The Bridal Chorus (aka Here Comes the Bride): A Poll

[Maleficent13]

Just because I am curious: how many people here know that the traditional bridal march "The Bridal Chorus" (aka Here Comes the Bride) is originally from an opera (Lohengrin by Wagner) that allegedly promotes adultery and deceit?

Poll Coming.

 

[mrsltg]

Ha! I had no idea!!! It makes me even happier I had the Trumpet Voluntary - afterall, I was queen for a day!

 

[SC Minnie]

I found out when I was planning our wedding 14 years ago. I also chose Trumpent Voluntary.

 

[olena]

I knew that. Music Appreciation in college was fascinating.

The Corinthians passage read at weddings is also taken out of context, but it has been done for so long that it has become traditional.

Knowing all this, I excluded both from my own wedding. I had no readings and used music by Faure.

 

[cardaway]

Even if it's true (and I have I'll have a hard time taking anything from that poster seriously again) what does it matter? The use eclipsed that first use long before any of us were born.

If anybody is supposed to care, where does it end? Many classics have been used in nasty movies and plays and many great works have less than wonderful beginnings. Everything can have more than one meaning.

 

[bananiem]

I took Music Appreciation I & II in college and didn't know it. I was 5 credits short of a music minor.

 

[KimR]

I know only because the church DH and I were married in would not let us have that as our processional song for that reason. I was very disappointed. It surprised me because we were married in a Lutheran church and I always thought that denomination was rather liberal when compared to Southern Baptist who have no problem with the song.

 

[mom2rb]

I knew because the priest wouldn't let us use it at our wedding.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Didn't know that either - guess that's why my church didn't even offer it in their selections. We had Pachabel Canon in D minor going in and Trumpets VOluntary going out. And I was quite please - I never did care for the traditional Wedding March

 

[bananiem]

I probably should add that it's highly likely that I was hung-over the day the professor talked about Lohengrin and The Bridal Chorus, if he did indeed discuss it.

I knew I didn't want it because of the whole "Here comes the bride all fat and wide part".

 

[Galahad]

OK, did you also know that "The Wedding March" typically played as the bride a groom go back up the aisle, is from Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream for the wedding of freaky little fairy woodland creatures?

 

[Beth76]

I knew of the negative connotations, but didn't know what precisely. I personally think it's a horrible, tacky peice of music and I cringe everytime I hear it.

 

[MickeysMommy]

Had no idea! But, I had Trumpet Voluntary as well...I'm a Princess Di fan.

 

[sajetto]

I had no idea! We still haven't picked the music for our wedding, but scratch that one of the list

 

[lbgraves]

The Catholic church doesn't allow this to be played at weddings either for this very reason.

 

[Minnesota!]

The Catholic church doesn't allow this to be played at weddings either for this very reason.

I have heard this at quite a few Catholic weddings....it was one of the selections I could choose at mine, as a matter of fact. I went with Canon in D, however.

I never knew where the song came from, and like Beth above, I think it is a cheesy piece.

 

[CheshireVal]

I knew it, but only because I read it in several wedding books as I was planning my wedding.

I never wanted to use the song anyway-- it's kind of cheesy and cliched. I used the trumpet voluntary, which I guess is also cliched, but not as cheesy.

Our recessional was something from Bach that probably no one else has ever used, but for the life of me I can't remember the title right now.

 

[disneyfam]

Well now the childhood "lyrics" of the song make sense. You know - Here comes the bride, all dressed in white. Stepped on a turtle and down came her girdle. LOL

I never knew that. I didn't use it because I just didn't really like the tune. We used Trumpet Voluntary.

Cynde

 

[Maleficent13]

Hmmm...reading the responses, maybe I should have asked "How many people knew about the connotation before their minister told them?"

 

[Galahad]

Really, nobody should play Wagner in polite company anyway.