alternative wedding music

when i originally saw the now-famous youtube video of jill & kevin's outrageously original march down the aisle to chris brown's forever, my first thought was, "finally!" it was a risk, it was refreshing, and it was undeniably something that couple (and their guests) will remember the rest of their lives.

music is such an intimate reflection of a person or couple, and too often, i think couples make their music choices based on what they have liked in other weddings, and not necessarily on the statement they'd like to make with their own. canon in d, the bridal chorus and water music are all timelessly beautiful, but are they really the only options?

contemporary choices like israel kamakawiwo'ole's charming somewhere over the rainbow and elvis' can't help falling in love are wonderful favorites — but again, these songs have been around for awhile.

what i loved about jill and kevin's decision was not necessarily the dance, but the fact that they decided on a personal tone for their event and then made the music match their personalities. for couples who truly want a memory — and to stand out from the crowd — i can't recommend this approach enough.

while i can't boast a video of a fabulously choreographed bridal party, i can vividly recall the smiles on the faces of our guests as i walked down the aisle to tony bennett's jaunty just in time. and we nearly brought the house down when my new husband and i receded down the aisle to the unmistakeable sex and the city theme. we had bonded over the show when we first got together, and i simply had to honor this in our music. i still get comments about it.

point is, jill and kevin's song was unapologetically personal, just as the songs my husband and i chose were personal. and silly. and uncommon. don't be afraid to make choices that are unique to you, no matter how unorthodox. you may not wind up on youtube, but the memories will most definitely last a lifetime.

photo courtesy of wedding music samples.