My wedding march was “Simple Gifts”.
“Into The Mystic” - Van Morrison. Then again, maybe I’m just biased, because “our song” is “Tupelo Honey”. Then again, “Tupelo Honey” is probably easier to play and perform.
Our recessional was “It Had To Be You”.
I’ve been wondering if “I Will Follow You Into The Dark”, by Death Cab For Cutie, would be appropriate for a wedding setting. At least it has a “cheese rating” of zero, unlike almost all regular wedding songs.
We had our first dance to a cover by Holly Cole. I understand it may not meet the requirements of purists but we liked it.
I don’t know if I’d want the burden of singing/playing it live, but our choice narrowly beat out Leonard Cohen’s Dance Me To The End of Love.
We may be having a singalong at our wedding - we’re considering asking a family friend who plays the guitar and sings to do Johnny Cash’s “Rose of My Heart” and have everybody join in on the chorus.
Kinda depressing for a wedding. (plus a bit anti-Catholic, which might piss off a guest or two).
That’s a beautiful tune, Zsofia. Being a Johnny Cash fan myself, I’d love to hear it. Would you consider a video and YouTubing it, if you decide to do it that way?
Thanks
Q
This Year’s Love by David Gray is pretty nice. It’s easy on the piano. Lyrics and a video here.
Unfortunately, we’re not planning to video the wedding - my ex was a videographer and he haaated wedding videos, because they’re awful and boring and nobody ever, ever watches them. So we’re going to spend the money on other stuff. 
My fiance is kind of worried about the song, because he’s afraid he’s going to cry.
Tell him he’s not alone. I have that problem when I try to sing and play Cash’s
version of “A Legend In My Time”.
There’s a thread here somewhere about that. My singing coach got really exasperated with me, and someone here (rightly so, I might add) told me I was being unfair to my audience if/when that happens, so I’ve stopped doing it!
I understand about no video, and wish you both the best!
Quasi
At my wedding the song that got the best reaction was The Presidents of the USA - More Bad Times.
You never got measles
You never got gout
You never got dizzy
And you never fell out
You never suggested we all play charades
You never picked up any live hand granades
Our wedding dance was “Diamonds and Pearls” by Prince, not being a musician I don’t know how tricky it is to pull off. A lovely gentle dancing tune though without being dull. Plus…it’s Prince! the underlying message is that you are “going to get your freak on” as I believe the “kids” say.
We didn’t videograph our wedding either, and in almost 12 years, the only time we wished we had was to review what the hell we actually vowed to (our officiant changed our vows on us). It’s actually made a running joke with us, though, that we try to pass off the most outrageous things as something we vowed to.
Ooh, interesting. How about “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” or “Te Amo Corazon?”
(“Jack U Off” or “Mad Sex” probably wouldn’t go over with the older folks).
As it happens the DJ was using our own Prince compilation CD as background music whilst we were welcoming guests. As one of the songs faded out I suddenly realised that Sexy MF was next up. I excused myself from the rather prim and proper aunties and uncles and raced to the DJ booth. I managed to skip the CD on just in time.
I did skip it on to “Do me baby” but all in all it was a lucky escape.
Thanks for all the suggestions! So much good stuff here–I’m making a Spotify playlist as we speak.
To be clear, I’m playing these songs during the ceremony. They have a DJ for the reception. Though it’s a fairly nontraditional ceremony, so I can get away with just about anything.
Agreed all around, but also about why I probably shouldn’t do it. So much of that magic is from the studio. Worth playing with, though.
A very good possibility.
My cousin actually asked my sister (a fantastic singer herself) and me to do this one at her wedding. We didn’t, since we both pretty much hate the song. It would, however, really piss my cousin off if I did it at my sis’s wedding, which might be reason enough to do it.
“Tupelo Honey” is one I had already considered.
Then I’ll stick with the Paul Stookey song, DoctorJ.
Sorry if I got off track .
Q
I can see clearly now the rain has gone…
Delilah Gets Married from the Doug songs by Andrew Ratchin.
*All of these people
Are here to remind me
That everything changes tonight
Friends of the family
And friends of the friends of the family
All wait for the sight
But I haven’t heard
One single word
I can’t seem to focus at all
Stuck in this dress
A fairy princess
Who’s not quite at home at the ball
'Cause I never learned how to waltz
I never learned how to waltz
Dances in school had a whole different meaning
That wasn’t dancing, just swaying and leaning
I can do cartwheels and turn somersaults
But I never learned how to waltz*
Sample available here.
My only request for our wedding was that I got to include “Lovesong” by The Cure in the ceremony. We had a friend play piano and sing it. Everything else was whatever my wife wanted. 