Songs to walk down the aisle to Options

[Brynfan]

I've been asked to sing at my sister in law's wedding, something I've done many times before (not for her, this is her first time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )during the signing of the register and for which I have quite a few pieces to choose from. However, sis-in-law wants me to sing while she's walking down the aisle and I'm completely stumped as to what would be suitable, and she doesn't have any idea of what she wants either (only that it isn't too fussy).

Has anyone else been to a wedding where a soloist has sung at this point? And does anyone have any ideas for a song for a (slightly rusty - been teaching more than practising lately) mezzo?

Any ideas gratefully received, thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Czerny]

Could we narrow it down with some idea of genre?

In the meantime, would something sort of "religious-lite" work - Rutter, perhaps? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Or maybe someone's Ave Maria?

[Seer_Green]

If you want something vaguely but not too religious, then there's a gorgeous piece by Robin Nelson called 'An Apache Blessing' - I think it might be 2-part, but you could adapt it. It is hard to know where to start though with such an open-ended request!

[corenfa]

I've been asked to sing at my sister in law's wedding, something I've done many times before (not for her, this is her first time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )during the signing of the register and for which I have quite a few pieces to choose from. However, sis-in-law wants me to sing while she's walking down the aisle and I'm completely stumped as to what would be suitable, and she doesn't have any idea of what she wants either (only that it isn't too fussy).

Has anyone else been to a wedding where a soloist has sung at this point? And does anyone have any ideas for a song for a (slightly rusty - been teaching more than practising lately) mezzo?

Any ideas gratefully received, thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm not a singer - am only posting because I have been to a wedding where there was a soloist at this point. She sang Exsulsate Jubilate by Mozart

[dolce@piano]

The 'Irish blessing' is beautiful and 'unfussy' and a not too overly relgious. Words =

May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

I have a Bob Chilcott SSA version (see musicroom) but easy to sing as a solo.

Otherwise Mozart's Laudate Dominum ? Or Jesu Joy of...? Ave maria ?

Or even a more 'pop' song - see if they have a particular favourite - Bridge over troubled waters, the Rose, Wind beneath my wings, Beautiful tonight . . . these are all quite popular.

.

[Brynfan]

Thanks for the replies.

I would love to be able to sing Exultate Jubilate - how I wish I was a soprano sometimes with the vocal agility this piece requires (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

I will definitely have a look at both the Irish and Apache Blessings - I've heard these but never sung them myself (or taught them as yet).

I'd thought about The Rose (one of my favourites), but as I've never been to a wedding where someone sang while the bride made her big entry, I wondered if it might be too long to sing the 3 verses, which I think you need to do to understand this song.

I think I shall have to trawl through my music and shortlist a few from different genres and see what she thinks.

Let's hope she doesn't then ask for Lady Gaga (she's 19 by the way) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Seer_Green]

The length of the music will inevitably depend on the length of the aisle. In my experience, most of the weddings I've played for over the years have required no more than about 30 seconds music max - especially if the bride's nervous and walks quickly!

[Brynfan]

The length of the music will inevitably depend on the length of the aisle. In my experience, most of the weddings I've played for over the years have required no more than about 30 seconds music max - especially if the bride's nervous and walks quickly!

That's exactly what I thought, which is why I'm in such a tizz about the song choice.

[Lucysop]

Would Widmung, Schumann - be an option...perhaps an abridged version, post middle section? Some of the other suggestions are also good - best to find out what the couple would prefer and whether it can be sacred or needs to be secular. Its been something I've had to consider in the past - but not had to sing during the processional before - have played the organ at a number of weddings in the past - and you often have to find a way to end the piece naturally! 30 secs sounds about right.
Good luck.

