Sheet Music & Song Books

Making Your Wedding Ceremony Special

Weddings must be completed within the hours of 8am to 6pm. They are conducted by a registrar and must be of a strictly non-religious nature. Whilst there are certain words which must be said, we can tailor the ceremony to ensure it is personal to you. You can also choose readings and music which can really make your day special.

Without music a civil ceremony is very short, so music and poetry gives you the opportunity of enhancing your wedding vows, and giving a little more atmosphere, style and substance of your ceremony. It also enables you to ’settle’ into your ceremony before you actually make your marriage vows.

Although the law does not allow you to have any religious music or readings whilst the registrar is present, the scope for secular music, poetry and prose during a civil wedding ceremony is limited only by your own imagination!

Civil Ceremonies enable you to choose from a wide variety of musical styles amongst which are Operatic arias and Classical songs, possibly in different languages;

Jazz Standards by Gershwin, Porter Kern, Berlin, Sinatra, Nat King Cole and others…
Music Theatre from Rogers & Hammerstein, Lloyd Webber, Sondheim, Bernstein…
Romantic songs by Celine Dion, Barbara Striesand, Bryan Adams, Shania Twain…

Before the Ceremony & the Bride’s Entrance

Beautiful Music can be used to create the atmosphere you want for your own wedding. A soloist singing before or during your entrance gives a definite start to your ceremony and allows you a little more time to compose yourself before taking your marriage vows. You could choose a special song or songs to be sung prior to your entrance to ’set the scene’, or musicians can play as your guests are seated before the Bride makes a dramatic and moving entrance to a sung piece. Usually, the entrance walk is not a lengthy one! But there is no reason why you can’t have a complete piece or section of music for your entrance with or without bridesmaids. Listening to beautiful music or meaningfully words at the beginning of your ceremony gives you a few moments to settle yourself before the ceremony actually begins!

Before your Vows

Unlike a church wedding where several things happen before you make your vows (opening prayers, a hymn, readings, etc), there is nothing ’set’ in a civil ceremony before you take your vows. Many people choose one or two readings, possibly separated by a song before you formally make your vows. Or you could start the ceremony with a special song after the registrar’s introduction. Wedding Songs has a special civil ceremony pack which gives many different ideas and themes to consider.

Marriage Vows & Exchange of Rings

This is the perfect place to have a beautiful song sung to reiterate the vows and commitment you are making. You could possibly have a song sung in between taking your vows and the exchange of rings. Or make your vows and exchange rings, and follow this with a song (and possible another reading or poem) to complete your wedding vows, before moving to sign the register.

The Signing of the Register

During the signing of the register, music helps to keep your guests (and you!) focused on the wedding, and should prevent you losing the ‘mood’ of your wedding, even whilst having photographs taken. Rather than ‘filling time’, use this part of your wedding ceremony as an opportunity to enhance the mood you have created in your ceremony.

Religious Songs & Readings after the Signing of the Register

Many couples who choose a Civil Ceremony do so because they have no wish for a religious ceremony, but some couples are simply unable to have a Church Ceremony but would love to have a Spiritual Dimension to their Wedding Ceremony. Whether you are unable to have a church ceremony, or whether you wish to commemorate a loved relative or friend, it is very important to understand the legal requirement that there can be no religious readings or music whilst the Registrar is present during the legal proceedings.

However, once the Registrar has left, you are free to do whatever you would like! If you choose this option it is best to arrange for someone else to take over from the Registrar after the Signing of the Register, and to continue the ceremony as you wish, enabling songs such as ‘Ave Maria’, ‘Pie Jesu’ and other religious music to be sung if wanted. It may also be possible to incorporate a Candle-Lighting Ceremony as part of this, but again it is important to check this with your Registrar as a few Registrars, and indeed even some Venues have restrictions on Candle lighting. However, many are happy to allow this as part of a Civil Wedding Ceremony.

Candle-Lighting Ceremony

Whether you light one candle at the beginning, or two or three candles during the ceremony, there are several songs written specifically for candle lighting ceremonies, including songs of dedication for mothers.

The Couples Recessional

Provides a final opportunity for an uplifting or romantic song, or you may decide to simply have instrumental music played here.

Poetry and Prose

Two or three poetry or prose readings will add so much to your ceremony and can also give an opportunity to directly involve some of your family and friends in your wedding ceremony. Readings can be serious and meaningful or light and humorous, read by adults or even children and could include a specially written dedication unique to you. There is so much poetry and prose to choose from, whether classical Sonnets by Shakespeare or Elizabeth Barrett Browning, to modern poems including song lyrics. You could choose several short readings at different points in your ceremony to compliment your chosen songs, also involving several people.

Musicians and Accompaniment

Much depends on the facilities of the venue and whether accompaniment will be with piano, harp, strings, other instruments, or pre-recorded tracks.

Harpists & String Quartets

String Quartets, Harpists, or Pianists provide wonderful accompaniments for a soloist, and wonderful music in their own right. If your venue has a Piano you could book a pianist, or it may be possible to hire a piano. You could consider booking a Harpist, String Trio or Quartet, or Guitarist to accompany your soloist.

