Singing or performing at reception?

Hey there, as a singer this makes me cringe. I had a friend who sang at her reception and I just...gah...for ME, personally, doesn't work.
My rule has been: "This is my wedding and not my concert. If Celion Dion didn't sing at her wedding , I don't need a performance."

However, my friends and family asked me the same thing and seemed bummed I wasn't doing anything....Sooo, I compromised !
I went in studio and recorded 3 different cover songs to be worked into the music at my wedding and reception.
They will not be announced, just worked in. Those who know I sing and its me will be happy, and a big piece of me is worked into my special day and those who haven't heard me sing will be none the wiser unless my friends/fam say "HEY THAT'S AMANDA!!!"

Again, totally personal preference and not meaning to be rude, just my opinion.

View Quoted Comment I totally hear you-to each their own!

Im super shy about singing in front of my friends and family so they don’t hear me often. I just know it would mean a lot to my FH if I did it, and both songs have a lot of meaning for us.

I saw a video of a bride singing as she walked down the aisle. I thought it was incredibly beautiful. Definitely makes me wish I had a voice.

View Quoted Comment That is definitely something to add to your pro/con list when debating this.

I am not shy, but I know it is going to be a big emotional day and if I were singing a song special to us I would get extra emotional and be fighting tears and then be totally ticked off at my performance not being as perfect as I demand of myself. And then I'd be forever angry at any video/recording being passed around lol
So...again, lots of things to think about - particularly if you are shy or a crier (like I would be), maybe my compromise would work and you could have it play when you walk down the aisle or recessional or for first dance etc?

I'm not allowed to sing in public, children cry and birds fall from the sky-- it's a disaster.

I do know from a friends wedding, when she was thinking of having another friend sing, that there would need to be a sound check and stuff that would ideally be done without anyone there. That's something to think about. It would cut into your cocktail hour or photos.

I do remember an episode of Bridezillas where the bride was a 'professional singer' and it was a DISASTER! but the show is scripted and idk if it was real or made for tv bad.

View Quoted Comment Ohhhh my gosh I’m dying laughing over your comment!!! Haha.

I would hope after years of choir, theater and voice lessons I’m half decent, but who knows! Lol.

View Quoted Comment Definitely a possibility! I don’t really have access to good recording though. I am worried about tearing up, but I’m not really that concerned about it being 100% perfect.

View Quoted Comment

Im sure you are lovely! I have zero musical talent. I tried to take violin lessons when I was 8 and my parents sat me down and told me that I didn't need to practice so much cuz it wasn't helping (and it wasn't, I was truly aweful)

I think the key would be if you wanted the extra pressure of performing on your day?

I'm a musical theatre performer so I'll be doing a broadway song. I'm singing "Someone Like You" from Jekyll and Hyde the musical (if you've never heard of it, it's an AMAZING FREAKIN' SHOW!!!!).

Anyway, It's a big belty number that's all about longing for love. But I changed the tenses so that in the first verse it goes "IF someone like you found someone like me" then in the second verse it changes to "SINCE someone like you found someone like me" and then for the final punch to the gut, it ends with "since someone like you [music stops and there's a silent pause] LOVES me". God just typing that get's me tearing up!!

It is going to be a COMPLETE surprise for most everyone there, especially FH.

As far as timing it will be right after all the toasts. The DJ will say something like " we have one last person who would like to say something"....

I'll be posting a video after the wedding for sure.

