I just got asked to sing a song at a friend’s daughter’s wedding. The bride has no particular song in mind…she wants me to pick. I haven’t sung at a wedding before, and haven’t been to a wedding in years, so I don’t know even where to begin. I’m sure she doesn’t want the Ave Maria…I’m sure she’s thinking more along the lines of We’ve Only Just Begun. But that was sung at MY wedding in 1979…she might want something more current.
So I turn to the Dope for suggestions. I’m an alto, so all Carpenter’s stuff is well within my range. What are the songs people are singing at weddings these days?
Bryan Adams Everything I Do
Jim Croce Time in a Bottle
Berlin Take my Breath Away
Bette Midler The Rose
Peter Paul and Mary The Wedding Song (there is Love)
Areosmith Angel (Or Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing)
The Bangels Eternal Flame
John Denver Annie’s Song (Or Sunshine on my Shoulders)
(can you tell I’ve been planning my wedding? XD) We’re probably going with Guns and Roses’ Patience
Recessional: A slower duet version of I melt with you done with an acoustic guitar and a ukulele.
First wedding dance: At Last, the same as interpreted by everyone.
So we had one folk/country, one punk/new wave and one standard, but they all meant something to us and it worked for us. Ask the bride and groom for suggestions of things meaningful to them, and then rearrange the song as needed?
You said something about the Ave Maria; will this wedding be an RC church? If so, you’re stuck with sacred music, I’m afraid.
You didn’t say what kind of accompaniment you’d have, but if secular music is ok and you have a piano or accoustic guitar, When I’m Sixty-four is a sweet one.
The bride has NO suggestions…she just wants the wedding to plan itself! Which is exactly what MY daughter said to me about her upcoming wedding…“I just want the wedding fairy to come in and do everything” !!!
I will be singing during the ceremony (Methodist) so it needs to be appropriate to a church service, but not necessarily religious in theme. And the United Methodist definition of appropriate is pretty broad! I like At Last…that kind of standard is my strong suit, if I have one. It probably should be something most people will recognize.
Are you male or female? It could skew the suggestions.
I’ll second “From This Moment” by Shania Twain and add “Let’s Never Stop Falling In Love” by Pink Martini. I really like “They Don’t Know About Us” by Tracey Ullman, but decide for yourself if it’s appropriate.
Some good ones on the Mona Lisa Smile soundtrack, including “My Secret Love” and “In the Heart of Every Girl.”
My favorite wedding song choice is In My Life by the Beatles. We aren’t having a dancing type of reception and our music comes pre-chosen as part of our wedding package so I won’t get to use it unfortunately, but I highly recommend it for others.
Echoing janis_and_c0’s suggestion of N. Paul Stookey’s Wedding Song (Youtube video), which he wrote for Peter Yarrow’s wedding, and which Skulldigger and I used at ours.
Well, I am sure if you sang, “You’re Having My Baby…” she would quickly regret not having picked out songs herself.
Perhaps you could mention that as a potential song, and watch how fast she becomes interested in that song list after all.
Follow it up with my favorite wedding song, “She’s No Lady (She’s My Wife),” which includes a snippet of the wedding ceremony itself:
Preacher asked her, and she said “I do.”
Preacher asked me, and she said, “yes, he does, too.”
Preacher said, “I pronounce you 99 to life.
Son, she’s no lady, she’s your wife.”
Love that song. I did manage to convince a friend to have it for their first dance song; it was awesome.
