Hey all! It's Christmas break so I thought I'd take the opportunity to update my wedding blog and, boy, do I have material;) I've been to multiple weddings since last I posted and have thought a lot about what I would like to address next and I think I've found the proper theme...wedding music.
I recently went to a family wedding where my father (the officiator of the wedding) made the statement, "I told [the groom] that these favorite songs of yours seem short and awesome whenever you're in the car, but they become an eternity the moment you put them in your wedding ceremony." Well spoken, dad!
The number of songs in your wedding can set the tone for the moment, but you're going to learn almost immediately that it will also draw out time you would much rather pass by quickly. After all, lighting the unity candle takes, approximately, 10 seconds (depending on how stubborn your candle is). The rest of the song is spent standing awkwardly, trying to find something to bide your time while everyone is staring at you. Everyone who's been to or in a wedding knows what I'm saying.
Brides and grooms always seem to comment about how they don't know what to do with the 2 minutes and 45 seconds of the song they used to complete a certain task (it ends up feeling like 20 minutes). Audience members, likewise, don't know what to do. They can only think of how cute the couple is for so long, then they start thinking about the cake and how much time is standing between them and that goal. (I know I mention guests thinking of cake a lot but those free of this experience, cast the first stone!)
Does this post mean I think wedding songs are bad ideas? Not at all. But like all things, it must have meaning and moderation. I have been to weddings involving twenty-billion songs (exaggeration, but you know what I mean) when only two of them have a purpose (roses to mothers, slideshows or unity candle stuff). The rest of the songs were just for funsies, but ended up being no fun for anyone.
So what's the rule of thumb? Well, not counting the songs used for escorting the bridal party in and out (sidenote: be careful with transitions, using too many songs for different people in the party can be tricky) I would say one or two songs are appropriate. Any more than that is ludicrous. Personally, I think cutting songs short is not a bad idea, just make sure it's done properly. My own opinion is that one song should be used during the ceremony. Something short and meaningful to the bride and groom. I'm not just speaking as a serial wedding guest, I'm speaking on behalf of brides and grooms who have gone through this, you'll thank me later.
Another thing to consider is propriety in the choice of music. Though it's a joke in my family, I have no intention of using "Pour Some Sugar On Me" by Def Leppard in my wedding...you shouldn't either. Please remember that your mother, God and your mee-maw (Sheldon Cooper reference) are in the audience and--despite what you might think--they really DO care about the references you make in their presence. So please keep it meaningful but appropriate.
What I want more than anything is for the bride and groom to make their wedding all they want it to be! I write this blog, once again, to help, not to criticize. Choose the music that defines you and you couldn't do without on your special day. But do realize there are other things to consider, like timing and sanity, for your guests but especially YOU. Until the next time, have an amazing wedding:)
