We all love to be in love – and at almost every wedding, there’s inevitably at least one song that touches your heart. So defrost that frozen slice of wedding cake and toss the bouquet in honor of this list saluting the most popular 10 wedding songs for 2011. To make it easy to follow, we’ve divided it into the sections that typify a wedding:
Prelude Music
As the guests arrive, the most popular music choices include the following treasured classics:
– The Four Seasons, Vivaldi
– Ode to Joy, Beethoven,
– As Time Goes By (A Kiss is Just a Kiss), Tony Bennett
I’ve noticed that “Ode to Joy” seems to be one of the most appreciated among middle-aged to older wedding guests, while Tony Bennett’s “Time Goes By” charmer earns the highest number of guests humming along.
Processional and Bridal Music
The wedding party, family, and – at long last – the bride march down the aisle to more solemn music, in general. The most popular songs in this category:
– Canon in D (Pachelbel)
– Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride – Wagner)
– What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
I personally love Louis Armstrong’s tender song, and it definitely receives the most smiles and, at times, tears from wedding guests. For traditionalists, of course, the “official” bridal chorus is almost a “must.” Canon in D definitely has risen in popularity over recent years, and its ability to be repeated (depending on the length of the procession) makes it a perennial top 3.
Recessional Music
The guests rise and applaud as the newly married couple make the trek along the aisle together. Among the most popular songs this year for that traditional walk:
– Ode to Joy (Yes, again – some couples are using it as a “sandwich” song to start and end the ceremony)
– The Long and Winding Road (The Beatles)
– I Got You Babe (Sonny and Cher)
Sonny and Cher win for receiving the most hoots, shouts and appreciative whistles at the weddings I’ve attended recently. There’s something about this song that gets us all feeling mellow.
First Dance Music
Here’s the category that truly defines the newly married couple. True romantics tend to go for something soft and tender such as “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” that embrace both the man and the wife. Others view that first song as a statement from the husband to the wife, in which case a typical choice is “The Way You Look Tonight” from Frank Sinatra. And, just to round out this final song choice: “When A Man Loves A Woman” seems to be increasingly popular, particularly the Michael Bolton version.
Just remember — whatever you choose, whether they are some of these popular selections or your talented 12-year-old cousin’s original composition, the songs form only the background to your ceremony. It’s your love that takes center stage. Cherish it!
Sources:
http://www.discjockeys.com/top_wedding.php
http://weddings.weddingchannel.com/wedding-planning-ideas/wedding-music.aspx
http://www.ourweddingsongs.com/
