Testing Out the Mood Music

Testing Out the Mood Music

June 9th, 2011 @ 10:09 am by Mrs. Bunting
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Sometimes I wish I had a man with an acoustic guitar follow me around all day, playing songs that fit the mood of the moment. Life would be so much cooler with a daily theme song, wouldn’t it?

Video via YouTube

But we can’t all be as lucky as J.D., unless of course you’re rich and hire someone to be your personal guitarist stalker. Hmm, now I almost want to save up just so I can go into the city with my guitarist stalker and see how people react. It would be a neat experiment…but I’m getting off topic! What I’m really getting at is that music has forever been a vessel to convey messages and invoke emotions, and with this power (and the right song) it has the ability to enhance any given moment. Especially important moments, such as, oh I don’t know, a wedding ceremony. Yeah, that’s a pretty important sequence of moments.

Since music affects how people respond emotionally to a particular moment, if you make your selections very carefully then your ceremony music will subtly influence their moods and emotions. That’s right, you can manipulate the mood of your guests without breaking a sweat. This is like mind-control, but with emotions! Doesn’t that idea make you want to tap your fingertips together and release a deep cackle that slowly builds into a full-out evil laugh? I watch too many movies, I know.

Thanks, Mr. Burns / Image via The Simpsons / Image credit: Fox

OK, OK. So it’s not exactly mind-control, but it is pretty neat to think that your music may subtly influence your guests. For this reason, I’ve been searching for the perfect songs to create the ideal mood for our ceremony. I’ll tell you upfront that none of our music is traditional, though some of these songs are starting to make more and more appearances in weddings.

Prelude

I’ve found some fantastic background music that would be perfect for a prelude. In fact, I didn’t even know we would have prelude music until I found these.

I really love the Explosions in the Sky song, but I’m not sure if it’s too…somber.

Video via YouTube

Bridesmaid Processional

For the bridesmaid and groomsmen processional, we wanted something a bit different but nonetheless fun. I don’t know which of these is my favorite yet, but Mr. Bunting informed me last night that they play Tristan Prettyman’s song at his work all the time, so if we went with that one he’d only be thinking of work. That kinda ruins it, so maybe someone else will enjoy it at their wedding instead.

Video via YouTube

Bridal Processional

While my 12-year-old self may tell you differently (y’know, if you had a time machine and wanted to use it to go visit my 12-year-old-self because you had nothing better to do), I just don’t see myself walking down the aisle to “Canon in D” or any traditional bridal march. I am having a hard time finding just what it is I’ll be walking down the aisle to, probably because this is the most important song. These two songs are very lovely, but they just haven’t clicked with me yet. That probably means I should keep searching.

Video via YouTube

Recessional

I am SO excited for this song to start playing as our recessional after we’ve been pronounced husband and wife. It’s just so bubbly and happy! I can just imagine us dancing back down the aisle as everyone waves little flags and Daddy Bunting whistles. (You know those ear-piercing two-finger whistles? I just know he’s going to do one.)

Video via YouTube

While that wraps up the main contenders thus far, I’ve got one last song to share with you today. It was originally in the running for our recessional song, but I think it would be more appropriate as a reception song to dance to.

Video via YouTube

I just know all of the Disney-loving girls are going to flip when they hear this one. The Little Mermaid was one of my favorite movies as a child, so this is very fitting for me. Some girls loved Cinderella, some loved Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, but I was an Ariel girl all the way when it came to the princesses. (Sorry, Jasmine, you’re my second fave.) This remake is just so incredibly awesome-sauce.

What are your plans for your ceremony music? Are you going the traditional route, or are you doing something different? Any suggestions that I may not have discovered yet?

Tags: grand-rapids, music |

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19 Responses to “Testing Out the Mood Music”

Member

TheFutureMcBride (message) 4,479 posts, Honey bee

Our recessional was one of the best parts of our ceremony. We walked to The Proclaimers “500 Miles” and told our party to have fun with it. Now that song is like our song.

6/9/11 @ 10:20 am (reply)

Member

FutureMrsBondo (message) 445 posts, Helper bee

We’re using “All I want is You” for our recessional too! Great song choice!

6/9/11 @ 10:25 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Bunting (message) 458 posts, Helper bee

@TheFutureMcBride: Oh, that would be a fun one to walk to!
@FutureMrsBondo: Yay! I just love how chipper it is.

6/9/11 @ 10:34 am (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Elephant (message) 6,182 posts, Bee Keeper

Love the Mr. Burns picture! We did traditional songs but with a little twist since they were played live by a steel drummer.

