Custom Songs for Your Wedding
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Photo by Todd Pellowe
You’ve heard “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” at weddings a million times. Bruno Mars’ “Marry You” is probably still stuck in your head from the last five weddings you went to. And “Stay with Me”, beautiful though it is, hasn’t left the wedding venue airwaves since 2014.
But don’t you want a new song to sing? A new beat to dance to?
A melody with a transcendent lyric written just for you?
An original wedding song can make your special day even more so. There are many different ways to customize your bespoke song -- below are some things to think about when considering your perfect composition.
Photo credit: Selda and Derek
Your loved one’s favorite artists/music genres -- If you pulled out a guitar to serenade your partner, what would they want you to play? This is a great starting point for letting your songwriters know the direction of the song right off the bat. Is it jazzy, à la Ella Fitzgerald? Or is Arianna Grande more their thing? Whether it’s Willie Nelson or Kanye West, looking into your loved one’s favorite artist is key to helping your writers make exactly the right song.
Where in the wedding you want the song -- Every moment of your wedding will be unique, and choosing the point at which to unveil your song is central. Songs can be written for your first dance, your processional, your recessional, or anything else you can think of. They can be gifts for the newlyweds, or even to their parents.
Rhythm -- Do you and your partner like to rock around the clock, or do you prefer to sway to the slow rhythms of yesteryear? Do you want a song that will get the whole house hopping, or do you want to lull your loved ones into wistful bliss? The rhythm of your song might not be your first consideration, but it can make all the difference.
Who you want to perform it -- Often, the songwriters themselves are more than willing to come to your wedding to perform their original melody. Other times, you’ll want a local singer or family friend to knock the house down with their personal touch. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even get a Broadway vocalist or internationally-broadcast singer to do it live, just for you.
In choosing songwriters, make sure that you’re not just filling out a form online to factory-produce a robo-tune. The songwriters you work with should talk to you face-to-face (or webcam-to-webcam); they should want to hear your story, the beautiful history of your relationship, and any specific dreams waiting in your future. They should run their ideas by you and make sure it’s exactly what you want.
About the Editors
Selda Sahin and Derek Gregor
Selda and Derek , Songwriters
Selda Sahin and Derek Gregor are a NYC-based writing team for the stage and screen. They wrote the original songs for the upcoming feature film “American Reject” (Keala Settle (“Greatest Showman”), Angelica Hale (“America’s Got Talent”), Rebecca Black, Annaleigh Ashford, Juvenile and Billy Ray Cyrus). Their musical “Modern” about a group of Amish teens on Rumspringa received development at Village Theatre in Seattle, ASCAP “Grow A Show” in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Stephen Schwartz Workshop in NYC and is scheduled for more development in 2021. Their film GRIND starring Anthony Rapp (“Rent”, “Star Trek”) and Claire Coffee (NBC’s “Grimm”) is streaming on Amazon. They’ve collaborated with premier artists including: Michael Cerveris (2-time Tony Award Winner), Rachel Dratch (SNL), Gabe Violett (The Voice), Michael Thomas Grant (Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist), Lea Salonga, Jeremy Jordan and Laura Bell Bundy. Selda and Derek have taught at universities around the world including NYU, Yale, University of Michigan, Princeton, UC Irvine, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts among others. Derek is a recipient of a Richard Rogers award, a John Wallowitch award and a MAC award. His musical “Unlock’d” (New York Times- “gorgeous, transcendent”) received an extended Off-Broadway run at the Duke Theatre (2013). Selda was selected for the ASCAP Songwriters Collective. She received an Emmy for her work on “Passion” at Lincoln Center.