Irish fiddler, violinist and singer Sarah May Rogers is an active member of the Irish Folk Scene. A professional musician, manager and music teacher, Sarah has been providing entertainment for weddings and events for 25 years. She has been teaching classical violin for 15 years and is the principal violinist with the Island of Ireland Peace Choir and is the lead front woman in The Sarah May Rogers Band. Since performing at her first wedding in 1999, Sarah has had the pleasure of visiting many beautiful venues across Ireland and abroad.
When planning a wedding, the music you choose plays such an important role in creating an atmosphere and setting the mood, whether you are planning a traditional or contemporary ceremony, or even a destination wedding.
Sarah is always asked how many songs a couple should pick for their ceremony, and what type of songs are most suitable, and she says this depends on the type of ceremony and how personal you want it to be. Maybe you like the sound of a string quartet, or prefer the idea of an Irish duet. Maybe you love acoustic covers of popular songs played on piano or violin. In recent years, Sarah hasn’t seen much of the traditional “Here Comes The Bride” or “The Bridal March”. More and more couples are choosing songs that are special and personal to them.
When it comes to choosing the music for each part of the ceremony, Sarah says “It’s your day, so you should do what you want (within reason!) Some ceremonies only require a few songs. As the guests arrive you could set the stage with a soft and soothing instrumental piece. During the ceremony i.e. lighting the unity candle, the handfasting ceremony etc, Sarah suggests soft and romantic music or traditional Irish airs. As you make your exit as newlyweds, the recessional music should create feelings of joy and happiness. For a church ceremony, there could be up to ten pieces of music, and depending on the priest, these can be a mix of hymns, classical, traditional or popular music.
Overall, the music chosen should reflect you as a couple, your personalities and style. By choosing the right music for each part of your ceremony, you can create a memorable experience that you and your guests will remember forever.
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