This is the second post in my Wedding Week series. Make sure you check out our engagement story, and come back on Wednesday and Friday for how we afforded rings, assorted gifts, and a honeymoon while living on my $27K salary and groom in grad school.
It should come as no surprise that one of the most important parts of my wedding–you know besides the vows, my dress and the rings–was the music. I genuinely didn’t care about the flowers or chair covers but I did have some strong opinions about the music. For instance, under no circumstances was there to be a conga line (I loathe conga lines. They are the worst. Thing. Ever. Except for horses. Horses doing a conga line would make it so I never left my house ever again). Also, no electric slide or any form of organized dances (I hate them and I can’t follow along. Yup. I’m that uncoordinated). Because I’m Jewish, I allowed the drunken circle of madness that is the Hora and the torture that is being lifted in chair, supported only by groomsmen who, of course, are of varying heights so one side of your body is substantially higher than the other (For extra points, at my wedding, the groomsmen knocked my mom’s head into the chandelier. Nothing says a good time like the mother of the bride almost getting a concussion).
I also had very specific artists and songs that had to be played. Fortunately, our DJ was a college friend of ours (this was complete coincidental, actually. Our location gave us a list of preferred vendors and when I called this one particular company, I received a call back from a gentleman who identified himself as my across the hall neighbor from sophomore year of college who we remained friends with for the rest of college and lost touch with over the years. This was pre-Facebook. Yes, I’m old) and was more than happy to comply with my pretty specific but only slightly neurotic list of “must play and never under any circumstances play” songs. Interesting side note to this story, because we knew the DJ, we got the ceremony music for free and about $100 knocked off the total price. Pretty sweet deal for us. It’s good to know people and have them randomly show up in your life and have them save you money.
Anyway, after some discussion, we picked the major songs: our first dance (Edwin McCain’s “I Could Not Ask for More), my dance with my dad (“You’ll Be In My Heart” by Phil Collins) and his dance with his mom (“I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack) but the one song that was a huge bone of contention–the song we were going to walk in to. He wanted Nine Inch Nails’s “Closer” but I had huge issues with using a song that says “I want to fuck you like an animal” with my grandparents in the room. He saw nothing wrong with it but he’s not smart sometimes. Guess who won that battle?
We discussed (and by discussed I mean argued). Eventually we settled (and by settled I mean I made the ultimate decision since he showed poor taste with the NIN debacle) on the beginning instrumental part of Metallica’s “Wherever I May Roam”.
What? You thought I’d pick something normal?
I just started on my wedding playlist last weekend and it’s tough! Luckily my family is pretty relaxed so we don’t have to worry about being inappropriate with our song selections. We also aren’t having a DJ so we have to come up with enough songs to last the whole day, it’s a big job!
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I love this! We had a five person orchestra play during the ceremony. A guitarist pre-dinner appetizers and cocktails(while we were getting pictures taken) and Pink Floyd/Led Zeppelin instrumental during dinner. Our wedding song is Love Will Keep Us Alive by the Eagles. Our play list was bilingual! We did the Mexican version of a conga line (so much cooler and fun, the electric slide and for extra cheesy points my 10 year old step son led the Macarena! Our only DJ fail was him not having the song Benny and the Jets as I had requested. It was my dad’s favorite song and we were going to play it during the father/daughter portion. Instead I danced with my baby brother to Butterfly Kisses. I love weddings and anniversaries. They make my heart happy. I can’t wait to read more!
Jenniemarie @ anotherhousewife recently posted…More Spaghetti and the Rest of the Week
That was awesome. You’d chosen a Metallica song for your wedding? Other couple would probably choose slow music or any love song. Lucky that you got it for free.
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My wife and I had a city hall wedding in NYC. It was the best time and we loved it. I think if I ever renew my vows I will get married with a big wedding but do it in Colombia. Who was your photographer?