you walk? Or would your own personalised rendition be more romantic? Personally I can’t think of anything more memorable or personal than having your own singer turn up on the day and play a version they’ve prepared just for this - for your - special moment
What if that song isn’t very ‘up the aisle’-y?
Maybe you fell in love to a 70s disco classic or a grimy slow jam rather than a classic slow love song. Is that such a bad thing? It’s your big day and nobody else’s, if you think the song fits then maybe you should just go for it. Perhaps the best idea would be to ask a brilliant musician (ahem) to play a slow version of your chosen banger. They may even agree to send you a recording of their slow version so you can envisage how it’s going to feel on the day. I’ve done this lots of times. Some of the most romantic, personal musical moments I’ve experienced at this important point in the day have been when a couple has chosen something normally upbeat but asked me to play it as a slow, atmospheric tune - ‘Still into you’ by Paramore has come up on more than one occasion.
Unforgettable moments.
Photo by Victoria-Priessnitz via Unsplash.
4. How long does the song need to be?
99% of the time the answer is ‘not long at all’. In fact in most instances only a fraction of the song gets played. I have attended weddings where a bride and her bridal party has choreographed a long walk down fancy stairways or through a corridor of forest pines and they’ve told me exactly how long it will take (in some cases I’ve even been told upon which word each bridesmaid will enter), but these, while lovely, are in the significant minority. Most venues are small, so the reality is you probably only need a verse and a chorus of your chosen song, perhaps even less. If you choose a really brilliant musician (wink) they will speak with you about the size of the venue, come up with a planned version or section of the song and will be good enough to either bring the song to a tactful close at just the right moment if you reach your destination more quickly than planned, or to insert a little instrumental section if you need a little longer. I have done all of the above on many, many occasions and each time has been beautiful and memorable (if I can see people crying happy tears then I know I’m doing something right, and I always do!!).
There is something else to consider when it comes to timings…the weather. Most of the time we get lucky, but the threat of rain means on rare occasions we end up having to come inside for the ceremony. This means that even best laid plans about timing the big entrance have to be reworked at the last minute as suddenly the walk-in is going to be cut short. It’s absolutely nothing to worry about; the good news is all the best venues have gorgeous ‘plan b’ rooms, so you really don’t need to be too disappointed, and if you have the right musician then they’ll know how to adapt quickly ;)
And how about the exit song?
Don’t forget, there’s a lot more fun to be had with picking great music for your ceremony! Once the ceremony is underway there is (usually) a register signing and eventually you have to leave again as a happily married couple! For the register signing, since you have your best musician in place, why not ask them to play a couple more well-chosen background songs or something instrumental? Bear in mind there may be a limit to how many brand new songs your performer can learn for each booking so for moments like this it may be a case of trusting them to choose, or picking something from their existing catalogue - which is probably a pretty big list anyway ;). And as you walk back through your congregation, you’re taking your first steps as a married couple, so why not pick something perfect to mark that moment too? Most often at this point I get asked to play something more upbeat (Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder is a regular favourite), but it could be whatever you like. Pick something that sets the tone for the rest of your perfect day.
So, how are you feeling about your song choices now? Hopefully this has helped put your mind at rest; whatever you choose, it’s going to be perfect on the day and everyone is going to tell you afterwards how wonderful it was. There won’t be a dry eye in the house, and you’ll talk about it for the rest of your lives. That sounds pretty good to me!
Probably thinking about the next awesome wedding I’ll be attending.
Photo by QuietInTheWildPhotography