'If Music be the Food of Love...'

As the Shakespearian quote above states, there is a long-acknowledged relationship between romance and music. Nowhere is this more clear than with the issue of the wedding first dance. Bridal magazines are full of suggestions for what music to use for your big day, how it can fit in with your theme or venue, and lists of the most popular songs for first dances.

Music is almost as important an accompaniment to the big day as the food and flowers, and the choice of music for your reception entertainment and for the ceremony itself is also a huge decision. On YouTube you can find examples of choreographed walks down the aisle, and in every wedding magazine and website there are lists of musicians, singers, DJs, bands, string quartets, trios, pianists, and harpists. You can go for the traditional "Here Comes the Bride" or "Wedding March", or an elegant classical piece by Mozart or Chopin.

There are companies specialising in dance classes and workshops especially for that all-important dance as husband and wife. You can choose a classic, romantic song such as "Your Song", "The Way You Look Tonight" or "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing'. Or, as a friend of mine did, dance to a fun salsa piece. Then there are those couples who opt for a more contemporary feel, with a dance or R 'n' B song. Or a glitzy, choreographed number.

Thinking about the choice of music reminds me once again of my initial thoughts on the links between weddings and writing. You have all the 'characters' or elements, the research and planning, and the editing. The bringing it all together; the theme; the genre. And music is a big part of bringing it all together and creating an atmosphere and theme. There seems to be parts of organising a wedding that compare to writing a novel - the research and planning, the tweaking and editing. But then there are many elements that remind me of writing poetry - the importance of finding that perfect word or image, and how the whole is more than the sum of its parts. The overall concept and image just works if each element is perfect. You can search around and try out different words and images - or different dresses, flower and music ideas, but when it fits, it just fits.

Personally, J and I have opted for simple elegance as a general theme for our big day, and as part of that we have chosen a string quartet for our ceremony and reception and a DJ for the evening entertainment. A mixture of classic romance and fun. Hopefully a variety of tunes, enjoyable for everyone. As we are not having a church wedding, the option of organ music was out, but the stylish yet elegant setting of our Victorian hotel allows for classical music. I will not be walking down the aisle to the "Wedding March" or 'Here Comes the Bride", wanting instead a classical piece that is graceful and light. And as for our first dance - I'll just keep that a surprise for now!

Until next time...