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 Without
music a civil ceremony is very short,
so music and poetry gives you the opportunity
of enhancing your wedding vows, and giving a
little more atmosphere, style and substance of your
ceremony. It also enables you to 'settle' into
your ceremony before you actually
make your marriage vows.
Although
the law does not allow you to have any
religious music or readings whilst the registrar is
present,
the scope for secular music, poetry and prose
during a civil wedding ceremony is limited only
by your own imagination!
Civil
Ceremonies enable you to choose from a wide variety
of musical styles amongst which are Operatic arias
and Classical songs, possibly in different languages;
Jazz Standards by Gershwin, Porter Kern, Berlin,
Sinatra, Nat King Cole and others…
Music Theatre from Rogers & Hammerstein,
Lloyd Webber, Sondheim, Bernstein…
Romantic songs by Celine Dion, Barbara Striesand,
Bryan Adams, Shania Twain …
Before
the Ceremony & the Bride's Entrance
Beautiful
Music can be used to create the atmosphere you want
for your own wedding. A soloist singing before or during
your entrance gives a definite start to your ceremony
and allows you a little more time to compose yourself
before taking your marriage vows. You could choose a
special song or songs to be sung prior to your entrance
to 'set the scene', or musicians can play as your guests
are seated before the Bride makes a dramatic and moving
entrance to a sung piece. Usually, the entrance walk
is not a lengthy one! But there is no reason why you
can't have a complete piece or section of music for
your entrance with or without bridesmaids. Listening
to beautiful music or meaningfully words at the beginning
of your ceremony gives you a few moments to settle yourself
before the ceremony actually begins!
Before
your Vows
Unlike a church wedding where several
things happen before you make your vows (opening prayers,
a hymn, readings, etc), there is nothing 'set' in a
civil ceremony before you take your vows. Many people
choose one or two readings, possibly separated by a
song before you formally make your vows. Or you could
start the ceremony with a special song after the registrar's
introduction. Wedding Songs has a special civil ceremony
pack which gives many different ideas and themes to
consider.
Marriage
Vows & Exchange of Rings
This is the perfect place to have
a beautiful song sung to reiterate the vows and commitment
you are making. You could possibly have a song sung
in between taking your vows and the exchange of rings.
Or make your vows and exchange rings, and follow this
with a song (and possible another reading or poem) to
complete your wedding vows, before moving to sign the
register.
The
Signing of the Register
During
the signing of the register, music helps to keep your
guests (and you!) focused on the wedding, and should
prevent you losing the 'mood' of your wedding, even
whilst having photographs taken. Rather than 'filling
time', use this part of your wedding ceremony as an
opportunity to enhance the mood you have created in
your ceremony.
Religious
Songs & Readings after the Signing of the Register
Many
couples who choose a Civil Ceremony do so because they
have no wish for a religious ceremony, but some couples
are simply unable to have a Church Ceremony but would
love to have a Spiritual Dimension to their Wedding
Ceremony. Whether you are unable to have a church ceremony,
or whether you wish to commemorate a loved relative
or friend, it is very important to understand the legal
requirement that there can be no religious readings
or music whilst the Registrar is present during the
legal proceedings.
However,
once the Registrar has left, you are free to do whatever
you would like! If you choose this option it is best
to arrange for someone else to take over from the Registrar
after the Signing of the Register, and to continue the
ceremony as you wish, enabling songs such as 'Ave Maria',
'Pie Jesu' and other religious music to be sung if wanted.
It may also be possible to incorporate a Candle-Lighting
Ceremony as part of this, but again it is important
to check this with your Registrar as a few Registrars,
and indeed even some Venues have restrictions on Candle
lighting. However, many are happy to allow this as part
of a Civil Wedding Ceremony.
Candle-Lighting
Ceremony
Whether
you light one candle at the beginning, or two or three
candles during the ceremony, there are several songs
written specifically for candle lighting ceremonies,
including songs of dedication for mothers.
The
Couples Recessional
Provides
a final opportunity for an uplifting or romantic song,
or you may decide to simply have instrumental music
played here.
Poetry
and Prose
Two or three poetry or prose readings will
add so much to your ceremony and can also give an opportunity
to directly involve some of your family and friends
in your wedding ceremony. Readings can be serious and
meaningful or light and humorous, read by adults or
even children and could include a specially written
dedication unique to you. There is so much poetry and
prose to choose from, whether classical Sonnets by Shakespeare
or Elizabeth Barrett Browning, to modern poems including
song lyrics. You could choose several short readings
at different points in your ceremony to compliment your
chosen songs, also involving several people.
 Musicians
and Accompaniment
Much depends on the facilities of the venue and whether
accompaniment will be with piano, harp, strings, other
instruments, or pre-recorded tracks.
Harpists
& String Quartets
String Quartets, Harpists, or Pianists provide wonderful
accompaniments for a soloist, and wonderful music in
their own right. If your venue has a Piano you could
book a pianist, or it may be possible to hire a piano.
You could consider booking a Harpist, String Trio or
Quartet, or Guitarist to accompany your soloist.
As
for your choice of songs, that is really up to you.
No two people have exactly the same taste in music.
Some people love opera or classical music while others
prefer a more contemporary style. The musical suggestions
made here are only the tip of the iceberg but they may
give you some other ideas, and we can consider any request
for a particular piece you would like sung.
Drinks
Reception & Wedding Breakfast
Musicians can also be booked for your drinks reception
and/or your wedding meal. Other musicians can also be
booked for your reception and evening entertainment
including Dixie Bands, Jazz Ensembles, Brass Players
and Ensembles, Bagpipes and fabulous Dance Bands.
Booking
To avoid disappointment it is important to book as
early as possible, particularly if your wedding is during
the busy spring and summer months.
Your
Wedding Day is one of the most important days of your
life. The
songs and music that you choose will live in your own
memory and
that of your guests forever. Don't you deserve the best?
I will be delighted
to help you make your ceremony personal, unique and
special and very
much look forward to hearing from you.
For
a Professional, Personal and Unique service, contact
Catherine Françoise for further information &
FREE Demonstration CD
U.K.Nation-wide
Service including Ireland
E-mail: catherine@weddingsongs.co.uk
Phone: 01753 882646 Fax:
01753 889946 Mobile:
07850 617775
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