Peter Yarrow's (or maybe Paul Stookey?)'s "There is Love" ("The Wedding Song") Peter, Paul & Mary

Stevie Wonder's "As" ; "You and I"; "You are the Sunshine of my Life"

"Always" I think done by many people

Good luck!

Kate Wolf's "Give Yourself to Love" is a great wedding song. You should be able to get the music for it thru Sing Out! Magazine www.singout.org

Best wishes!

There is no better love song than "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Gordon Lightfoot

See how you like Buffy Sainte Marie's Wedding Song - I think its beautiful. love as a garden.

True Companion by Marc Cohn!

I actually sang "Give yourself to Love" in my sister's wedding! Wish I would have gotten to it first. Thanks so much for all of your suggestions- keep them coming.

"Dance Me to the End of Love" by Leonard Cohen -- intensly romantic and sexy.

At my wedding/commitment ceremony last summer the songs we used were "May I Suggest" by Susan Werner (in the ceremony itself) and "Gulf Coast Highway" by Nanci Griffith (also recorded beautifully by Emmylou Harris) as a first dance. Another song we love is "I Believe" by Emmylou Harris.

Congratulations!

Peter Ostroushko's "Red Dancing Shoes" is one of my favorites. It's on his "Down the Streets of My Old Neighborhood" album.
Congratulations!

You can't go wrong with Dylan's Forever Young

Another good (and much less known) one is "Somebody Loved" by the Weepies.

The Beatles "In My Life" works great. We played it at our wedding 20 years ago, and we're still married. Kate Wolf's "Give Yourself to Love" is a good choice too.

Congrats!

Wedding Song and Tomorrow Is A Long Time by Dylan. Look out for Steve Newman and Tony Cox's stuff as well as Steve Newman and Tananas. Leo Kottke's version of Corinna, Corinna...

And may I respectfully suggest the song "Magnolia Wind", from Guy Clark's 2002 album, "The Dark"?
Verse one is a real ear-catcher and verse two compares the relationship with a beautiful tune and dancing ("If I can't dance with you/then I won't dance at all/I'll just sit this one out/with my back to the wall"). And it's in 3/4 time, too.

Hands down, "There is Love" by Paul Stookey. Says it all, and it's in the Public Domain! No copyright attached!

PaganLinq

Bruce Phillips (U. Utah Phillips) has a beautiful love song titled 'All I want to do is sing your name.' Just georgous as wholly appropriate for your wedding (includes a complete life cycle)

Congratulations! And tell us what you finally selected!

I've gotten a lot of mileage out of the traditional "Riddle Song" (I gave my love a cherry. . .) and was really upset once when some wedding reviewer listed it in the newspaper as 'the twelfth of never' which I had never even of heard up until that time. [Please don't go there. Why would someone do THAT to an already beautyful love song?]

I also like [very early] Paul Simon's "Song for the Asking"

And for a processional, or recessional, I like to use the lap dulcimer for an instrumental rendition of the greatest celebratory folk song of all time. I have no idea what it was originally called but Beethoven borrowed the tune to include in his 9th Symphony. Henry van Dyke brought it back to the folk level when he wrote the poem "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee", set it to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and published it in the Presbyterian Hymnal in 1911. Only problem I've ever had with this is that people tend to join in and sing along. For me this isn't a big deal, but I had a bride-to-be who about came unglued when she started up the isle and everyone stood up and started singing.

A little song from early Elton John called "Friends". "Time in a bottle" by Jim Croce. "I will" sung by Ben Taylor.

I recommend Mary Chapin Carpenter's "It's only love"!

We had "Grow Old Along with Me" as sung by Mary Chapin Carpenter on her Working Class Hero album(written by John Lennon) It expressed all the hopes and dreams of our love for each other, and still does.

"Grow old along with me, two branches of one tree
Face the setting sun when the day is done
God bless our love, God bless our love"

for a first dance I have always been partial to a lovely slow waltz "Can I Have This Dance" (for the rest of my life...) by Anne Murray

A little off beat, but full of the truth of intimate love,
is John Prine and Iris Dement singing " In Spite Of Ourselves". We played it at our wedding and the reactions were priceless!

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

When my husband and I got married in May 2003, our first dance song was "Lover's Waltz," a wonderful instrumental piece by Jay Ungar & Molly Mason.

I see that someone above has also suggested "Grow Old with Me" by Mary-Chapin Carpenter, and I think that would be a good one, too. We had that one played at our reception, and we also had one of my husband's uncles sing it during the ceremony, while he played the guitar!

Good luck, and again congratulations!

Bob Dylan "Wedding Song"

Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You"

As stated by others, Mary Chapin Carpenter's cover of John Lennon's "Grow Old With Me" is a wonderful
song.

I'm not getting married, but I really enjoy reading all of these great suggestions from Folk Alley folks. I'm sure it's quite helpful to the bride to be as well.

Actually I'm more into the break-up songs - but that's another topic altogether.

"At Last" sung by Etta James. Maybe not folk but a magnificent love song

Some of the old songs by the Seekers would be perfect, such as I'll Never Find Another You or World of Our Own. We just gad an anniversary party recently, had someone sing I'll Never Find Another You, and half the room was tearing up. It was beautiful.

I have to agree with the folks who wrote Paul Stookey's 'Wedding Song' also known as 'There is Love' This song gets to the HEART of the matter like no other song does.

Congatulations on your upcoming wedding.

My suggestion is John Denver's "Perhaps Love" which I sang accompanied by my acoustic guitar during a relative's recent wedding.

The ending lyric:
"If I should live forever, and all my dreams come true, my memories of love will be of you."

The song was well-received by those attending as I apparently did not butcher it too badly.

I, for one, miss Denver's music.

"The Lover's Waltz" by Jay Unger & Molly Mason is one of the sweetest songs I have ever heard, if you are looking for an instrumental. Congratulations and Best Wishes to you always.

Give Yourself to Love by Kathy Mattea

They just played this song. I hope you got to hear it. Fantastic love song for a wedding, I think.

Richard and Linda Thompsons -- Dimming of the Day

or even better...

Richard and Linda Thompson -- Night Comes Im
both are on the Pour Down Like Silver album

First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is actually a Ewan McColl piece (covered by Gordon Lightfoot and Roberta Flack) -- lovely lyric, but difficul to dance to.

IF you actually "folk dance" I.e. Celtic or contra dance, there is Mairi's Wedding -- The version done on the Silly Sisters (Maddy Prior/June Tabor) album is racous and fun.

Best wishes to you and your beloved.

My wedding in 1972 was the first "hippie" wedding in my hometown - a friend played acoustic guitar instead of the usual church organ! The processional was "Trumpet Voluntary". He played Paul Stuckey's Wedding Song and a song by David Buskin - "When I Need You Most of All" preceding the ceremony. All of the abovementioned are good ones, especially any of Kate Wolf's songs. Bill Staines' "The Roseville Fair" is a beautiful testimony to lasting love as well. Best wishes to the bride and groom!

Wonderful suggestions, and good luck to the lucky couple. I love and have sung "Perhaps Love," "Give Yourself to Love," and "The Wedding Song" at many weddings.

For the first dance, I would suggest John McCutcheon's "Last First Kiss" from his "Greatest Story Never Told" CD.

...you were my last, first kiss...I never imagined love could be like this...you are the person I still can't resist,...you were my last, first kiss...

He wrote it based on an idea he got from the organizer of the "Concerts Under the Stars" in Upper Merion, PA. The next time John performed there, the organizer had just gotten married that day! John and Tom Chapin invited the couple up to dance while he (and the audience) serenaded them. Not a dry eye in the house.

Morning Has Broken is what we used as the processional - instead of Here comes the Bride. We had the event in the evening so we changed it to "Evening has Broken;" everyone had a song sheet & they sang her down the aisle.

We had a Folk Dancing Wedding Celebration - folk dances from around the world.
Our favorite was Dodi Dodi from Israel. We also did Marie's Wedding, a Turkish wedding dance and a dance from the Balkans.

We had a pot luck Reception outside.

If you have a sense of humor Ben Colder's "Unhappiest Squirrel in the Whole USA" was what we walked down the aisle, after the ceremony - 29+ years ago.

People still tell us that it was the most unusual, memorable, and enjoyable wedding they've ever attended.
Best wishes for a long & fun relationship!

My wife and I chose the tune "Mick O'Connor's" from Seamus Egan's CD "When Juniper Sleeps" as the bride's wedding march for our wedding in May '03. Listen to it a couple of times and you'll understand why we (mainly she) chose it.
Also, the first song after our recessional was Van Morrison's "Jackie Wilson Said". It was wonderful.

Tom Paxton, "you are love",

Congratulations! I'd like to add to the list...John McCutcheon's "If I Were a Featherbed" and "The Great Storm is Over" both on his Water From Another Time CD. Also, Eva Cassidy's rendition of "Fields of Gold".

I think that being romantic is about surprizing.
I already plan to do it on my own wedding. First I'll find a wife though:
Chris Thile's 'Bridal Veil Falls' is a tune for your true love's most wonderful day ever.

The best of luck for you two. May you always be happy together.

Congratulations!

Judy Collins' - "Since You've Asked" is really beautiful and especially meaningful if you and your betrothed enjoy nature and doing things outdoors.

If you have any friends that are songwriters (amateur or otherwise), ask them to write a song specifically for you and your wedding.

I know some of these tunes, a lot are new to me.
Are they new to Ann?
Why not have a "Wedding Serenade For Ann" show?
Then we can all hear them.
dan

at my wedding thirty years ago...i asked a friend to sing "careless love"...it worked for me...mazal tov...

In my wedding, the prelude music was almost entirely Loreena McKennitt. Some of her instrumental stuff is lovely for a wedding, as is "Long Dark Night of the Soul"

Ooh! Ooh!! Got another one to pass along!
It's entitled "Song of Songs", which concludes Pierce Pettis' latest CD, "Great Big World".
It's a soulful piece with just voice and solo guitar;

"So who is this like rosy dawn,
Moving softly like a rising fawn;
Trailing starlight as she runs,
Fair as the moon, bright as the sun;
She is my bride, I've come to take her home,
And I sing to you my song of songs..."

I too sang "Give Yourself To Love" by Kate Wolf at my sister's wedding! I would add also "Family" by Pierce Pettis and Dar Williams, "The One Who Knows". Good Luck to you and CONGRATULATIONS!
A folk wedding, could there be anything better????

"When Love Begins" by Don Maclean

"Family"by Pierce Pettis is about a funeral. Nice song, but it may be innappropriate. Although some folks may have that attitude about weddings.

congratulations !
i would reccomend "if I ineeded you" by townes van zandt, a trad.song "star of the county down" - the version by the band northeast winds- "hearts overflowing- brewer & shipley- and "45 Years" by stan rogers

"All That Is" by Garnet Rogers from his album "Sparrow's Wing". Here's the chorus:

"Give your love and never count the cost
Lose your heart and never call it lost
May your love be your shelter
to the ending of your days
love is all that is, all that ever was"

It's a very sweet song. You can hear a sample on his website:
http://www.garnetrogers.com/sparrow.shtml
He wrote it for a friend's wedding while he was waiting for a tow truck while on his way to the wedding.

Gee, how could I have forgotten this one (sorry about the extra post, btw)...We printed the lyrics to Bob Franke's "Beggars to God" on our wedding program when we were married 18.5 years ago. The chorus:

"Make love to each other, be free with each other
Be prisoners of love til you lie in the sod
Be friends to each other, forgive one another
See God in each other: be beggars to God"

Actually, since this was a nice Catholic wedding, we printed only the second half of the chorus' lyrics! But my wife and I still like the rest of the song!

My wife and I only danced to one song--"Romance," by Gordon Lightfoot from his "Salute" album. We also played, "Morning had Broken," previous to the ceremony. The song we played at our wedding that touches our hearts still is, "Longer," by Dan Fogelberg.

Congrats.

I registered just to add my two cents (or one song).
"Beautiful" by Gordon Lightfoot.
I heard it played more than 20 years ago at a wedding and thought I would like it at my own. I'm still waiting for that day though.

Good Luck!

I got married over the summer and actually found my wedding song here on Folk Alley - a lesser known song called Inisheer by Greg Trooper. The words rang true for me and my husband:

Starts out...

"If I ask, would you come with me dear
To a place we've never been before...
There's a town
Inside there is no watchman
No warning cries of what might be in store

Refrain:
So take my hand, my heart, my soul, forever
(Bring) Give to me your burden and your fear
Let us wander through this world together
And we will find our way to Inisheer

You can hear a short clip at:
http://www.sugarhillrecords.com/catalog/pagemaker.cgi?1075

We received many compliments on the song - it was perfect for us - I hope you find your perfect song.

Best wishes,
Cathy

How about the oldie but goodie, TODAY, by Jefferson Airplane. It sums the situation up nicely.

I can see you have probably more suggestions than you will need but I STRONGLY urge you to check out Sarah Harmer's "Open Windows" on her "You Were Here" album. It's the nicest folk wedding song I have heard in years. We used it for my daughter this past year.

PS: please let us know what you decide!

All the best

How about Al Batten's version of "Always Marry an Ugly Girl" for the reception...doesn't have to be gender specific, and it could be a hoot.

"Love's an injection" by Mike Monroe.....

I am suprised to see that no one has mentioned John Denver's "Annie's Song". I know it may have been overplayed at weddings in the 70's, but oh, what a beatiful song it is.

I agree that "If I needed you" is a good one too.
I prefer the Don williams/Emmilou Harris version the best. Thier voices are gorgeous together.

Have fun and congrats!

Let me add my congratulations! I married two years ago and we used "Since You Asked" as a prelude, then as a wedding march, "Blue Bonnets Over the Border" (this was recorded by Natalie MacMaster on With These Hands.) Blue Bonnets is a lovely lilting piece.

Like We Used to Do is a great song written by Tim O'Brien and Pat Alger. Can be found on one of Tim's CDs (Maybe Oh Boy O'Boy?) or the Seldom Scene's Like we used to Be

"i will whisper your name" by Michael Johnson. Nice message.

At my Daughter's wedding I brought Dylan's "Forever Young", the acoustic version. It was a nice song to dance with my daughter on her wedding day.

I always wanted Stephen Foster's "Beautiful Dreamer" played at my wedding. So, of course, I eloped and was married by a Justice of the Peace with no music at all. We had thirty-five wonderful years before I lost him.

I hope your marriage lasts at least that long and is as happy as mine was.

Another good song by U. Utah Philips that I once sang at a wedding is his "Hymn Song" which contains the chorus "I believe if I lived my life again I'd still be here with you".

Hi, congratulations on your engagement. I don't know if you've heard of Ellis Paul before, but his songs like Seize the Day and Here She Is are pretty cool. Maybe check him out if you have the time. My favorite album of his is The Speed of Trees. Good luck! :)

How about a beautiful song by Dave Mallett, called "Red Red Rose" Check it out.
Good Luck from Charlie in Nova Scotia, Can.

My wife, Meg, and I just got married this past September 25th, 2004. Alison Krauss' song I Will was our 3rd song (one of our favorites!). For our 'first dance', we used James Taylor's version of the centuries-old song, The Water is Wide (though Eve Cassidy's version is also beautiful). The first verse:

The Water is wide, I can't cross over
Neither have I wings to fly
Build me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, My love and I

was also on our wedding invitation. NOTE: the song, as written, was actually about a man taken in by a false love who leaves him. Over the years, the verses have morphed and changed and, to my wife and I, it reflects the power of love that is realized when two share the journey and the struggles of love.

I wish you love, peace and joy in your married life (and before it too!)

how about henry viii's "greensleeves"? we used this as the processional, done by hammered dulcimer. Worked well.

Yeah! I wish you much love and laughter!

Dougie McLean - This Love Will Carry
This love will carry
This love will carry me
I know this love will carry me

Tracy Chapman - For You
The're no words to say
No words to convey
This feeling inside I have for you

Tom Waits - I Want You
(This is a short and very beautiful song)
Give you stars above, sun on brightest day
Give you all my love, if only you would see
I want you, you, you
All I want is you

Gordon Lightfoot - I'll prove my love
Any way the wind may blow
Any way the creek may flow
Any way the crow may fly
Within the confines of the sky
I will prove my love to you
In everything I say and in all I do

Enoch Kent - I'll Lay Ye Doon Love
(Others do this traditional song, this one is vioce only with some beautiful harmony)
O I'll lay ye doon love an' I'll treat ye decent
O I'll lay ye doon love an' I'll fill your can
O I'll lay ye doon love an' I'll reat ye decent
For surely he is an honest man

My fav's are Tom Waits & Enoch Kent - just depends what music you lean towards. Let us know what you're thinking about the songs.....I think you've found not only your first dance, but music for the whole wedding!

Oops, supposed to be 'treat' not reat.

I have always been partial to "Years From Now" by Dr. Hook:

Years from now, I want you years from now
And I'll hold you years from now as I love you tonight
You are my one true friend, always my one true friend
And I love you till Id say as I love you tonight

I know this world that we live in can be hard
Now and then and it will be again
Many times we've been down
Still love has kept us together the flame never dies
When I look in your eyes the future I see

Wanting you years from now
And holding you years from now
And loving you years from now
As I love you tonight

Congratulations!

How about John Denver's "For The Rest of My Life"!

I've always thought that Dave Carter's "Gentle Arms of Eden" would make a nice wedding song. I don't know where it would go, because it's certainly not a march or a waltz, but it's all about home and belonging and feeling safe.

I sang 'Since You Asked' at my friends wedding while they signed the register - by Judy Collins - lovely tune and no mention of white dresses or wedding cake! Have a wonderful life together.
Jo

What I'll give you since you asked
Is all my time together;
Take the rugged sunny days,
The warm and Rocky weather,
Take the roads that I have walked along,
Looking for tomorrow’s time,
Peace of mind.

As my life spills into yours,
Changing with the hours
Filling up the world with time,
Turning time to flowers,
I can show you all the songs
That I never sang to one man before.

We have seen a million stones lying by the water.
You have climbed the hills with me
To the mountain shelter,
Taken off the days one by one,
Setting them to breathe in the sun.

Take the lilies and the lace
From the days if childhood,
All the willow winding paths
Leading up and outward,
This is what I give,
This is what I ask you for;
Nothing more.

A buddy and I (AKA Home Brew) started out playing acoustic folk, blues & swing at bars & community festivals, but in recent months we've played a few weddings. Standard tunes (some mentioned) in the mix are:

~ I Will - performed beautifully by Allison Krauss but first shows up on the Beatles White Album; guitarwise, I really like the sound of this song in open D tuning
~ Here, There & Everywhere
~ Grow Old Along With Me
~ The Rose
~ Let It Be Me

- Merritt

A beautiful song perfect for a wedding is Steve Earle's "Nothing without you" from his great album Train a Comin'...also includes beautiful background vocals by Emmylou Harris.

I am a great fan of Carrie Newcomer's "Silver", off "The Gathering of Spirits" CD.

Even 2 divorces down I am a supporter of marriage. Most make it and most deserve to. Good luck!

The song that my wife and I are most attached to is Greg Brown's "Hey Baby Hey", off his Further In album.

I made a wedding CD of a bunch of songs that meant a lot to us, and that one meant the most.

We had "Give Yourself to Love" in our ceremony a few years ago, and it's perfect. Good chorus, also.

A good first dance is "Waltz Across Texas" by Ernest Tubb, that also has a good chorus:

When we waltz together, my world's in disguise
A fairyland tale that's come true,
And when you look at me with those stars in your eyes,
I could waltz across Texas with you.

cho: I could waltz across Texas with you in my arms
Waltz across Texas with you;
Like a storybook ending I'm lost in your charms
I could waltz across Texas with you.

My troubles and heartaches are all up and gone
The moment you came into view;
And with your hand in mine I could dance on and on
I could waltz across Texas with you.

Before I met you, I never would dance
Never would dance it is true;
But now we're together I jump at the chance
To waltz across Texas with you.

Yes, congratulations, Ann. And thanks for this wonderful opportunity for us to haul out our treasured songs! It's great fun to see all the young and not as young lovers wax romantic about their marriages and mates and music. So much terrific music. Since no one has mentioned it, I will suggest "Attics of My Life" from the Grateful Dead's American Beauty album. I'm still waiting for the occassion to use this myself for something. It's so beautiful AND you can dance to it.

