"Here Comes The Bride", aka "The Bridal Chorus", aka "The Bridal March".
I have often had mixed feelings about this choice for the Bride's walk down the aisle. It comes from having to play the pompous, grandiose, stuffy versions that were available in years past. They sound ancient and decrepit and many of them are! I used to say that in all my years of searching, I'd yet to hear a "good" version of it!
Another problem is the cadence of The Bridal Chorus. It is NOT conducive to a slow, measured walk. It was, after all, written for a play in which a wedding takes place- not for an actual wedding!
It may be "traditional" but so what? There are so many other songs that can be played that not only allow you to put your personal touch on the ceremony but also give your guests a unique experience as well.
Perspective Change
I was swayed recently when a client brought something to my attention. Jonathan Cain, the keyboardist from Journey, released a solo album that actually includes a really good version of "The Bridal March"! Cain embellishes and adds to the original, slowing the tempo and using ethereal keyboards to update the song. The drawback is that the album was released a few years ago and is currently out of print.
You can get a preowned copy from Amazon.com but it is a bit pricey. Apparently, these are somewhat of a collector's item.
Check it out here:
Another version that I like, although not quite as much, is The O'Neill Brothers "Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride)".
Sample it here: O'Neill Brothers "Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride)"
This one is available as a download for only 99 cents!
Speaking of The O'Neill Bros., Amazon.com is offering this entire album of their wedding music as a FREE promotional download!
The O'Neill Brothers Wedding Music Sampler
Click here: O'Neill Brothers Wedding Music Sampler
Features popular ceremony songs like "Canon in D", "Ave Maria", "Ode To Joy" and more.
May be available for a limited time.
And remember if you decide to use a more progressive choice of music, as many current Brides do, there are tons of options available! Here are a few musical ideas to get you started (click here): Wedding Ceremony Music
Happy Hunting!
