The Changing Face of Wedding Music
I remember my grandmother talking about her wedding a long time ago and the one thing she never mentioned the entire time she talked was the wedding music that was played. When I asked her about the wedding music she got a confused look on her face and then said that she had no idea what wedding music was played at her wedding because the church picked it and to her it was just background music.
Oh how times have changed as now the wedding music is just as much a part of the personal statement the bride and groom are making as the invitations or the party favors. When people have a big church wedding they are still choosing their wedding music from the classics on the list but more and more couples are having their weddings in other kinds of halls. Therefore choosing wedding music that is personal and important to them is starting to affect the way that churches hold weddings. Also, more churches are allowing personalized music selections to appease the new generation of wedding planners.
Everyone knows that the music at the reception is going to be the ultimate expression of personal taste from the bride and groom. At my wedding reception my wife and I chose a song by 2 Live Crew for the cake cutting music and I will leave it to you to figure out which song. The point is that more couples want complete control of all aspects of their wedding which is the way it should be.
Long gone are the days when the church will just tell you that the bride will come to the altar to the ever familiar Here Comes The Bride and long gone are the days when the church will pick the somber music to be played as your wedding music. Now couples are putting that choice into their hands and more people are enjoying their weddings planned just the way they like it.
It Is Still the Bride's Day
Even though the wedding music is a personal expression of the couple it is usually the bride that chooses her own music that she will march down the aisle to. This is usually a very personal choice and in some cases I have seen the bride choose wedding music that is a tribute to her father who is the one that walks her down the aisle. It does a heart good to know that kids want to take a part of their special day and dedicate it to their parents. It gives hope for the future.
In some cases the bridal march is collaboration between the bride and groom but when that happens it is usually a song they both feel strongly about. Of course they will save their song for the first dance at the reception but there is no doubt that wedding music is rapidly becoming an expression of the bride and groom as well.