As for your choice of songs, that is really up to you. No two people have exactly the same taste in music. Some people love opera or Classical Music while others prefer a more contemporary style. The musical suggestions made here are only the tip of the iceberg but they may give you some other ideas, and we can consider any request for a particular piece you would like sung.

Drinks Reception & Wedding Breakfast

Musicians can also be booked for your drinks reception and/or your wedding meal. Other musicians can also be booked for your reception and evening entertainment including Dixie Bands, Jazz Ensembles, Brass Players and Ensembles, Bagpipes and fabulous Dance Bands.
Booking

To avoid disappointment it is important to book as early as possible, particularly if your wedding is during the busy spring and summer months.

Jennie Evans runs Hop Till You Drop, a company that provides music of all styles and types for weddings, birthday parties and corporate events in the UK. To find out more about all aspects of wedding music planning and to get up-to-date info on live music for weddings in the UK, why don’t you check out Wedding Music Services

Jennie also runs Wedding Music Secret. It’s the most comprehensive online resource for advice about wedding music and sourcing wedding bands in the UK.

About the Author

The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl, VERY RARE Videos !

The Cole Porter Song Collection $19.99 By Cole Porter. Arranged by Dan Coates. For Piano. This edition: Easy Piano. Artist/Personality; Book; Piano – Personality Book; Piano Supplemental. Broadway; Nostalgia; Standard. Easy Piano. 168 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing

Cole Porter $12.95 “(Piano/Vocal/Chords). By Cole Porter. For voice, piano and guitar (chords only). This edition: Piano/Vocal/Chords. Artist/Personality; Personality Book; Piano/Vocal/Chords. American Songwriters Series. Standards and Broadway. Difficulty: medium. Songbook. Vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and black & white photos. 96 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing”

The Cole Porter Song Collection, Vol 1 By Porter, Cole $28.24 Author: Porter, Cole Subtitle: 19121936 (Piano/vocal/chords) Publication Date: 2009/11/01 Number of Pages: 256 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 0.75 Width: 9.00 Height: 11.75

The Cole Porter Song Collection, Volume 1 $24.95 (1912-1936 (Piano/Vocal/Chords)). For Keyboard; Piano; Voice. This edition: Piano/Vocal/Chords. Artist/Personality; Personality Book; Piano/Vocal/Chords. Broadway. Book. 260 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing

The Cole Porter Song Collection, Volume 2 $24.95 (1937-1958 (Piano/Vocal/Chords)). For Keyboard; Piano; Voice. This edition: Piano/Vocal/Chords. Artist/Personality; Personality Book; Piano/Vocal/Chords. Broadway. Book. 268 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing

Best Of Cole Porter $20.25 (Piano/Vocal/Chords). By Cole Porter. By Cole Porter. For Keyboard; Piano; Voice. This edition: Piano/Vocal/Chords. Artist/Personality; Personality Book; Piano/Vocal/Chords. Broadway. Book. 160 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing

Alfred 0033310 The Cole Porter Song Collection Volume Two 19371958 Music Book $38.77 Alfred Music Publishing is the world s largest educational music publisher. Alfred produces educational’ reference’ pop’ and performance materials for teachers’ students’ professionals’ and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument’ style’ and difficulty level. This is the second of a twovolume series presenting highlights from the career of Cole Porter. Volume two documents 50 songs from the later years of his career’ from 1937 until 1958. The book Includes a songbysong analysis’ rare images of original sheet music’ informal shots from Porter’s scrapbooks’ and publicity stills from motion pictures and Broadway. Titles: All of You Be a Clown C’est Magnifique Don’t Fence Me In From This Moment On I Love Paris I Concentrate on You It’s All Right with Me In the Still of the Night My Heart Belongs to Daddy So In Love Too Darn Hot True Love You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To You’re Sensational and more.

Alfred 0033309 The Cole Porter Song Collection Volume One 19121936 Music Book $38.77 Alfred Music Publishing is the world s largest educational music publisher. Alfred produces educational’ reference’ pop’ and performance materials for teachers’ students’ professionals’ and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument’ style’ and difficulty level. This is the first of a twovolume series presenting highlights from the career of Cole Porter. Volume one documents 50 songs from his early career’ from 1912 until 1936. The book includes a songbysong analysis’ rare images of original sheet music’ informal shots from Porter’s scrapbooks’ and publicity stills from motion pictures and Broadway. Titles: Anything Goes Begin the Beguine Easy to Love I Get a Kick Out of You It’s DeLovely I’ve Got You Under My Skin Just One of Those Things Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love) Love for Sale Miss Otis Regrets Night and Day What Is This Thing Called Love You Do Something to Me and more.

