Selecting Our Wedding Music… An Important Task

Posted by Whitney on Saturday, September 20th, 2008 in Whitney & Billy

As a harpist that has played for weddings for many years, I knew that selecting the right wedding ceremony music was an important task. One disadvantage was that I wouldn’t have a harp at my own wedding. A friend of the family for many years was asked to play the piano.

As a gift to us, she didn’t charge us anything. She played the prelude music as people were coming in and being seated. This lasted about 20 minutes. It consisted of many songs that we liked that wouldn’t be included in the wedding ceremony.

We picked the classical ‘Arioso’ as the song for the entrance of the groomsman, Billy, the preacher, my Grandma, Billy’s father and step-mom, my mother, the matron of honor, the ring bearers and the flower girl.

I had heard the traditional ‘Bridal March’ too many times and wanted to enter into something different. So, I selected ‘Hymne’ for my entrance. Then I sang a song that I had recorded that was part of a video. For the Unity Candle, we selected ‘Bless the Broken Road’. Billy really liked this song and thought it really told our story.

A couple of months before our wedding I was awarded a designation of Business Woman of the Year for a local chapter. During the presentation there was an entertainment segment where a local attorney sang many songs. And, let me tell you… he was good.

I had heard the name many times, but had never listened to him perform. He used to travel with John Denver, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson. That alone should tell you his caliber. I called him the next day and asked if he remembered me and told him I would be getting married soon.

I then got up the nerve to ask him if he would perform at my wedding. He said yes!!! I couldn’t believe it. I asked if he knew ‘Bless the Broken Road’. He was not familiar with it, but I gave him a recording of the song and he learned it… just for our wedding.

I expected him to charge an outrageous amount, but he charged us $25. $25!! Can you believe it? He really did an outstanding job, too. For the recessional it was the same story as for the song for my entrance… I didn’t want the regular ol’ recessional. So, we chose ‘Ode to Joy’. The music selection was perfect for our taste and gave an elegance to our wedding.



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