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Wedding planners understand that music customizes weddings for their clients.
That’s one of the earliest lessons I learned, too.
Let me show you what I mean.
It’s not a wedding, and here we’re creating a casual background for the grand opening at Xceed Federal Credit Union, in San Jose.
Thanks to Tom Vo (Accolade Photography) for the fine pictures.
This was a wonderful evening. Our music set the congenial mood while not distracting from the business at hand. Highlights included several “welcoming” speeches, the Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony, and mingling with the guests.
Our goal was to provide upbeat, pleasant, recognizable music that did not intrude. Want your next event to be like this?
An open house like that is a world away from wedding ceremonies and receptions, anniversaries, and birthday parties.
Here the music will be very important for highlighting unique features and making them memorable. All brides understand that music customizes weddings.
Here brides and grooms create opportunities to personalize these celebrations. Here people tend to keep it simple and choose their favorite music, especially songs with significant meanings for the occasion. Want your next event to be like this?
We’re versatile musicians, and we always customize our music. During my career I’ve seen hundreds of ways for music to add a personal touch and make every event even more memorable. The following examples will give you some ideas for personalizing YOUR next event.
Here’s one popular request. At some of the most touching wedding ceremonies, personal friends sang special songs. These ranged from “Ave Maria” to “Unforgettable” to “Our Love is Here to Stay”.
In ceremonies, and during the receptions, everyone expects old favorites like “Pachelbel’s Canon in D”, “As Time Goes By”, “My Funny Valentine”, “Embraceable You”, “The Way You Look Tonight”, “Sentimental Journey”, and “Stardust”. Frequently people want newer favorites, too, like “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, “Happy Together”, “You Light Up My Life”, “L-O-V-E”, “Moon River”, “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”, and “I Will”.
Brides and grooms who met in particular cities have asked us to include “New York, New York”, “Chicago”, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”, “Georgia On My Mind”, “April in Paris”, “A Foggy Day in London Town”, “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans”, “Hawaiian Wedding Song”, and more.
Several years ago we entertained at a little boy’s one-year birthday party. Many of the guests grew up outside the United States, his parents grew up in India, and they asked us to play a few of their favorite “Bollywood” mega-hits. This doesn’t happen often so we needed a little practice, but needless to say, they loved us! Would you recognize “Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas”, “Chookar Mere Manko”, “Papa Kehten Hain”, “Kaho Na Pyar”, “Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaon”, and “Bheegey Hon Tere”?
Special guests of honor have been serenaded with “Bill”, “Nancy With the Laughing Face”, “Laura”, “Emily”, “Sweet Lorraine”, “Waltz for Debbie”, “Mona Lisa”, and more.
Whenever a wedding day coincided with a parent’s or grandparent’s anniversary or birthday, everyone sang “Happy Birthday” or applauded the couple waltzing to the “Anniversary Song”.
Themes are always popular. Once at a wedding planned on a Cinderella theme, our dinner music featured old Disney songs including “When You Wish Upon a Star”, “Heigh-Ho”, “Someday My Prince Will Come”, “Bippidy-Bobbidy-Boo”, and the first dance was “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes”.
Finally, I remember a wedding ceremony where we accompanied the bride and the groom singing “All The Things You Are” to each other. It was lovely — really choked me up. Know the song? Written in 1939, music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein.
You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.
You are the angel glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are.
Some day my happy arms will hold you,
And some day I’ll know that moment divine,
When all the things you are, are mine!
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Thanks for reading this article. I appreciate your interest and hope you get a few good ideas here. Got one or two? I'd love to hear what you liked. Please write me a little COMMENT below. Start a conversation -- I'll reply. Promise.
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Meanwhile, the Magnolia Jazz Band entertains at weddings and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. If you are ever nearby, you’ll love catching us in action, seeing and hearing us create a great mood.
How can I help you? Call 408-245-9120 or use Robbie@MagnoliaJazz.com. Planning a celebration? Ask about our availability.
