I have a long history--over 20 years--of singing at dedications, bar mitzvahs, weddings, Holy Unions, handfastings, anniversaries, funerals, and memorial services, and I have developed a remarkable repertoire of songs that, a capella or accompanied by my 12-string guitar, have enhanced many a ceremony, indoors and out.
A BROAD SPIRITUAL CONTEXT REGARDING CEREMONIES OF UNION AND COMMITMENT
Because of my broad and varied religious background and my commitment to religious pluralism, I have a profound appreciation for the spiritual significance of wedding music. As a theological-school (near-)graduate with experience in interfaith chaplaincy, I am acutely sensitive to the theo/alogical implications of musical selections for this most important covenantal rite no matter what religious or non-religous tradition(s) may be involved. I know deeply reverent “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” from many religious traditions, and I am also particularly attuned to non-religious music that is nonetheless deeply spiritual in flavor.
Whether the service is called a wedding, a Holy Union, a handfasting, a ceremony of commitment, or something else; whether the couple has been chaste unto the wedding night or living together for years; whether it is a first marriage or a fourth; whether or not there are children involved; there is music that can reflect subtle facets of the spiritual issues involved, and I am always eager to unearth such music and add it to my repertoire.
MUSIC BY WHICH TO CELEBRATE, GRIEVE, AND REFLECT
The rites of “hatching, matching, and dispatching” are never associated with only one emotion: dedications, ceremonies of commitment and union, and memorials often mix complex and not always comfortable feelings that are all appropriate to honor. I have spent years finding music to affirm these complexes of feelings. At the same time, I work to affirm both "horizontal" (among partners, family, and community) and "vertical" (between and among mortals and The Holy) relationships in the music I choose.
WEDDING MUSIC/SONGS APPROPRIATE FOR CEREMONIES OF UNION, COMMITMENT, AND LOVE IN COMMUNITY
Because I am most often asked about folk and acoustic music appropriate for weddings and other ceremonies of union and commitment, I will share here a representative list of songs that I like to suggest for such occasions. Many are among my favorites to perform. (Songs marked with *s are originals of mine.)
All Good Gifts
All I Ask of You (Norbert)
And I Love You So
Annie’s Song
Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms
Butterflies
By My Side
Candle on the Water
Charity (I Corinthians 13)
Come Now, My Love (from the Song of Solomon)
Coming Home
Create a Vision
Danny’s Song
Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes
Evergreen
Every Long Journey
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Follow Me
For Baby (For Bobby)
For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her
For Me and My Gal
Forevermore (Ruth 1)
Gather the Spirit
The Gift of Love (I Corinthians 13)
Give Me the Roses While I Live
Give Yourself to Love
The Glory of Love
Groovy Kind of Love
Happy Together
Hava Nagila
Hey, Good-Lookin'!
(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
How Can I Tell You
How Could Anyone Ever Tell You
Hymn to Gaia
I Call Her Woman* (Genesis 1 and Song of Solomon)
I Could Never Promise You
I Love You All the Time*
I Only Have Eyes for You
If Ever I Would Leave You
If We Only Have Love
In My Life
It's a Long Road to Freedom
Just Like Me
Just The Way You Are
Kum Ba Yah
Lady of the Seasons' Laughter
Let It Be a Dance
Let Me Be There
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
(Set Me) Like a Seal on Your Heart (from the Song of Solomon)
Longer
Love Can Build a Bridge
Love Is a Rose
Love Is Everywhere
Love O Love
Love Will Come Your Way
Love Will Guide Us
(I Dreamt I Dwelt in) Marble Halls
May the Light
Messages
More
Morning Has Broken
My Sweet Lady
My Treasure
Never My Love
Never Turning Back
Oh You Beautiful Doll
Our House
Peace Prayer (Prayer of St. Francis)
Perhaps Love
Polka Dots and Moonbeams
The Rose
Simple Gifts
Song of the Soul
Strong Is What We Make Each Other
Summer Me, Winter Me
Sunrise, Sunset
Sunshine on My Shoulders
Surely the Presence of the Lord Is in this Place
That’s What Friends are For
Theme from Four Weddings & a Funeral
This Guy's in Love with You
Through the Eyes of Love (Theme from Ice Castles)
Till There Was You
Today
Try to Remember
Turn Around
Turn, Turn, Turn
Up Where We Belong
We Are
Weave me the Sunshine
The Wedding Song (There is Love)
What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life
When I'm Gone
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Wherever You Go (Ruth 1)
The Wind Beneath My Wings
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
You Can Close Your Eyes
You Light Up My Life
You'll Never Walk Alone
You’ve Got a Friend
Your Song
There are other modern wedding classics that I cannot do justice to on my guitar that I gladly sing with keyboard accompanists.
