Your help! I need it!
There are certain things that a person cannot say “no” to. You cannot say “no” to someone asking you if you want to hold their baby. You can’t say “no” to a dinner date with your grandfather. And you can’t say “no” when a good friend says she desperately needs your help with her wedding.
One of my very best friends in the entire galaxy is getting married next year. I was always curious how my friend D would handle weddings- she’s one of the least ‘girly’ girls I know. She doesn’t wear make-up (None. NOT EVEN LIP GLOSS. I KNOW- insane), she doesn’t own an article of pink clothing and she’d rather watch “The Bone Collector” than “The Wedding Planner” any night of the week that’s she’s not busy with hockey or work or being an amazing Big Sister volunteer.
So you see, she’s clearly awesome.
The one thing that she really does LOVE? Music. She’s all over the map with it, loving all the cheesy music that we sing a long to (Hello Soul Decision? I love you), to a lot more hard rock/alternative stuff that always sounds really angry to me, like everyone in the band needs a nap. She’s been struggling with the music with her wedding, but finally found the song she wants to be played when she leaves the Church with her man. She picked “Calling You” by Blue October- and honestly? It’s going to be perfect for her and the groom.
Which has left her still struggling- what should her first dance be? As a 20something girl, she wants something contemporary (no Frank Sinatra for her), something slow (she has to dance to it after all), but she does NOT want something, over-the-top with love. No “Amazed” by Lonestar. The groom and herself do not have a special song that they want to dance to, so she’s open to anything. But as a music lover, she’s become really overwhelmed with this task and has asked me to help. ( I relate to this, it would be like setting me free in skyscraper filled with shoes and asking me to pick just one favorite pair). And of course, because I know how smart you all are, I’m asking YOU for help. So any suggestions of great songs for the first dance? PLEASE share them with me!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:52 am
“Nightengale” - Saves The Day
“The Luckiest” - Ben Folds (my personal first dance choice)
October 9th, 2008 at 12:54 am
I was going to say “Do you realize?” by the Flaming Lips, but it’s probably just a bit too fast. “Such Great Heights” by Iron & Wine, however, would be just lovely.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Maybe “Better Together” by Jack Johnson. It’s cute, but not sappy.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:39 am
“I’ll Take Care of You” by Steven Curtis Chapman.
It’s not a Christian song. It’s just a really slow, sweet song of a man telling a woman that he is going to take care of her forever. I think it’s the perfect song to dance to at a wedding.
October 9th, 2008 at 3:35 am
Songbird by Eva Cassidy
October 9th, 2008 at 6:32 am
[...] Your help! I need it! [...]
October 9th, 2008 at 7:03 am
“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol. A Scottish band if you havent heard of them over there. My sis had it as their first dance at their wedding and it was beautiful. Look up the lyrics, id write them out…
For interest have they decided on a last song? - just as important. Id suggest ‘Happy Ending’ by Mika.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Actually scrap the Mika suggestion, while the song works, the lyrics are all about not being together forever. gulp. i think my sis got it worng there!!
October 9th, 2008 at 7:25 am
I love love “Gotta Have You” by The Weepies, the aforementioned “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds, and, this probably won’t work for her but I’m a southern girl so I’ve got to throw it out, “With This Ring” by The Platters.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Ben Harper has a few songs that might work: “Beloved One”, “Forever”, “Not Fire Not Ice”, .
I love this David Gray song: This Years Love. Not sure if it exactly fits for a wedding, but it’s beautiful.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:00 am
I love “Steady as We Go” by Dave Matthews.
http://www.last.fm/music/Dave+Matthews+Band/_/Steady+as+We+Go
Lyrics:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/davematthewsband/steadyaswego.html
October 9th, 2008 at 9:19 am
“aim, snap, fall” - the spill canvas and I second Ben Folds - “The Luckiest”
October 9th, 2008 at 9:23 am
i love landon pigg’s falling in love at a coffee shop–http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt01d5ZuyjY (sorry, i dont know how to do the linky thing in a comment.)…. ive been listening to that one a lot lately and was just thinking that would be a cute first dance or recessional one. ps- i added it in the cd i just sent you.
also, i second the vote for the weepies, gotta have you.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Even though I am single and even doubting if I’ll ever want a big wedding, if I do get married, that is the ONE thing I have figured out. I know that my first dance song will be I’ll Cover You (reprise) from Rent. It’s a slow song, and of course in context it sounds like a sad song (since it’s sung at a funeral scene) but if you listen to it closer, it’s a song about real love and being there for one another, always. CHEESY, I know, but I love that song.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I have to agree on Ben Folds “The Luckiest”. It’s so super sweet. But it’s also so long…4.5 minutes. That’s a long time to be the only ones on the dance floor.
I just had friends use “The Light” by Common.
I love “When the Starts go Blue”, but it may not be appropriate.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:50 am
The first song I thought of was “Maybe I’m Amazed” by JEM.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
my personal pick is Bob Dylan’s The Man in Me … might be good for an all over the map girl. I will also second Do You Realize…it’s not that fast. Oh, and Into the Mystic, the Van Morrison. Yes they did it in American Wedding but it’s a GREAT song and I might kick anyone who suggests otherwise!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
…should say “the Van Morrison VERSION.” as in, preferably over the Joe Cocker version.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I really, REALLY love “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison, and, more recently, “Nasim Joon” by O.A.R. To me, that one sounds like something you’d dance to with your honey on a patio as the sun is setting, with a lake or river in the background and mint juleps on the table beside you.
What? That song gives me mad visuals.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
marry me - martin sexton.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Great choices! My sister has had the same problem and is looking for the same requirements in a song so I’m making a CD with all your choices and mailing it to her– thanks everybody!
October 9th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I’m thinking about the same things right now! (EXCITED.) I’ll be suggesting “Lucky” by Jason Mraz, featuring Colbie Callait and “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson to the beau soon.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
How about some David Gray?
October 9th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Patty Griffin’s “Heavenly Day”
October 9th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I love First Day of my Life by Bright Eyes.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
How about “Brighter Than Sunshine” by Aqualung.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
i love the song “feels like home” by chantal kreviazuk … it’s a few years old, but i love the lyrics:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/chantalkreviazuk/feelslikehome.html
October 9th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I went to a wedding recently and they danced to “Green Eyes” by Coldplay and I really liked it. But I’ll definitely second “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds too.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
This is a suggestion and something I would like to know for when my big day happens one day - what do you think of Romeo and Juliet, Dire Straits?
October 9th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Bare Naked Ladies - Call and Answer
October 10th, 2008 at 12:59 am
“The Luckiest” by Ben Folds is indeed a wonderful song. It may be a little TOO perfect, but there’s a wonderful song by Michelle Featherstone called “We are Man and Wife”
October 10th, 2008 at 1:06 am
I’ve been pondering this all day long…thumbing through my iPod and listening to love music all day!
“The Way I Am”, Ingrid Michaelson
“Feels Like Home”, Sweet Home Alabama Soundtrack
“You Picked Me” A Fine Frenzy
October 10th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Oh!
Love and some verses - Iron and Wine
I’ll back you up - Dave Matthews Up
October 10th, 2008 at 10:43 am
“Lucky” by jason mraz and colbie calliat. “dancing in the moonlight” by toploader. “destiny” by jim brickman and lady antebellum (there are other versions out there with different singers, but i love this one.)
October 10th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Also, “Today” - Joshua Radin
Ellen & Portia used it in their wedding video and it was SO sweet and adorable.
October 17th, 2008 at 11:14 am
“Hold You in My Arms” by Ray LaMontagne…probably my favorite song ever and very appropriate