Weddings

I have the privilege of singing at several weddings a year at St. John’s-  the big church downtown right across from the Convention Center and Pan Am Plaza.  I love working with my friend and colleague, Tom Nichols, who has been asking me to sing at weddings and occasional funerals, since 2001.  Oddly enough, he got and kept my card from a mailing I had send out a few years even before that! 

Many of my ministerial or pianist friends and colleagues hate doing weddings.  And, for them, I can see why doing weddings can get tedious.  -Dealing with the bride… and the mothers… and the hungover groomsmen who just want to get with the bridesmaids…yes, that’s annoying and sometimes feels quite thankless.  But, for me, it is a relatively stress-free way to earn some easy money. 

I never know the people who are getting married, but I enjoy the ceremony, nevertheless!  I have a great view from the cantor’s seat.  I can see the whole congregation full of immediate family, friends, cousins, and co-workers.  I can see and sometimes hear the nervous groomsmen and groom.  I get to see the look on the groom’s face first as he gets that initial glance at his bride coming down the aisle. And though I don’t know them at all, I do always get a little tear in my eye when I spy a secret glance between the bride and groom, or watch as the father brings the bride forward and “gives her away.”

Let’s face it, people who get married in this church probably have enough money for their “dream wedding” and reception.  And, the reception is probably being held someplace fancy downtown that cost a lot of money.  So, the dresses are also always beautiful and extravagant.  I check out the bridesmaid’s fashion too.  What color?  What style?  Will this be a dress they will dare wear again?  I can also see in detail the shoes!  (And can tell whether or not they are used to walking in heels!)

I feel that my role as the “cantor” is to just make people feel comfortable with the music.  And, if they don’t want to sing along, I hope that my voice lends a calming and sweet aura to the air!  I love to sing Schubert’s “Ave Maria” because it brings so much emotion out for people.  I feel like that is a special thing that I get to do as the wedding singer-bring out the emotion for people.  My job is not to outshine anyone on these days, but to add to the sentiment and beauty to this rite.

Before I was married, I always used this time to fantasize about what my own wedding would be like.  And I didn’t even have a potential groom!  I even collected all of the programs to use in reference for making my futire wedding programs!  Of course, I can say now, that the only similarity to my wedding and the ones I sing for, is that Tom played at our wedding!  I specifically chose my favorite prelude songs-many he arranged- for our wedding.  I also chose his arrangement of “Ode to Joy” for my walk down the aisle.  So, every time I hear him play that, I can think back upon my beautiful wedding!  --Which, leads me to how I feel about weddings since I have been married;  I think about my wonderful husband, who, probably drove me to the wedding, and whom I will get to spend a Saturday with when I am done.  I think about how much we love each other, and how much he respects me and works hard for our family.  And, I also now think about my precious little Will.  It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, he was not “on the outside”!  He is growing so fast, and we love him so much!

So, off I go today to sing at another wedding.  Let’s see what this one will have in store!  And later next month, I get to sing one on my very own anniversary!  Next month, I will write about our wedding ceremony- which, my husband says, “was a concert where two people got married in the middle!”