6/9/11 @ 10:52 am (reply)

Member

hana.schmitt (message) 248 posts, Helper bee

What a sweet playlist! I think I’ll have to nab your recessional song for my reception playlist in general! So cute!

I’m with you on snubbing the bridal march! Somewhere deep down I’ve always known that too! What helped me decide was going back over songs that meant something to us (we have a whole playlist of them!) and figuring out which ones were the most special AND fit the best!

So…here’s the bridesmaid/groomsmen and bridal procession…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PnDcjtYGzI&feature=related
I’m excited about the fab 80’s bell chiming sounds, haha! And I’ll be coming down a flight of stairs before I get to walk down the aisle! We’re definitely big on hair metal. So it’s really perfect for us.

And right after “you may now kiss the bride…”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YNUu7w-WpU
Very special song for us and seems perfectly epic and cheesy for the first kiss and walk back down!

And our first dance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqZmJ7RGAP4

The reception list is wild and wacky trying to represent all my bazillion American backgrounds and his Irish one. I think my favorites are Gogol Bordello’s “American Wedding” (for the “filthy gypsy” part of my heritage!) and Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass”.

I don’t know if any of these will work for ya, as they’re pretty out there!

6/9/11 @ 11:14 am (reply)

Member

Gemstone (message) 5,656 posts, Bee Keeper

Amazing post, and so true about the music. I think back to the weddings I’ve been to, and I do usually remember pieces of the music that was played, good or bad!

6/9/11 @ 11:29 am (reply)

Member

stephbonthego (message) 687 posts, Busy bee

“…I almost want to save up just so I can go into the city with my guitarist stalker and see how people react. It would be a neat experiment…” (I actually belly-laughed reading that)!!! Classic!

I feel somewhat out of the loop as far as current music goes and really appreciate the posts I find regarding music selections…I am SO bookmarking all of these for us!

6/9/11 @ 12:03 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Tartlet (message) 3,207 posts, Sugar bee

Totally true about music affecting mood/emotions! We were fairly non-traditional with our ceremony music, using plenty of instrumental soundtrack selections. LOVE that Iron and Wine song!

6/9/11 @ 12:18 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Marmalade (message) 191 posts, Blushing bee

I don’t play the guitar, but I can play a mean recorder if you need a stalker. Just let me know…Those songs are awesome! It was tough picking ours, but I *think* we’ve finally narrowed it down!

6/9/11 @ 12:39 pm (reply)

10.

Bee

Miss Bunting (message) 458 posts, Helper bee

@Miss Marmalade: I’d be happy to have a recorder stalker!

6/9/11 @ 12:46 pm (reply)

11.

Bee

Miss Seal (message) 1,179 posts, Bumble bee

I love your choices! I’m still currently listening to “All I Want Is You” and as creepy as this may sound…I am totally able to envision you and Mr. Bunting happily dancing back down the aisle (oh and I can see Lady M hiding behind a tree with a recorder too..I think that needs to happen). Anyhow, fantastic songs, Bunting!

6/9/11 @ 1:14 pm (reply)

12.

Member

tocarat (message) 324 posts, Helper bee

Loving Kiss the Girl by Colbie Caillat!! I had never heard the remake of it, and it totally brings back Little Mermaid visions. Great songs!

6/9/11 @ 5:37 pm (reply)

13.

Member

Shea_Butter (message) 75 posts, Worker bee

I’m an Ariel girl too!!! She made me wish I was a redhead!
And Jasmine’s my second fave too! That was such a great era for Disney movies. I LOVE that version of Kiss The Girl =)

6/9/11 @ 7:19 pm (reply)

14.

Member

mariewest (message) 271 posts, Helper bee

I saw Landon Pigg perform at a conference and he is weird.

6/9/11 @ 7:30 pm (reply)

15.

Bee

Miss Pony (message) 4,175 posts, Honey bee

My friends recessed to a My Littler Mermaid song too! I thought it was so cute!

6/9/11 @ 8:42 pm (reply)

16.

Bee

Miss Pony (message) 4,175 posts, Honey bee

*Little, ugh, I need to proofread

6/9/11 @ 8:46 pm (reply)

17.

Member

toshella (message) 642 posts, Busy bee

Ha! I LOVE that scene from Scrubs! (And Colin Hay in general…)
I’d never heard that Colbie Callait cover before - so great! We will HAVE to have some Disney playing at our wedding, we’re too childish-at-heart not too.