Bridesmaid singing at reception?

LeighaMDuerden

I have added both of my fiance's sisters as bridesmaids and one of them has an AMAZING voice. I love watching her perform around town and absolutey adore her voice. My fiance and I have been talking about asking if she would like to sing for the reception, but we don't know how to approach it or if it's even a good idea. We don't want her to not enjoy herself at the reception and just think she has to sing (which I doubt she would even look at it that way). Of course, it woudn't be for the entire reception, but just for a while. She's plays the acoustic and sings the songs of others, as well as her own songs, and I can't stress enough how much I love hearing her. 

Would it be bad idea to ask if she would sing for the reception or just let her enjoy the night without singing? She's very passionate about her music and has been getting a lot of recognition around town and beyond, but we just don't know if maybe she'd want a break from all that that night.

VeggieLove1022

I would pay her if I was going to ask her. You can always just causually bring it up to her. She may want to sing or she may want the night to enjoy. Let her know that it's okay to say no and take it from there.

LeighaMDuerden

Ah yes, I forgot to mention that her brother and I were planning on paying her. 

VeggieLove1022

Just ask. She will know if she's up for it. She may love doing it. If she doesn't want to, then no big deal.

mollyehren

I'm sure she will love to sing for you, but ask just to make sure.
My sister is my bridesmaid and is thrilled to be our ceremony soloist and we are also playing her singing the song Evereything (ususally sung by Michael Buble) that she pre-recorded with the Westside orchestra.

Simply Fated

I would come right out and ask her to perform a song. One or two songs, yeah? Then she won't miss the fun or anything.

LauraChristin

I agree with SimplyFated to ask her to sing a single song. If not your first dance then a dedication during open dancing at one point. I think more than one or two songs would be a bit much, though.

toothpastechica

My sister is one of my BM's and she is singing at our wedding....but its kind of an inside joke/promse that we made to eachother when we were still young....We will probably both find it hilarious, and hopefully most people will, i think anyone who doesnt is going to be confused, but i dont mind because its something we've been talking about for years....shes gonna sing Enrique Iglesias - Hero (and try and keep a straight face). I should add...that shes actually a really good singer, so even if people dont get the funny part of it, they hopefully will enjoy the actual singing of it!

Avion22

I agree with a one- or two-song limit.  Then let her enjoy herself :-)   

Summer2011Bride

What about asking her to sing your first dance song? I have seen at other weddings that a friend or family member with a good voice has sung that song for the couple and it was really nice. It might mean a lot to her and to you both, and then she can still enjoy the rest of the reception.

Amanda1443994

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_bridesmaid-singing-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:152c7466-396e-4411-b1e7-24b870ae90eePost:027247f0-f89d-43a4-8b20-b14d910a0be5">Re: Bridesmaid singing at reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>What about asking her to sing your first dance song?</strong> I have seen at other weddings that a friend or family member with a good voice has sung that song for the couple and it was really nice. It might mean a lot to her and to you both, and then she can still enjoy the rest of the reception.
Posted by Summer2011Bride[/QUOTE]

One of our good friends is doing this at our wedding. He is an amazing singer and guitar player so he's playing our first song for us acoustic. He will also be singing one more song later that night. When we asked him to do it he was completely thrilled and refused to accept money from us so we're just going to surprise him with a nice gift to thank him for performing.

mkrupar

I agree with PPs about one or two songs. If she's an acoustic player I don'treally get a party vibe out of what she does, so it may slow down the evening to have her sing a bunch of songs. The only time I feel multiple songs would be appropriate would be during dinner, but then she wouldn't get to eat and enjoy that part of the evening.

I love the idea of the 1st dance song. Go with that!