Question: Should I sing at my wedding?

[squids]

Hey V:I hope all y'all have a wonderful time and that your man is front row while you sing. Have a ball and hope the weddingcam is steady (he's not the kind of uncle I have is he? Ya know, "free bar!" is the same thing as "FREEEEEEEDOM!!" followed by the full-blown charge across the field?)

[tedsingingfox]

Apr 15, 2008, 6:00pm, vickye wrote:Hey everyone,Okay, so the big day is on Saturday..the 19th. Here's what we decided...if it feels right at the reception while the band is taking a break, my guitar player and I may sing the song. My fiance is totally cool with singing the song at the reception, so I think we may be okay.I'll let ya know what happens! If anything, my crazy uncle has decided to show up and all of it will be videotaped!!! Don't you just love weddings??Thanks to all for sharing your thoughts. I truly enjoyed them all.VWow, V. THIS weekend, huh? Monster congratulations, and I hope you bring the house down with your beautiful song. I hope even more that the groom is the FIRST one to break down into tears... Ted

[byllsong]

I got married once...I promised my wife that I would never do it again...

[Casey H]

Best wishes!!Have a great wedding and a great life together filled with happiness and love!! Casey

[LawTunes]

I would vote yes. I sang at my wedding 11 years ago. I wrote the song as my wedding gift to my wife, who had never heard it before that moment. It talked about how we met, that day, and the life we would have together. The wonderful wedding band we hired played with me, and those consummate pros picked the tune up perfectly without rehearsal. It was a great moment. I recorded it (on an unfortunately low-end device), and you can hear it here: http://www.lawrencesavell.com/wedding/youansweredme.htm.

One neat thing about doing it was that it made me not at all nervous about the ceremony or about this momentous change in my existence after 40 years of being single. I was just nervous about nailing the song and whether my bride would like it. She did.

[raymy]

My wife and I sang to each other at the reception. Less pressure. Congratulations and have fun!

[mojobone]

Congratulations and best of luck to you and your groom to be! I like the 'if it feels right' approach; my first wedding was an out of control monster that snowballed into a major PITA. By the time the big day arrived, I wasn't sure whose wedding it was, cuz it looked nothing like what we originally planned. I came close to punching out the photographer who was ordering everyone around like a drill sergeant. I've been through many opening nights in musical theater that were less stressful; by the time my bride and I were done with all the marryin' we were nearly to tired for the consummatin'.

I love how this topic has drawn out some new voices and old forum friends; I have a little something more to say on the subject, but courtesy requires a new thread, heh.

[robbylane]

Vickye.... I have had some experience in the department. You quoted your man as saying "This is not a gig". But does that mean he does not want a band onstage, or does that mean he is opposed to having a song sung to him?
Myself, I sang to my daughter Shannon at the alter that I wrote for her, on her wedding day. She cried. I have also played acousti guitar at the alter while a groom sang to his bride. I also provided wedding ceremony on acoustic guitar, twice! Playing "here Comes The Bride on 6- or 12-string acoustic is quite the challenge.
If you decide to pursue this, I have advice for you.

1) Perform the song as a solo artist on piano or guitar. A single instrument is a wedding setting will make the song more personal, heartfelt and intimate.
2) Sing the words more clearly than what I heard when I listened to your song. Please do not be offended by my comment. I struggled to hear the words.
3) I highly recommend that drop you tempo to half-time. The current tempo is a bouncy feel to it. Playing it at half that tempo speed will make the song more (here's that word again) intimate and fitting for a wedding, guaranteed!!!!!

Robby Lane

[matto]

LOL, the advice may be good but considering that Vicky posted her question on March 28, 2008, saying "I am getting married in three weeks" it may be just a tad late...

[mojobone]

Thanks, Matto, having a good chuckle at myself, now. Not sure how I missed it the first time. Wonder how it turned out?