Do not want to walk down the aisle to 'Here Comes The Bride'

R.Wilsonny

I need to figure out what song to play as I take that walk down the aisle.

I have decided to not walk down to the traditional 'Here Comes The Bride' for 2 reasons:

1 - it was brought to my attention that the song was written by a Nazi, and although I´m not Jewish, I just can't in good conscience walk to something like this.

2 - the organ player at the church we are getting married in is terrible - and I really don't want to walk down the aisle cringing every time he hits the wrong note.

I am not sure what to walk down to though.....there's a nice cover that Norah Jones did of 'Time After Time' that I´m considering, but not sure if it would be ok...

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated

(Oh, and no Ave Maria at my wedding as this song was sung at my grandmother's funeral - so really - that's the last thing I want to hear at my wedding)

[Deleted User]

I walked down the aisle to Canon in D by Pachelbel and Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach. We were not permitted to use the Wedding March for our ceremony as it is a secular piece.

Magdala9

Talk to your venue and officiant to determine if there are any limitations on music (secular music only, no speakers allowed due to antique wiring etc).  

Once you know the limitations, pick a song that the two of you like.   Norah Jones has a lot of beautiful music that could be incorporated easily into a ceremony.  

mandi921vh

I would first find out what your venue allows as far as music goes. 

eospassion

I will be walking to the instramental version of "Tale as old as time" from Beauty and the Beast

Here's a list of great songs:

http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/ftw/songs.html

R.Wilsonny

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_first-dance_not-want-walk-down-aisle-here-comes-bride?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:29Discussion:6a3f1865-a8d8-40bd-9f37-a563d12f4214Post:db08f457-6315-4dae-abb0-b7f742d6c60e">Re: Do not want to walk down the aisle to 'Here Comes The Bride'</a>:
[QUOTE]I would first find out what your venue allows as far as music goes. 
Posted by mandi921vh[/QUOTE]

Yea, we were actually supposed to go there today to start that pre-marital counseling class that this church requires, but it wound up being canceled.

I have a lot of questions, aside from the music, about how this whole thing is going to go down because it's an orthodox armenian church (I´m catholic). So yea....bigger issues than just the music....

I will definitely say this - there is absolutely no way in hell that this organ player is going to play my wedding - he sucks. He sounds like he just started playing the organ yesterday.....it's really bad and I don't want photos and video of me cringing as I walk down to the aisle....

Thanks for listening and letting me vent - and the suggestions too :)

jcg98

For the record, Richard Wagner wasn't a Nazi, he died about 50 years before the rise of Nazism. But he was a rabid anti- Semite and megalomaniac and a role model for Hitler.  Same effect, really. As PPs said, check with your church/venue about any restrictions. If you need classical music suggestions try Handel (Water Music or Music for the Royal Fireworks) or Vivaldi "Four Seasons" ("Spring" is a popular choice). If you want a Marian piece that's not the Ave Maria, Pachelbel wrote a beautiful "Magnificat".

soprano19

If it's a traditional Catholic wedding, I'm guessing you'll have a few restrictions on your music choices. Canon in D and Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring are pretty standard choices, and so is Trumpet Voluntary.

And side note: "Here Comes the Bride" is actually a chorus from an opera called Lohengrin by Richard Wagner, a German composer in the late 1800s. He was not a Nazi, but he was anti-Semitic, which is why a lot of churches and other houses of worship don't allow that piece.

R.Wilsonny

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_first-dance_not-want-walk-down-aisle-here-comes-bride?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:29Discussion:6a3f1865-a8d8-40bd-9f37-a563d12f4214Post:7904ef34-0ef3-4721-a60f-2b3c988d2712">Re: Do not want to walk down the aisle to 'Here Comes The Bride'</a>:
[QUOTE]If it's a traditional Catholic wedding, I'm guessing you'll have a few restrictions on your music choices. Canon in D and Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring are pretty standard choices, and so is Trumpet Voluntary. And side note: "Here Comes the Bride" is actually a chorus from an opera called Lohengrin  by Richard Wagner, a German composer in the late 1800s. He was not a Nazi, but he was anti-Semitic, which is why a lot of churches and other houses of worship don't allow that piece.
Posted by soprano19[/QUOTE]