The New Best of Cole Porter $12.95 (Piano/Vocal/Guitar). By Cole Porter. For Guitar; Keyboard; Piano; Voice. This edition: Piano/Vocal/Guitar. Artist/Personality; Personality Book; Piano/Vocal/Chords. The New Best of… series. Broadway. Book. 64 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing

Volume 117 – Cole Porter For Singers $19.95 “By Cole Porter. Edited by Jamey Aebersold. For singers, vocalists. Play-Along series with accompaniment CD. Jamey Aebersold Play-A-Long series. Book & 2 CDs. 58 pages. Published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz”

Alfred 00FOM05001 Cole Porter Classics Music Book $67.18 Alfred Music Publishing is the world s largest educational music publisher. Alfred produces educational’ reference’ pop’ and performance materials for teachers’ students’ professionals’ and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument’ style’ and difficulty level. Walk down amp;quot;Music History Laneamp;quot; with these Cole Porter Classics. Scored for full orchestra or strings alone’ the medley includes amp;quot;Begin the Beguine’amp;quot; amp;quot;Love for Sale’amp;quot; and amp;quot;Anything Goes.amp;quot; This is a delightful tribute to the timehonored tunes of the immortal Cole Porter. (2:54)

Music & Lyrics by Cole Porter – Volume Two $18.95 “(The Sassy, Sophisticated, Sentimental Porter in Song). By Cole Porter. For voice, piano and guitar chords. P/V/G Composer Collection. Standards and Broadway. Difficulty: medium to medium-difficult. Songbook. Vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names, introductory text and black & white photos. 320 pages. Published by Hal Leonard”

Alfred 0026679 Cole Porter Salute Music Book $85.51 Alfred Music Publishing is the world s largest educational music publisher. Alfred produces educational’ reference’ pop’ and performance materials for teachers’ students’ professionals’ and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument’ style’ and difficulty level. A fabulous tribute to the great Porter in a captivating medley Even young players will recognize the timeless melodies of these Cole Porter classics. Features amp;quot;Another Op nin ‘ Another Show’amp;quot; amp;quot;In the Still of the Night’amp;quot; amp;quot;Anything Goes’amp;quot; and amp;quot;Night and Day.amp;quot; Perfect for your spring concert

Simply Porter $12.95 (The Music of Cole Porter — 18 of His TImeless Songs). By Cole Porter. Arranged by Dan Coates. For Piano. Artist/Personality; Piano – Personality Book; Piano Supplemental. Simply Series. Jazz; Standard. Easy Piano. Book. 80 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing

Seven by Porter $24.95 (Contemporary Settings of Seven Classic Songs by Cole Porter (Medium Low Voice)). By Cole Porter. Arranged by Mark Hayes. For Voice (Low voice (Medium-Low)). Vocal Collection. Standard. Book & CD. 52 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing

Alfred 120571525938 Make It Easy Cole Porter Music Book $32.11 Alfred Music Publishing is the world’s largest educational music publisher. Alfred produces educational reference pop and performance materials for teachers students professionals and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument style and difficulty level. Cole Porter was one of the greatest songwriters of the twentieth century. This book includes twenty of his classic songs in easytoplay piano arrangements. These are complete with songs eith lyrics chord symbols and suggested piano fingering. Composer: Porter Cole. Format: Sheet Music. Category: Piano. Instrumentation: Piano. Type: Performance Music. Language: English. Publisher: Faber Music. Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.8 x 0.4 .

Cole Porter Tickets $105 “Buy Tickets for Cole Porter are available. Ticketliquidator.com gets you in!”

Alfred 5510041A Cole Porter 15 Classic Songs for Keyboard The Easy Keyboard Library Music Book $28.42 Alfred Music Publishing is the world s largest educational music publisher. Alfred produces educational’ reference’ pop’ and performance materials for teachers’ students’ professionals’ and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument’ style’ and difficulty level. Whether composed for movies’ Hollywood musicals’ or Broadway shows’ Cole Porter’s songs symbolized every feasible emotion regardless of time and place and clearly spoke to every listener. This edition in features 15 classic songs from his illustrious career. Titles are: All of You Anything Goes Begin the Beguine Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye From This Moment On I Get a Kick Out of You In the Still of the Night It’s DeLovely I’ve Got You Under My Skin Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love) Let’s Misbehave Love for Sale Night and Day Too Darn Hot What Is This Thing Called Love? Each piece is written in a lead line format with chord symbols and lyrics. Chord diagram charts plus a suggested registration for electronic keyboard are included for each song.

Popular Performer Porter $12.95 (The Songs of Cole Porter). By Cole Porter. Arranged by Larry Shackley. For Piano. Artist/Personality; Piano – Personality Book; Piano Supplemental. Popular Performer Series. Jazz; Pop; Standard. Advanced. Book. 40 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing

Alfred 00PA9526 Cole Porter Medley Music Book $23.4 Alfred Music Publishing is the world s largest educational music publisher. Alfred produces educational’ reference’ pop’ and performance materials for teachers’ students’ professionals’ and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument’ style’ and difficulty level. Mike Kocour’s twopiano medley is a terrific dialogue utilizing three favorite Porter tunes (Easy to Love’ I Love You’ I Get a Kick Out of You). Kocour’s unerring instincts for capturing the style and the sophistication of the era’ coupled with his ability to put the sounds on paper’ guarantee a memorable’ musically satisfying arrangement. Tunes move back and forth between the two pianos with wonderfully smooth lines. Rhythms are precise. The piece requires good technical facility and clean playing.