I have a friend who is looking for classical music for her wedding ceremony but she doesn’t want the traditional stuff ie: Canon In D, Ave Maria, etc. Something in a similar vein but unique. Any suggestions?
A number of the weddings I’ve officiated at have used Disney music, but personally, I’d avoid some of their choices.
entry: Beauty and the Beast (beautiful song, but what’s it say about the groom?)
exit: Someday my Prince Will Come (someday? you just got married and you’re already looking for something better?)
Some better ones (in my opinion) are Can You Feel the Love Tonight (although now that I look at the title, I’m having second thoughts) and When You Wish Upon a Star.
Also, several others have used rather nice gospel music like Oh, Happy Day and Jesus Loves Me, This I Know.
Since this is about music, I’ll move it to Cafe Society for you.
Off to Cafe Society.
DrMatrix - GQ Moderator
Just off the top of my head, you can try either J.S. Bach’s Wedding Cantatas, with Christine Schäfer singing and Musica Antiqua Köln (one of the top baroque ensembles in the world) on the instruments, or Johann Helmich Roman’s Music for a Royal Wedding. For what it’s worth, I’d say the Roman is fairly obscure, so if you’re inclined, you can probably score points with your music geek friends. Plus, it’s on a bargain-priced (I think around $6) CD.
I’ve heard people mention using the fourth movement (March to the Scaffolds) from Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique for a wedding, which is a humorous idea, but I’m not sure how well the music really works.
Entry: Imperial Death March from Star Wars.
I was the best man at a wedding that did this and it was awesome.
Forgot to mention that the same wedding had Burning Love by Mr. Presley as the exit song. Another supercool choice.
LOL,Gaffer.
I went to a wedding once where the entry music was “White Wedding” by Billy Idol and the exit music was "Rainbow Connection’ by Kermit the Frog.
I went for the classical stuff that everbody and their DOG uses but pre-ceremony one of my bridesmaids sang “Valentine” by Martina McBride and post-ceremony,as the guests were leaving the chapel we played “Think About Me” by Dolly Parton.
IDBB
We had considered using the Imperial Death March at our wedding, but for some reason (which totally escapes me now) we didn’t.
We did use the Ewok Celebration as our exit music, though.
At my wedding we entered to the main theme from Star Trek First Contact. We also had during the ceremony Gabriel’s Oboe and Waiting from the film The Mission. Our exit music was Exult Justi used in the film Empire of the Sun.
We also considered Building the Barn from the Witness soundtrack.
How about the Wedding March as performed by Queen in Flash Gordon? A former friend of mine was going to use this for her processional.
Worst choice I’ve heard of for wedding-related music: “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips. I was in a record store years ago and overheard someone looking for the song to use as her first dance. She couldn’t remember the title or group so I filled her in, and I had to ask her if she’d ever really paid attention to the lyrics. Not the most chipper thing ever written about a relationship.
It sounds as if your friend wants something elegant and formal, just not the same old pieces, which have become a bit stale.
And that’s understandable- Schubert’s “Ave Maria” Was very nice indeed the first ten billion times I heard it, but it’s gotten a bit old since then.
For those who want something that’s still classical and traditional but NOT yet done to death, it’s worth knowing that Schubert’s is NOT the only “Ave Maria” out there. At our wedding, my wife and I chose one by Gounod (which was itself adapted from an old Bach piece).
As for processionals, there are a host of classical pieces that work nicely. We used the “Promenade” from Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” (can you tell I was an old Emerson, Lake & Palmer fan in high school?).
For the recessional, we used a Handel hornpipe from “Water Music” (I’ve heard that this one has become a fairly popular alternative recessional).
And your friend might like some of Ralph Vaughan WIlliams’ material.
Lehar’s “Merry Widow Waltz” is quite lovely.
:eek:
Personally, I think that there are some very nice processionals from the baroque period. Stirring, classy, and they give a sense that something important is happening. Only problem is that your guests may be confused as to whether they are supposed to stand or bow respectfully. 
Actually, they are all short, only 1-2 minutes.
Three baroque trumpet pieces that work well as processionals/recessionals:
Rondeau Jean-Joseph Mouret (aka “Masterpiece Theater Theme”, which may be too wierd)
Prince of Denmark March Jeremiah Clarke
King’s March Jeremiah Clarke
When we reaffirmed our vows (we eloped, so no wedding music for that) we used a recorded excerpt from (trying to remember) Aida, I think - the Grand March or Grand Promenade? [sub]cut me some slack - it was 13 years ago[/sub] Anyway, it made a great processional.
If you want to process and recess in a hurry, how about Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba?
Sorry, music insider humor. Anyway, one recent wedding used the St. Anthony Chorale, sometimes erroneously attributed to Haydn. It makes a good march.
Queen - Another One Bites The Dust
My best friend walked down the aisle to this a couple of years ago. Definitely elicited a reaction.
For our wedding, we used Simple Gifts, the traditional Shaker song (and variationsd, including Copland’s use of it).
Yeah, I know it’s the music of a celibate religious group. But it’s a nice piece of music, and sentiment.
Our opening song, which i had suggested and remembered many years before our wedding, was Fanfare For the Common Man.
Wonderful experience, that.