Got an email yesterday from a "fan" who saw us play in a bar last month and wants to know if we can play her wedding in Sept. One problem...We're not a wedding band. We do cover a wide variety of music from 70s hits (with our own twist to them) to No Doubt, Garbage, The Cult, etc. With that in mind, she still wants us to play. Any suggestions on some wedding songs that aren't too lame? (please, no YMCA, Chicken dance or We Are Family). thanks!
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wedding song ideas
- Thread starter pcollin
- Start date
- Apr 21, 2000
- 10,465
- 866
- 60
- Disclosures
- Gallien Krueger for the last 12 years!
pcollin said:
And now a message for the Bride - as the band starts up a Garbage medley with "Stupid Girl!!"
"Queerest of the queer.." - as the best man stands up....
"You Can't Always Get What You Want"-Stones.
The band I play in is strickly a R+B 50's-60's group. Still we get asked to do a couple of weddings a year. After we make it crystal clear the kind of music they'll hear, we make them the offer to bring someone who will DJ some of the new hits during our breaks. That solves a lot of problems along with asking what 3 special songs they want the DJ to play (that way, no surprises).
I played in a wedding band for years and there's virtually no way to prepare away all the problems... but if you've been there, you know what to expect.
The band I play in is strickly a R+B 50's-60's group. Still we get asked to do a couple of weddings a year. After we make it crystal clear the kind of music they'll hear, we make them the offer to bring someone who will DJ some of the new hits during our breaks. That solves a lot of problems along with asking what 3 special songs they want the DJ to play (that way, no surprises).
I played in a wedding band for years and there's virtually no way to prepare away all the problems... but if you've been there, you know what to expect.
A friend of mine got married a few years back
and had an acoustic guitard during the service.
The Bride picked 'Nature's Way' by Spirit.
"It's nature's way of telling you,
something's WRONG."
What was she thinking? I could barely contain the
laughter.
We had a jazz band at our wedding. We let them
choose all the material. Worked out great. No schmaltz.
You will be fine as long as you have a solid understanding
that 'The bride cuts the cake' is not part of the gig.
and had an acoustic guitard during the service.
The Bride picked 'Nature's Way' by Spirit.
"It's nature's way of telling you,
something's WRONG."
What was she thinking? I could barely contain the
laughter.
We had a jazz band at our wedding. We let them
choose all the material. Worked out great. No schmaltz.
You will be fine as long as you have a solid understanding
that 'The bride cuts the cake' is not part of the gig.
- Apr 21, 2000
- 10,465
- 866
- 60
- Disclosures
- Gallien Krueger for the last 12 years!
Three of our faves have been:
Hell is for Children - Pat Benatar
You Ought to Know - Alanis Morissette
Trashy Women - Jerry Jeff Walker
Hell is for Children - Pat Benatar
You Ought to Know - Alanis Morissette
Trashy Women - Jerry Jeff Walker
Smack my B**** Up - The Prodigy
In seriousness, you should sit down with the bride and groom well in advance and map out exactly what is expected. If you have time, offer to learn the bridal waltz if you can.
Make sure you are loading your fee - you should be getting about 40% more for a wedding than you would ask for a bar show.
BE AWARE: this is her "special day" so any mistakes and there'll be blame going round.
In seriousness, you should sit down with the bride and groom well in advance and map out exactly what is expected. If you have time, offer to learn the bridal waltz if you can.
Make sure you are loading your fee - you should be getting about 40% more for a wedding than you would ask for a bar show.
BE AWARE: this is her "special day" so any mistakes and there'll be blame going round.
May I humbly offer: "This Is My Song," from 1967.
www.geocities.com/merrystar3/allysongs/ThisIsMySong.htm
It maybe a bit on the corny side, but I can almost guarantee that all the women and most of the men in the room will be wet-eyed when the bride and groom dance to this one.
If you've never heard it, it is a very beautiful, romantic song. It will also take many people by surprise.
And it was written by Charlie Chaplin.
YES, THE Charlie Chaplin!
Talented guy. http://ednapurviance.org/chaplininfo/chaplinlyrics.html
I am an old fart.
Mike
www.geocities.com/merrystar3/allysongs/ThisIsMySong.htm
It maybe a bit on the corny side, but I can almost guarantee that all the women and most of the men in the room will be wet-eyed when the bride and groom dance to this one.
If you've never heard it, it is a very beautiful, romantic song. It will also take many people by surprise.
And it was written by Charlie Chaplin.
YES, THE Charlie Chaplin!
Talented guy. http://ednapurviance.org/chaplininfo/chaplinlyrics.html
I am an old fart.
Mike
I'd say decline the offer. If you're not a wedding band you're not prepared to do this gig. The leader in a wedding band often is the master of ceremonies for the entire wedding, introducing the wedding party, the first dances, the garter toss, cake cutting, etc. It's a big job. And if you don't know YMCA, Chicken Dance, We Are Family, Celebration, etc. you're not going to do a good job. If you take the gig, take this advice:pcollin said:
pcollin said:
Can't help falling in love/jail hhouse rock - the king
Play that funky music, anything by CCR
maybe some of the poppier country tunes
anything beatles
