this is the code for the render ad
Community› Wedding Discussion Boards› Wedding Ceremony & Reception Music Discussions
Wedding Ceremony & Reception Music Discussions
New Discussion

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

R.WilsonnyR.Wilsonny member
10 Comments
in Wedding Ceremony & Reception Music Discussions
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)
Report Reply to Post

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

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    10000 Comments Fourth Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    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.
    Report Reply
  • Magdala9Magdala9 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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.  
    Report Reply
  • mandi921vhmandi921vh member
    Eighth Anniversary 2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I would first find out what your venue allows as far as music goes. 
    imageDaisypath Anniversary tickers
    Report Reply
  • eospassioneospassion member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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
    ~All the love you put out will return to you~
    Report Reply
  • R.WilsonnyR.Wilsonny member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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 :)
    Report Reply
  • jcg98jcg98 member
    1000 Comments Third Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    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".
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic 
      
    Report Reply
  • soprano19soprano19
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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.
    Photobucket Wedding Countdown Ticker
    My bio!
    Report Reply
  • R.WilsonnyR.Wilsonny member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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
    Report Reply
  • Melanie2012Melanie2012 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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.
    Report Reply
  • lalaith50lalaith50 member
    1000 Comments Third Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    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?
    Anniversary
    Report Reply
  • R.WilsonnyR.Wilsonny member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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
    Report Reply
  • kadynjasekadynjase member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    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!
    Report Reply
  • crbwwlcrbwwl member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    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.
    Report Reply
  • FayeValentine69FayeValentine69
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Report Reply
  • Lorielle22Lorielle22 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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
    Mother-of-the-Bride
    Report Reply
  • R.WilsonnyR.Wilsonny member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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....
    Report Reply
  • reese511reese511
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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
    Wedding Countdown Ticker Photobucket

    t+sBio

    Report Reply
  • R.WilsonnyR.Wilsonny member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    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 :)
    Report Reply
  • agwdng05and09agwdng05and09 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    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.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards