I asked 2 vocalists, but what are the odds, both had family weddings that day. So my mom suggested Katie Cooper. She sings at irish events, and it so good. She is also a friend of Joe's brother, who is not only an irish musician, but he teaches the Tin Whistle.
Joe's brother plays in an Irish Session at The Plank in Lakewood. An Irish Session is like a jam session. Anyone trained in any irish instrument can come and play along. Our vocalist goes, and sometimes my nephew and his band go. Yes, my nephew wasn't even quite 13 at the time of the wedding, but he is in a band, and they have paying gigs. We asked my nephew to play violin at the ceremony, while everyone was being seated. My nephew's band The Roundabouts played cocktail hour. During cocktail hour, some of the other musicans at the wedding joined in and turned it into a session, including my parents friend Al O'Leary on the accordion, and both of Joe's brothers, on the tin whistles.
The only thing that I know of that went wrong on the wedding day, was our bagpiper. At the end of the ceremony, after being announced husband and wife, the doors opened, and nobody was there. What a bummer! My family has bag pipes at every wedding and every funeral. The church organist was on the ball, she she played a wedding march for us to walk out to. Turns out the bagpiper (who is a great friend of the family), got in some car trouble in the boonies on the way home from Toledo that day, and had no car and no phone reception.
When we announced our parents and Joe's grandpa, we played "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by The Beach Boys. It was Joe's pick. He really wanted it when we walked in, but I'm a jerk and made a switch.
When the bridal party walked in, we played "The Ditty" by Paperboy. It has nothing to do with weddings or friends, but we loved it and thought it would pump everyone up.
We walked in to "Marry You" by Bruno Mars. I love how upbeat it is. And, well, it just fit.
Joe and I danced to Jason Mraz "I Won't Give Up". We never had a "song" and we had a hard time finding one that fit. Until one day I was driving and heard it come up on the radio. I remembered how beautiful I thought it was, and really listening to the lyrics, I thought it would be perfect. I made Joe listen to it at the bar one day, and he immediately agreed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1-4u9W-bns
My dad and I danced to "I Loved Her First" by Heartland. That song never fails to make me ugly cry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg8Z69B6RFQ
We had a few line dances, a few irish dances, and ended the party with "The Time (Dirty Bit)" by The Black Eyed Peas.
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