Also to address Amanda's concerns, as long as you stick with extremely meaningful songs you are 100% confident in singing you should be fine. I thought long and hard about concert vs dedication and arrived at this song. Yes it's belty but each lyric has relevant meaning to the day. I was originally gonna do "Never Enough" from Greatest Showman but, the song is just redundant to show off vocals and looses it's meaning after the first chorus, becoming more of a show off song, so I ditched it. Once I chose this song I have practiced it every. single. day. regardless of how "not up to it" I felt because I can't predict how I will feel on the day, but I'll still have to sing it regardless. But I know how to perform under stressful and emotional situations. I recently sang a special song at my very very close grandfather's funeral this past December. Also, I have sung for literally EVERY other family and church occasion and it's the only thing I can offer as a gesture really. I feel it would be almost rude NOT to sing for my FH at the wedding. But that's just me. If you feel it's right and it's coming from your heart, I say GO FOR IT! Even if it doesn't turn out perfect by your or anyone elses standards, he will think it's the voice of the angels! And that's all that matters! THAT is the day to sing to him if there ever was one! Just PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!! (And have lyrics printed for back up, even if you think you know the song by heart. lol)

BREAK A LEG!!

One of my bridesmaids (excellent singer) asked if she could sing a song at our reception. The DJ just worked it in at a good time. She sounded phenomenal and everyone kept praising her even after the wedding. The only part that was strange was that we wanted to dance to it, but the DJ asked everyone to clear the floor. We didn't communicate well with the DJ to let him know she was signing a song for everyone to dance to.

View Quoted Comment I’m crying laughing at your comment. I feel the same about my voice!

Hi Professional EMC Actor here!

I would not recommend doing this at your wedding. Even if you are a professional with loads of training, IMO your wedding is not the time or place to do this. Especially if it is a "surprise". I have been around the boards for a little over a year and I have heard a ton of stories about Brides who do this to surprise your FH and it ending badly because he is either way too caught off guard to appreciate it or because he simply was upset that you choose to do something that is about you (and you getting up and singing is 100% about you and not about the two of you) and put him on the spot. Also its super awkward for for guests to watch, since they came for a wedding. You would have to interrupt dinner or the dancing to do this which could potentially kill the flow of your evening.

My FH and I are both professional working actors. We have a lot of industry people coming to our wedding. The last thing we want is for it to come across like an event we are using to hawk ourselves to our friends who are directors or other actors. Plus we want to party and celebrate with out friends and not make it seem like a chance for us to show off. I agree with the sentiment someone else said that "if celine dion doesn't need to sing at my wedding - I certainly dont"

I personally think its not the place for that, and that if you want to serenade your FH it should be a private consenting moment between the two of you and that there are a lot more cons than there are pros to this.

Im not a singer but my daughter has been in competition choir for 4 years so she is singing as i walk down the isle. I let her choose the song as its her gift to me and her future stepdad i was worried that i might disagree but she has narrowed it down to elvis i cant help falling in love and ava marie

My boss sang at her wedding-she's a recording artist-and her husband said he was mortified because he felt it was tacky.
I don't recommend this at all.

View Quoted Comment “Ave Maria” is a very difficult song to sing, especially considering it’s in Latin (or German, but I doubt that’s the version she’d use). A few years in show choir (which is usually pop and Broadway types of music) probably isn’t going to cut it. Not to discourage your daughter but you have to have a pretty operatic voice to sing this well. I’d stick with Elvis if she’s planning on doing this.

View Quoted Comment For what it’s worth, I have many more years of vocal training than your daughter. My sister asked me to sing “can’t help falling in love” as she walked down the aisle. I declined because as others have said, it’s super awkward, and the pressure can lead to massive screw ups.

View Quoted Comment Competition choir the compete for their spots and solos she is also going into acapella next year. she had to sing a solo in full italian. She has more of an opera voice which kinda of killed her wanting to do rock. She is a freshman in hs and has been offered two music scholarships but i think she is leaning towards elvis. I will be happy with her gift either way.

I'm a very shy person and don't think I could bring myself to do this, but since I'm not a singer it's academic. :-) I _am_ an organist and often play for Mass, but the logistics make it impossible for me to play at my own wedding. :-( It's an interesting idea, though . . .

I sing and play acoustic guitar and I was thinking about doing the same thing but instead of covering a song I was going to write my own from my heart. That's something you could think about.