I’m not too long home from a wonderful week away at Salamander Bay, 2 hours north of Sydney; a real ‘break’—a world away from technological check-ins— where I became immersed, sharing space & time with extended family and more specifically my beautiful niece, Karina, as she prepared for one of the biggest days of her life—her wedding.
She was a stunning bride and beamed from dawn until well after dusk, when she took her new husband’s hand and negotiated the human tunnel that would lead them away from their wedding reception to begin the next chapter of their life together.
The meticulous care put into every facet of planning the day was perfectly apparent; even the rain clouds cleared as their ceremony took place within the grounds of Little Beach Lighthouse, overlooking the Pacific Ocean coastline…
From a songwriter’s point of view, I found myself in awe of the brilliant selection of songs that had been chosen to underscore this extraordinary event—perfectly poignant songs which evoked smiles and tears (even from strangers) throughout the entire day.
Initially, her trio of bridesmaids walked down the aisle to Andy Grammer’s ‘Crazy Beautiful’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqNaGicLmcg with each girl delivering a high-five to the bride’s waiting groom (a spontaneous decision made, so I'm told, while travelling in the wedding cars to the lighthouse).
Arm in arm with both mum and dad my niece followed, walking through a mixed, colourful carpet of rose petals towards the man of her dreams, taking each self-assured step to Doc Walker’s song ‘If I Fall’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXVi9nrssLA —a beautiful song of significance to both the bride and groom.
At the reception, once guests were seated, each couple in the wedding party danced their way into the room to a song of ‘their’ choice; a beautiful expression of how they felt, being an integral part of such a special event. Their songs of choice were—
Pair #1: ‘I Gotta Feeling’ performed by The Black Eyed Peas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSD4vsh1zDA
Pair #2: Flo Rida’s ‘Good Feeling’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OnnDqH6Wj8
Pair #3: ‘Can’t Hold Us’ sung by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zNSgSzhBfM
followed by the Bride and Groom walking in to ‘I’m Yours’ by Jason Mraz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHTsc9PU2A
One of the highlights of the night was a flashmob organised by the bridesmaids. An extraordinary feat, this flashmob was successfully kept secret for several months with guests practicing via a private YouTube link; at a guess I’d say close to 75% of the wedding guests joined in on the night. Karina was absolutely gob smacked and laughed and cried (at times simultaneously), releasing a flood of joyously, good tears throughout the entire ‘mob’. Later she said, that moment for her was “a dream come true” and she felt overwhelmed (and overjoyed) that so many people had put in such an effort to surprise her.
The flashmob was a medley of songs that the bride loves which were apt for the occasion—starting with the 1974 smash hit by Blue Swede ‘I Can’t Stop This Feeling’ to Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’, Ylvis’ incredibly quirky ‘The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)’ and Keith Urban’s, ‘Somebody Like You’ chosen especially for the country music lovin’ groom. This dedication created a swell of emotion from everyone—even the bar staff and event organisers who had only learnt of our secret on the night were in tears! (Stay tuned for the full flash mob link soon!)
The father daughter dance was underscored by one of the greatest singer/songwriters of modern times—Eric Clapton singing ‘Wonderful Tonight’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQlgcjosN9w
I found this song choice and dance extremely moving while watching my brother dance with his daughter, seeing so much of my own (late) father in the scene before me. The words to this exceptionally crafted song added a charge to the swell of emotion, already in the room. To me, Eric Clapton’s words are an expression of true grace; recognising mutual love and respect between two souls, gloriously captured in a moment of time—
*
“And then she asks me, "Do I look all right?
And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight…"
“…We go to a party and everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady that's walking around with me.
And then she asks me, "Do you feel all right?"
And I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight." (Eric Clapton)
*
I felt as though his words were talking to me… yes, we were there at the party; yes, she was certainly the most beautiful lady of the night; and we could all see before us, their mutual respect and adoration of each other in that moment of time. Could there be a better song for such an occasion?
Finally, we watched as yet another perfectly poignant song played for the bridal waltz—a song sung by Alan Jackson (while also being intimately sung to one another by the ‘bride and groom’ on the night). Check out some more beautiful words from his song ‘Look At Me’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27lFndB2c6I
I have no doubt that this event will be long remembered. With the magic of song, for all of my days, I will be taken back time and time again, to precious moments throughout ‘their’ day as they publicly committed their lives to one another. Like perfect invisible threads, each song will be tied permanently to a memory—along with the beaming smiles of two people very much in love. And for so many who witnessed this awesome ceremony there’ll remain a quiet, unspoken satisfaction that will continue to stay within them too; being recognition of so many beautiful songs that were carefully chosen then woven by a bride (and her groom) into a lifetime of memories that we will all share.
I'd love to know what songs and music are linked to your memories?
[The writers to all songs listed above are as follows]
‘Crazy Beautiful’ (Andy Grammer)
‘If I Fall’ (Murray Pulver, Dave Wasyliw, Chris Thorsteinson)
‘I Gotta Feeling’ (Stacy Ferguson, Will Adams, Frederic Riesterer, David Guetta, Jaime Gomez, Allan Pineda)
‘Good Feeling’ (Etta James, Leroy Kirkland, Tim Bergling, Ash Pournouri, Breyan Stanley Isaac, Lukasz Gottwald, Pearl Woods, Henry Walter, Tramar Dillard)
‘Can’t Hold Us’ (Ben Haggerty, Ryan S. Lewis)
‘I’m Yours’ (Lamilla Soraya)
‘I Can’t Stop This Feeling’ (Mark James)
‘Love Story’ (Taylor Swift)
‘The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)’ (Nicholas Boundy, Bård Ylvisåker, Tor Erik Hermansen, Vegard Ylvisåker, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Christian Løchstøer)
‘Somebody Like You’ (Keith Urban, John Shanks)
‘Wonderful Tonight’ (Eric Patrick Clapton)
‘Look At Me’ (Jim Collins)