Paul's epistle message of three things that last, with the greatest being love, has been beautifully set to the melody of "The Water Is Wide." How trad can you get?

The Seekers' "I'll Never Find Another You" might seem like the goofiest suggestion you've received so far, but in the hands (voice) of a reflective arranger and singer, it completely transcends its original context. It's one wedding song that guests remember.

If you're looking at the John Denver songbook, consider "Follow Me." The nicest cover version, by Mary Travers, is hard to find, but John's own gives you something to play with.

If you're looking at the Judy Collins songbook, consider her "Judith's Song." There's nothing sappy as she sets a lonely stage before the joyous refrain.

If you're looking at the Tom Paxton songbook, consider his "One Time Only." As in, I will marry "one time, and one time only."

Lesley Duncan's "Love Song," was covered by Elton John on his Tumbleweed Connection album and Sheila Nicholls recently made an avant-pop version on her Wake album. Never thought I'd say this, but go with Elton. It's rarely heard, lovely, and stylistically very folk-oriented.

Long before Paul Simon, Neil Diamond of all people expermented with African music on his Taproot Manuscript album. His "Childsong" is wonderful as a brief, meditative piece.

Finally, Louisville area indie musician Patrick Moore pieced together "Ireland Forever" from Celtic sayings, such as may the road rise with you, etc. He recorded it as an acoustic folk song in the '60s, but its only available now as a rocker on his Heaven Sent album. In the 70s, I constantly heard it as a wedding recessional, but never once since.

Congratulations!

These are what I burn to a CD as a gift to family members - some hopeful, some funny, some sad:
Rising In Love (David Roth)
Intertwined (Debi Smith)
Let A Woman Flow (It's A Beautiful Day)
Sunlight (The Youngbloods)
Double Sunlight (The Youngbloods)
Beautiful (The Youngbloods)
Time Is (It's A Beautiful Day)
B.B. King Was Wrong (John Gorka)
Double Yodel (Lou & Peter Berryman)
Gadeng Vadoo (Lou & Peter Berryman)
It's Better Than That (Lou & Peter Berryman)
Don't Should On Me (David Roth & Christine Lavin)
Somos El Barco (We Are The Boat) (H.A.R.P)
Singing With You (H.A.R.P)
Might As Well Dance (Patty Larkin)
Irish Blues (Maura O'Connell)
Silver Lining (Cheryl Wheeler)
Magnolia Street (Buddy Mondlock)
In My Dreams (Debi Smith)
The Tree (Megon McDonough)
Looking In For Number One (David Roth)
Summerfly (Maura O'Connell)
Arrow (Cheryl Wheeler)
Ten Complaints (Dee Carstensen)

From Janet, a Folk Alley listener in Washington state:

"Something in the Water" done by Toni Price. Beautiful, mesmerizing, look-into-each-other's-eyes kind of song.

I hope they play all these suggestions in a special Valentine's Day Show!

I suggest one of my favorites from Claudia Schmidt's album, Essential Tension. It's called Anniversary:

(from memory so i apologize for any errors)

Uneven as the treeline you and I
Ragged and reaching towards the sky
Traveling in circles it's the path of the heart
sometimes circling closer
sometimes further apart

Welcome is the angry word if it be for gain
better than silence when answering pain
may such words be spoken that will heal us strong
may we share the laughter as it moves us along

i could never know you well enough
joy so vast and yet such pain as we learn love
oh the days and nights of fierce sweet dances our bodies chose
still i wake beside you, love and my wonder grows

marbled by the choices we have made alone
grown stronger but never turned to stone
fears we each have faced alone in the night
those we've shed together startled into the light

how the strangers touch can be filled with fire
how the unfamiliar may kindle desire
ahh, but there's no new encounter near as wild as this
when i dive into the ocean of your kiss

etc...

Kasey Chambers - This Flower
John Denver - Follow Me and For Baby (For Bobbie)
Kim Ritchey - Just My Luck
Elyza Gilkinson - Fall Into the Night

Good luck!