A wedding musician can put a more contemporary spin on a traditional favorite, just as a pop artist does when they remake an original with which the whole world is familiar. Consider adding instrumentalists who can syncopate the rhythms of an old standard or improvise parts while a piano or organ is playing the traditional melody. Songs resonate with every person differently, and a variation on a song, played in a new or different way, can spark different emotions.
One mother of the bride insisted on having Here Comes the Bride played as the processional at her daughter’s wedding, despite the fact that the daughter absolutely hated how cliched the song had become. But then the bride did some research and found a contemporary version of the song that she absolutely loved, and everybody ended up happy.
With the right musician, the reverse can be done, as well, taking a favorite pop song or secular favorite and have it played in a more traditional style. From AC/DC to ZZ Top, just about any song can sound elegant and classy in the right musician’s talented hands.
As you choose your music, remember that the songs in your wedding aren’t necessarily supposed to speak to your guests (or your mother), you’re not putting on a concert. It’s important that you choose songs that are a personal reflection of your style. If the music you choose means something to you, it will show.
Celebrity Wedding Music Choices
We all love to read about celebrity wedding celebrations in the glossy and not-so-glossy supermarket rags. Here’s a list of music some of your favorite celebrities have chosen for their own weddings.
Ashton Kutcher & Demi Moore – At Last (Etta James)
Barbra Streisand & James Brolin – The Wedding March & The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse
Bethany Joy Lenz & Michael Galeotti – Son of a Preacher Man
Bridgette Wilson & Pete Sampras – The Wedding March
Courtney Cox & David Arquette – Maybe I’m Amazed (Paul McCartney)
Donald Trump & Melania Knauss – Ave Maria
Felicity Huffman & William H. Macy – I Feel Good
Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony – Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
Kate Walsh & Alex Young – Bless the Broken Road
LeAnn Rimes & Dean Sheremet – Air from Handel’s Water Music
Mariska Hargitay & Peter Hermann – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Martie Seidel (Dixie Chicks) & Gareth Maguire – Ireland’s Green Shore
Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban – Bridal Chorus, At Last, and Ode to Joy
Niki Taylor & Burney Lamar – Better Together (Jack Johnson)
Pink & Carey Hart – She’s Always a Woman (Billy Joel)
Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson – Elgar’s Imperial March
Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty) & Marisol Maldonado – The Nearness of You
Star Jones & Al Reynolds – The Best Is Yet To Come
Taye Diggs & Idina Menzel – Stevie Wonder’s Overjoyed