[Flossie]

Just an observation - a blessing is normal at the end of a service or wedding, but I've never come across one at the beggining of a service/wedding... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (although I'm sure the suggested sung blessings would sound lovely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif))

[AnnC]

I sang Laudate Dominum while the bride walked down the aisle once. It wasn't a long aisle but they were happy to wait until I finished (and then everyone clapped (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) ). While they signed the register I sang Panis Angelicus (to another clap (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) ). It was a Catholic church and the bride was a singing student. I was able to give her her grade 5 results (distinction) at the reception as they had arrived that morning (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[linda.ff]

I've been asked to sing at my sister in law's wedding, something I've done many times before (not for her, this is her first time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )during the signing of the register and for which I have quite a few pieces to choose from. However, sis-in-law wants me to sing while she's walking down the aisle and I'm completely stumped as to what would be suitable, and she doesn't have any idea of what she wants either (only that it isn't too fussy).

Has anyone else been to a wedding where a soloist has sung at this point? And does anyone have any ideas for a song for a (slightly rusty - been teaching more than practising lately) mezzo?

Any ideas gratefully received, thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Do you mean up the aisle or down the aisle? They would require different ideas, surely?

As far as I understand it, you walk UP the aisle to your wedding (what Kate Middletod did with her father) and DOWN the aisle to great celebration at the end of it (what Kate Middleton did with William). Do any of you use the expressions the other way around?

So up the aisle could be full of pomp and ceremony or great celebration, but it could also be contemplative. Down the aisle is always celebratory. Here Comes the Bride is for Up the Aisle, while the Mendelssohn could work for either but feels to me more right for coming back down

A friend of mine sang John Lennon's "Grow Old Along With Me" at her brother's mwedding, but that was for the signing of the register and was in a register office.

[vectistim]

Quilter's O Mistress Mine?! Perhaps not.

It isn't something I've come across, and if the wedding I played at last week is anything to go by it had best be quite clearly noted in the programme that there will be singing on the way out. (Before the service the audience was loud, during the hymns the audience was largely silent, during the signing - whilst I was just playing on the organ the audience was loud, on the way out their cheering and whistling was rather louder than full organ)

[BadStrad]

I'm assuming that wedding is in a church as you mention and aisle, but if you're using that as a generic term for "walk way to getting married", then that would affect your choice. When OH and I got married (not in church) we were told music and reading couldn't be religious as it was a civil ceremony - ie no Bible, no hymns. Might be worth checking with the registrar if it's not a church do.

Second point. OH and teacher recently played at a wedding. Bride had a traditional dress, so the vicar said that the music should allow time for the the brides entrance; the chief bridesmaid arranging the dress at the bottom of the aisle; processional and arranging of the veil of the bride's face. So even though the church was tiny there was still time to play a good portion of Beethoven's Spring Sonata - second movement I think.

So with those extras included you get a little more time.

[Brynfan]

I've been asked to sing at my sister in law's wedding, something I've done many times before (not for her, this is her first time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )during the signing of the register and for which I have quite a few pieces to choose from. However, sis-in-law wants me to sing while she's walking down the aisle and I'm completely stumped as to what would be suitable, and she doesn't have any idea of what she wants either (only that it isn't too fussy).

Has anyone else been to a wedding where a soloist has sung at this point? And does anyone have any ideas for a song for a (slightly rusty - been teaching more than practising lately) mezzo?

Any ideas gratefully received, thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Do you mean up the aisle or down the aisle? They would require different ideas, surely?

As far as I understand it, you walk UP the aisle to your wedding (what Kate Middletod did with her father) and DOWN the aisle to great celebration at the end of it (what Kate Middleton did with William). Do any of you use the expressions the other way around?

So up the aisle could be full of pomp and ceremony or great celebration, but it could also be contemplative. Down the aisle is always celebratory. Here Comes the Bride is for Up the Aisle, while the Mendelssohn could work for either but feels to me more right for coming back down

A friend of mine sang John Lennon's "Grow Old Along With Me" at her brother's mwedding, but that was for the signing of the register and was in a register office.

Yes, sorry, I do mean up the aisle. Habit of mine - having grown up half way up a mountain I still say down to everywhere (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I googled this same question earlier and the search came up with websites and forums for wedding planning and some of the songs that brides have walked up the aisle to just made my mind boggle (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Bonnie Tyler, Dire Straits, AC/DC and most of the others I'd never even heard of....