I mentioned that I was catholic, but we are not getting married in catholic church - my fiance is armenian and his parents insisted that we get married in his church. The whole thing about here comes the bride was mentioned to me from a friend of mine who is married to a jewish guy, but you guys are right - I did check and Wagner was technically not a nazi (although I believe Hitler loved his work, so probably one of the reasons why he is also associated with that in addition to the anti-semitism). Either way, I think the song is relatively cheesy, so I would rather not walk to it.....we'll see what the church says.....should be very interesting

Melanie2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_first-dance_not-want-walk-down-aisle-here-comes-bride?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:29Discussion:6a3f1865-a8d8-40bd-9f37-a563d12f4214Post:c2b4b554-f292-4274-b5ce-5191aeb76b2d">Re: Do not want to walk down the aisle to 'Here Comes The Bride'</a>:
[QUOTE]Either way, I think the song is relatively cheesy, so I would rather not walk to it.....
Posted by R.Wilsonny[/QUOTE]

I'm with you.  I hate the damn thing with a passion.  There are a ton of classical pieces that are perfect for processionals (many already mentioned by PP's).  Also, I've always liked the idea of using the music from <em>Love, Actually</em>.  My best friend almost used one of the songs from that movie (I think it was the Portugese Love Song or something) at her wedding, but her FI vetoed it for some weird reason.

lalaith50

When was the last time that anyone actually DID hear someone walk down to that?! Isn't it just in cheesy wedding scenes in movies?

R.Wilsonny

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_first-dance_not-want-walk-down-aisle-here-comes-bride?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:29Discussion:6a3f1865-a8d8-40bd-9f37-a563d12f4214Post:47efdd54-6986-4cc2-8be2-dbfd288f240a">Re: Do not want to walk down the aisle to 'Here Comes The Bride'</a>:
[QUOTE]When was the last time that anyone actually DID hear someone walk down to that?! Isn't it just in cheesy wedding scenes in movies?
Posted by lalaith50[/QUOTE]

My fiance's cousin got married in the same church the day after christmas and that was what she walked down the aisle to. It was terrible....not just the song itself, but the organ player who played it kept missing notes - and I was cringing every time he did and thinking OH HELL NO - NOT AT MY WEDDING......hehehe

kadynjase

Personally I'm using Katherine's Waltz by Marshel Styler.

I would suggest finding a couple of songs that you like but perhaps don't love and plugging them into a Pandora station. Then you can favorite and bookmark until you find the perfect song. Good luck!

crbwwl

I walked down to Corrosion of Conformity-Without wings.  It's beautiful.  A hard rock band, but this is a beautiful instermental. Does not sound like rock.

FayeValentine69

I'm planning to walk to Into the West, but we're not confined to religious/classical music.  There are plenty of options out there though.  The first thing you need to do is figure out what stipulations you have on music, but I'm betting with an Orthodox Armenian church that secular music is not going to be an option for you.

Lorielle22

Butterfly Waltz by Brian Crain would be very beautiful for the bridal entry.

You can listen to it hear (piano/violin duet): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UoU9YLPYhU

Or order sheet music (go to bottom of the page at): http://briancrain.com/sheetmusic.html

R.Wilsonny

Ok, but that still doesn't change the fact that I refuse to walk down the aisle to anything that god awful organ player plays.....I just won't do it.....I'd rather walk down to nothing, than that....

reese511

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_first-dance_not-want-walk-down-aisle-here-comes-bride?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:29Discussion:6a3f1865-a8d8-40bd-9f37-a563d12f4214Post:d9a4c8b1-e86e-4ee1-a7eb-00421ae29840">Re: Do not want to walk down the aisle to 'Here Comes The Bride'</a>:
[QUOTE]Ok, but that still doesn't change the fact that I refuse to walk down the aisle to anything that god awful organ player plays.....I just won't do it.....I'd rather walk down to nothing, than that....
Posted by R.Wilsonny[/QUOTE]

so how are you playing the music?  an ipod or something?

anyway....i'm using Here There Everywhere by The Beatles

R.Wilsonny

I got the green light from the priest.....we can use whatever music we want

We actually have a friend who plays violin, so we might ask him if he could play a little something

agwdng05and09

If there aren't any glaring music restrictions Norah Jones did a beautiful rendition of the Beach Boy's "God Only Knows (What I'd Do Without You)" .. and this may not be the best choice if your organist is horrendous but Debussy's "Clair de Lune" is a wonderful piece.