Vermont
Bride Magazine Spring 2011 issue
Download the complete issue PDF (19 MB)
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LOVE STORIES:
CONTENTS FROM THE SPRING 2011 ISSUE
Cover photo by Around the Bend Photography www.aroundthebendphotography.com
The cover bride for Spring 2011 issue is Jeanna (Bowen) Brochu
The SPRING 2011 ISSUE - - OUR LARGEST ISSUE YET! Weighing in with 116 pages of information, resources, beautiful photography and extensive vendor lists, Vermont Bride Magazine is the guide to bridal events for this 2011 Wedding Season. Look for a copy available throughout the state of Vermont.
Whether you’re the tradition lover who must have the Mendelssohn Wedding March for your recessional, or whether you feel that you absolutely must make completely unique choices, your repertoire choices will color the mood of your day as much as your choice of gown, flowers, and location.
First, I’d like to state that the traditional pieces always feel fresh to me because they’re reflecting the new life that each couple brings to them. If you know and love these pieces, you might know right off that they will bring the ambiance you most want. But even some traditionalists may wish to include an especially personal musical choice somewhere in the day, and some couples may want to steer clear of traditional choices completely, and make only choices that truly reflect their preferences in a personal way. Here are thoughts and examples of some choices couples have made that have colored their wedding day in a unique and memorable way.
There’s normally no need to worry about prelude repertoire unless you wish. However, sometimes couples or families will choose one or more special pieces, particularly for the end of the prelude. Here are some choices made by couples with whom I’ve worked in the past:
• “On Eagle’s Wings,” a hymn by Michael Joncas, played while the bride rode up the hill to the ceremony site in a horse-drawn carriage
• “How Great Thou Art” during the seating of the parents, in honor of the bride’s grandmother, who had a special love of the hymn during her life
• Allegro from Vivaldi’s “Spring” during the seating of the mothers and grandmother, and in honor of the bride’s grandmother, a violinist, who had passed away during the bride’s childhood
• The Beatles’ “Imagine” shortly before the ceremony
Typically, there tend to be two processionals following the prelude. The first is normally for the wedding party, most commonly bridesmaids, flower girls and/or ring bearer. The advantage to just one piece for the entire party is that you’ll hear more of the piece, rather than just a brief snippet. On the other hand, a special piece for a special member of the bridal party can have a significant meaning, and this might be a worthwhile choice, particularly if you have a long walk. Here are a few unique choices:
• “Castle on a Cloud” from “Les Miserables” for the “junior bridesmaid” – the daughter of the bride. This had been a special song they had shared together through difficult times in the past, and served as a special song to represent their future as a new family.
• “You Are My Sunshine” specifically for a very special two-year-old ring bearer
• “If We Hold On Together” for a special Maid of Honor
• Largo from Vivaldi’s “Winter” played on solo flute for a February wedding; this, the wedding party’s processional, was played solo, with the violin half of the duo re-entering for the bride’s processional, marking the distinction more clearly
• Adagio from Bach’s “Triosonata in G” (originally for two flutes and harpsichord)• Handel’s “Rejouissance” from the
“Water Music Suite”; I normally recommend this as a recessional option, but we concluded that if played a little on the slow side it worked beautifully as a processional.
• “Flower of Edinburgh,” a traditional Scottish tune
• For a very small wedding with no wedding party, “Sheep May Safely Graze” was played specifically for the groom and
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” for the bride.
• For a wedding with two brides, both entered together to “Sheep May Safely Graze”
• For a wedding with two grooms, both entered at the same time from opposite directions, to “I Dreamed a Dream” from
“Les Miserables”
• “Carol of the Bells” for a December wedding
• “Leezie Lindsay,” a traditional Scottish tune
• “Lover’s Waltz,” a fiddle tune by Jay Unger
• “Meditation” from the opera “Thais” by Massenet
• “The Rose” by Amanda McBroom (popularized as sung by Bette Middler)
• “St. Anthony Chorale” by Brahms
The middle of the ceremony is the most likely place you may enjoy putting a personal touch on your wedding music. Music may accompany communion, candle lighting or other ritual, or a meditative moment. Here are a few choices I’ve experienced:
• “Simple Gifts,” “Amazing Grace,” “On Eagles’ Wings,” “The Rose,” or other folk tunes and hymns are all very popular, without feeling common
• “One Bread, One Body” for communion
• “The Prayer” by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli immediately following the opening prayer
• Adagio from Loeillet’s “Flute Sonata No. 1” for a special ritual in which the bride and groom each watered a potted tree from separate watering cans representing the two families
• “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
• “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from “Les Miserables”
• “Get Happy” by Judy Garland
• A medley of show tunes
• Allegro from Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto in F”
• The Beatles: “All You Need is Love”
• Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”
And finally, there are many possibilities for special music during your reception. Probably the most unusual and memorable for me were the combination of “Jockey to the Fair” to honor British neighbors who had shared their land and barn for the occasion, and “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair” and “My Way” for a lesbian couple. The possibilities here are endless!
I hope the above allows your imagination to find the breadth of options for making your day unique. These are not intended so much as lists to choose from, but as examples of couples who chose to put a personal musical stamp on their most special day.
And please note that some instrument combinations work better than others for some of the selections – so please consult with your musicians in exploring your options!
I wish you laughter and tears of joy and sentiment as you explore, together with your partner and perhaps your family, the music that marks a special place in your heart, brings to mind a special person, or helps you and your guests to feel the range of moods you would most like for your wedding day.
For topnotch classical music, consider: Vermont Symphony Orchestra for ensembles with strings, brass, woodwinds or harp in a wide variety of solo, duo, or ensemble options. (www.vso.org)
For folk, jazz, and/or blues combined with classical options, consider:
For a polished and purist Celtic approach, including professional storytelling, consider:
If you’d like a full band, consider:
Lisa CarlsonLisa Carlson freelances throughout Vermont in collaboration with numerous instrumentalists, offering a trio of flute with violin and cello, duos of flute with harp, violin, piano, oboe, or cello, as well as solo flute and other combinations. She also teaches private flute lessons in Central Vermont. She maintains a web site at www.lisaflute.com and a wedding music blog at www.lisaflute.com/weddingblog.
Lisa can be reached at 802-229-9901 or lisa [at] lisaflute.com.
