Wedding Ceremony Music

[modernsparkler]

I would love some help with our wedding music. We plan to have a short (30 mins) outdoor ceremony performed by my fiance''s childhood pastor. We wanted to maybe have 1 reading and we have asked my cousins who are AMAZING singers to sing a song during our ceremony. My fiance and I both love the song- True Companion by Marc Cohen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnaC6cgUmXc) and really wanted my cousins to sing it- Unfortunately, they said it just wouldn''t sound the same sung as a duet by 2 very soprano voices. So, we are torn because we really want the song but we want my cousins to sing. We assumed we could do the song during our unity candle but now we are possibly going to have 2 songs- one where nothing is really going on- during our short ceremony. Do people do this or as a guest would you be bored with too much music?

Any suggestions for what to "do" during the music or would you be ok just listening to lots of beautiful music? Thanks in advance!

Also- we did think about using True Companion for our first dance but we really want it incorporated into our ceremony.

 

[Gwyn]

My sister's wedding had two songs that were sung. They were spaced out in the ceremony but I am pretty sure there were two.

A wedding I reccently went to had a song in towards the beginning played by the orchestra (instrumental) and then towards the end the bride's brother sang a song.

In both cases, the guests just sat there listening. I didnt notice any guests getting antsy and definitely noone comment to or around me negatively about it.

There is a rock ceremony, I am going to post the details below.

The "Rock Ceremony is a beautiful "unity" ceremony that includes everyone who attends the couple's wedding. Although small, polished stones are usually used, the couple may choose to use any other token they desire... seashells, glass or crystal, flowers, etc. As you will see below, the guests make a wish for the couple's happiness and then the tokens are collected into a single container... each rock representing a wish and an individual present at the couple's wedding. Some couples even have small markers for each guest so they may write their name on the rock. Then, the couple can save the tokens in a nice container (like the one pictured above) as a keep-sake. Also, some couples combine the elements of other unity ceremonies (such as the "Sand Ceremony") and pour sand or water over the collected tokens. The many variations of this ceremony are only limited by the couple's imagination.

You could use the collection process as one of the times for your other cousin to sing. Then it would be like having one song in your ceremony and another as background for people's enjoyment while they are doing their wishing and depositing their stone or whatever...



I say do what you want to accomodate you and your FIs desires.

ETA: I just saw your last line. Another way of encorporating the song would be to have it as one of the songs played for your guests before the ceremony. You could have it be the last song played before you start the processional and such that way all your guests would be sure to hear it as they woudl all be seated by that time. Not a good idea if you really want to be up there together and hearing it though....

ETA: I also found a sample of the rock ceremony text if you are interested:

ROCK CEREMONY

Each guest has been given a small polished stone upon arriving.

Before you met, your lives were on different paths with different destinations. But love has brought you together and joined these separate paths into one. Each one of your friends and family here today have been given a small polished stone that represents their unique individuality and their presence at your wedding today. You also each have a stone of your own that symbolizes your previous separate lives, separate sets of friends, separate families and the different life's journeys you once traveled.

I will now ask that everyone please take out the stone you have been given and pause to make a wish or blessing for happiness and good will for the couple for the future of their marriage.

Everyone pauses to make their wish.

Now, we will collect the stones and the couple will then add their individual stones to the container as well.

The couple adds their stones to the container.

With the combining of these stones, you have now symbolically joined your once separate lives. As the stones have been combined with love into one container, so now are your friends and family joined, through you, into one. And your once solitary life's paths are also now one. All that was once separate is now shared, and in this sharing you both will find new strength and joy as together you forge a new life's path and destination.

 

[Gwyn]

So I have listened to it a few times and if you and your FI really love this song then maybe you should just have this song played during the ceremony. That way it will be the exact sound that has such meaning for the two of you.

And you can still have your cousins do a seperate duet, preferably one better suited to their soprano voices. As a soprano singer myself, I dont think this particular song would do their amazing voices justice and knowing how much you and your FI love it, I think it would really be better off left as is. then again, there are probably other versions out there, I would have to look around. Since you mentioned "by Marc Cohen" I assume this particular version holds more weight with you two.

Ok, there my 4 cents!

 

[modernsparkler]

Gwyn,
Thanks SO much for your input. I have never heard of the rock ceremony and I think that would be a great way to incorporate all of our guests into the ceremony and have a token of their presence for a long time to come. I am going to talk to the fiance about the rock ceremony- it may be the perfect solution. And I do want my cousin''s amazing voice to shine and I want her to be happy with the song so maybe we will just do both. If anything it just might bring a few tears to the ceremony Again I really appreciate this idea! Thank you!