7/13/13 (Friday the 13th) Beach Wedding in Ocean City, NJ

I know, I know. I need to keep up more with this blog. I'll write another post coming today, with a short video and a bunch of Pinterest links. 

Sometimes a wedding is so precious to me that I don't even know what to say. This is one of them.

First of all, Donna and Ryan wanted 80s music for their ceremony. So right there, we've already got a party going on. Secondly, it was on Friday the 13th, and they really played up the theme (I saw some custom-made Jason hockey mask wooden jewelry). Thirdly, Donna really did something very special for me, which I'll mention again at the end.

Here's the song list:

Prelude music: 

Footloose

Bohemian Rhapsody

Vogue

Arrival of officiant: Keep Your Hands to Yourself by the Georgia Satellites 

Groom's Processional: Somewhere in Time

Bridal Processional: Jersey Girl

Medley during readings: 

True Colors/Islands in the Stream

Recessional, cue intro guitar riff at actual kiss: Prince's "Kiss"

Post-ceremony dance on the beach: You're My Best Friend by Queen

Killer, right? Here are a couple of photos of the wedding:

The officiant dances during prelude.

Congratulations, Donna and Ryan!

I told Donna about my own wedding in May 2009, how I ordered a bunch of antique handkerchiefs. One of them had blue embroidery on it, so I carried it during the ceremony and reception and was very sentimentally attached to it. I must have put it down and the catering staff must have thrown it away, because it was missing at the end of the night. When Donna met me, she gave me another antique handkerchief with embroidered raised blue flowers. Even as I type this, I'm in tears. Donna, I carry this handkerchief with me everywhere I go (it's a little wrinkled because it lives in my handbag); I feel that it's even better than the one I lost, and that it carries good luck and the joy of everything that's good in my life. Because it's from you.

Love,

Catherine

Love, in the form of a well-worn handkerchief.

(P.S. - From Donna, here's Bohemian Rhapsody on the beach:

6/12/10 Wedding in Atlantic City

UPDATE (2/4/11): There are two youtube videos of Bollywood music with solo violin:
1) Ek Ladki: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkySIyxEMjY
2) Tujhe Dekha: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7-xNqakX08
     I was thrilled when Rachael from Events by Firelight called me to play for an 400 person wedding at One Atlantic. Then she asked if i could play an hour of Bollywood music and wear traditional Indian clothing. Now THAT'S my kind of party!
      Full disclosure: I'm an avid student of South Indian (Carnatic) violin, taking lessons since 1998. Before I found a teacher, I always felt that Indian music expressed my soul's music perfectly and looked for any type of Indian music I could find. This included film music, traditional music (both North and South), Bhangara (the BEST workout music), devotional music, you name it!
      A request for an hour of Bollywood, though, brought me back to 1997, so I had to do about 20 hours of research to put a list together. I tried to make a mix of older and newer songs out of respect to different age groups. Wading through CDs and youtube was a joyous way to spend a week.           
    The wedding was a candlelit dream high above water in Atlantic City, NJ. It was beautiful, like a fairy tale. I was so happy to be a part of it. Everyone tolerated my cheat sheet and loved my Salwar Kameez! Really lovely crowd.                         
     So here's the list. A client recently asked if I could bring a string quartet to do some of these, which is fine if my time arranging the music is considered. Also, if you have a favorite (or two or three) which is not on the list, I am happy to learn them for you:
1) Hum Kisise Kum Naheen
2) Chaiyya Chaiyya (Dil Se)
3) Tujhe Dekha To Yeh Jaana
4) Ye Dil Na Hota (Jewel Thief)
5) Dil to Pagal Hai
6) Dholna (Dil to Pagal Hai)
7) Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain (Pardes)
8) Kabhi Yun Bhi (sung by Jagjit Singh)
9) Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (plus 9a, Albela Sajan)
10) Chand Chupa (Hum Dil De...)
11) Jhoka Hawa Ka Aaj Bhi (Hum Dil De...)
12) Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To (1942)
13) Pyar Hua Chupke Se (1942)
14) Do Lafzon Ki (The Great Gambler)
15) Vada Karle Sajna (Haath Ki Satai)
16) Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Top requests for the evening were numbers 2, 5, and 15. I hope to do an event of this nature again soon!