I meant to talk about the wedding music a long time ago, but apparently never got around to it. Music is so, so important to me. When I say that, people usually assume that were getting some fancy band or musicians. Actually were not using live music for any part of the wedding. This is mostly because I like songs to sound the way that Im accustomed to them sounding (if that makes sense). Like, when I hear Sweet Home Alabama, I want to hear Lynyrd Skynyrd. I think music really sets the mood for each stage of the wedding. For the ceremony, I have specific songs that I want, and I know they wouldnt sound the same live.
Our pre-ceremony music is going to be the real artist versions of Disney love songslike Beauty & the Beast by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson.
For the ceremony, I knew I wanted very soft, romantic, classical-style music.
The first song is a beautiful instrumental version of One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story that I found on iTunes. That will be played while the parents, officiant, Brandon, and the groomsmen walk in. We have four sets of parents walking down the aisle, in this order: (1) Brandons dad and stepmom (2) Brandons mom and significant other (3) My Godmom*, escorted by her nephew (4) My mom, escorted by my cousin.
*My Godmom is like a mother to me. We are as close as two people can be. Its always a little hard to explain, because I have two moms, except its not a stepmother and theyre not a gay couple. Shes my moms best friend, but she really was my second parental figure growing up (my parents divorced a long time ago and my father and I dont see each other often). Anyway, thats my brief explanation of why shes walking down the aisle!
After that song has ended, the five bridesmaids will walk into The Swan by Saint-Saens, as performed by Yo-Yo Ma. Its my favorite piece from Carnival of the Animals. Here is a link if anyone is interested:
The Swan.
For the ring bearer (my little 2 yr-old second cousin, who is walking with his dad/my cousin) and the flower girls (second cousin, age 6, niece, age 2), we are playing a short clip of Ave Maria, the version from Fantasia. It took me a long time to pick their song. I was looking for the perfect transition into my song, and I think this is it.
For the bridal march, I am using Loves First Kiss from the Snow White soundtrack. Link:
Love's First Kiss. Disney-lovers might think of it as the version of One Song from the end of the movie, when the prince wakes Snow White with loves first kiss.
This song is the very first detail of the wedding I ever planned. It is how I created the entire aesthetic and theme of our wedding. I actually picked my dress with this song in mind. I am totally in love with it. Im going to let the beginning of the song play, but not enter the WP until the lyrics start. I am walking down the aisle without an escort, and I will be walking very s-l-o-w-l-y. I dont want to fade the song out until the vocals are finished.
The only song I dont have picked is the recessional. Im leaning toward Remember When by Leann Rimes. I also like Ever, Ever After by Carrie Underwood. Brandon really wanted the Two Worlds reprise from the end of Tarzan. Hes not generally into Disney music the way I am, but he just LOVES that song
. I told him it would have been ok if it didnt have that creepy childrens chorus. Any other recessional suggestions??
One small complaint: I mentioned to my planner at our PS that I knew at what points in the songs I wanted each person to begin walking down the aisle. She told me that it really shouldnt be planned that way, that everyone should just walk when the person in front of them is almost finished. I asked what happens if the music runs out or goes long, and she said they can either loop it or fade it out. I really hate that idea. I picked all of these songs to flow together. It will break up the momentum if people hear the same song twice or an ending gets chopped off. I mentioned it again in a phone call yesterday, but she said basically the same thing. I dont know how to tell her that I adamantly want it timed out. Honestly, I dont see why thats a problemit really isnt difficult. Im getting a little frustrated about it.
And, the scenery is beautiful.
And my goodness, Tinker Bell is ZOOMING across! Not that I mind 
