Timing your walk down the aisle.

[BecaJ]

Sorry if it's already been asked, I did have a search.

 

But where Im getting married the 'aisle' is about 5 paces long in a gazebo so Im trying to think of how to time the music.

 

Im having Des'ree - Kissing you. So what are you supposed to do. Play the whole 4 minutes of a song whilst you're hiding round the corner somewhere and appear 10 seconds before the track ends so you're at the top of the aisle when it finishes?? I would like to play the track to the end, I wouldn't want it to stop abruptly.

 

Im not sure how this even works traditionally I can't remember what I've witnessed at other peoples weddings. I suppose you just wait outside the church doors? But obviously with a gazebo it's all open ...

 

Hoping some one could shed some light.x

[DWBride615]

How about you let the bridesmaids and best men start walking at the beginning and middle of the song? Let there be a gap with each couple for timing. Then when you know the song will be ending, you begin to walk?

 

I'm doing that, actually. I'm playing Bach - Pachelbel's Canon in D. However, it's not only 6:00 minutes long, but I also don't want to walk down until the upbeat part near the end w/out sacrificing the build up of the song. So, I'm timing it, I even have the seconds down pat now lol At the beginning, the bridemaids w/ the groomsmen start walking, two at a time. A cute idea I decided to do to pass the time was... the groomsmen and bridesmaid stop in the middle of the aisle, the groomsman then gets down on one knee facing the bridesmaid and offers her a rose. The bridesmaid smiles and accepts it, then the groomsman stands, takes her arm and leads her the rest of the way. The next two, then repeat it and so on. By the time it gets to the part I want to walk down, the flower girl goes, then I follow with my dad. And an idea I got from the forum...I will have two detachable roses in my bouquet...if there's still time to pass(so the song ends well) when I reach the end of the aisle, I will stop and give a rose and a kiss to my mother and the same to MIL. Then start the ceremony. If I don't have time, then the rose and kiss exchange will be after we're pronounced man and wife.

 

That's just an idea...Like you, I was worried about the song ending too abruptly and probably awkward.

 

I think in tradition, you just stay out of sight...is there anywhere you could hide until you walk down? I know with an open gazebo that would make it harder.

[JanineA]

I'm also using Pachelbel's Canon in D Major, but mine is 3 minutes and 46 seconds long. Chelsea I am guessing you are using Canon in D (Pachelbel) paired with Air on G String (Bach) which is the composition most people use at weddings. I would say that you can do something similar to what Chelsea mentioned. I am having the parents and the bridal party walk down the aisle to Canon in D and then I will be walking down to an entirely different song. Mine works out perfectly because they don't start walking till 15 seconds into the song, first FI with his mom, then his best man with my MOH then the other bridesmaid with groomsman and so on. Everyone is being instructed not to start walking down until the last couple has taken their places. That way there is a pause in between and I am having the music fade out (reduce the volume very very slowly) before I come down the aisle to my song. Did you try discussing with you wedding coordinator to see how other brides have timed it in the past at that resort?

[BecaJ]

The problem is, Im not having any bridesmaids, the only person we're having is a best man. I didn't want to have too many people with a 'role' because there is only about 10 or so people coming so didn't want there to be hardly any audience if that makes sense.

 

I do have a 3 year old little boy coming and I wanted him to throw petals in the ailse in front of me, so we'd be going down the aisle with just a few seconds between us.

 

hmm this is a tough one. I think the only thing I can do is hide somewhere until nearer the end of the track even though my guests will be bewildered, sitting there for 4 minutes wondering whats going on. x

[JanineA]

Can you possibly have the music start, play for 15 seconds, then have your FI's parents walk down together, then your parents, then another 15 second pause....everyone stands.....then the little boy throwing rose petals, everyone will cooo and ahhh cause he is adorable and then wait another 15 seconds and then begin your walk down the aisle, pause at the first row (or back row) so everyone can take pics of you walking down the aisle....then continue your walk up into the gazebo. How about that?

[BecaJ]

Thats a good idea actually. I think I'd probably have to do bigger pauses, or let more of the music play before we start coming down. But thanks for the idea, I'm going to do that x

 

Originally Posted by JanineA 

Can you possibly have the music start, play for 15 seconds, then have your FI's parents walk down together, then your parents, then another 15 second pause....everyone stands.....then the little boy throwing rose petals, everyone will cooo and ahhh cause he is adorable and then wait another 15 seconds and then begin your walk down the aisle, pause at the first row (or back row) so everyone can take pics of you walking down the aisle....then continue your walk up into the gazebo. How about that?

[lsjhik]

Tough situation....I like the idea of playing it as they wait.  Unlike most people I'm walking down the aisle to my own song so can't time it around the other attendants.  Let it build up the anticipation!

[JaziandSwag]

Let the suspense build!  Let them wait!  LOL

[JenJen5]

Too funny!  I was thinking the exact same thing, and I plan to walk out to the same song "Kissing You" by Des'ree, which is a pretty long song!  I think I will just make everyone wait and walk down right before it ends =)

[cherany]

This is worrying me, too, because it's not like it can be timed out before we get there.  I am thinking we'll need a rehearsal mostly so I can see how long it takes everyone to get down the aisle.  We do have several people in our wedding party, so I have the luxury of choosing whether to pair them up or have them walk singly, but there is danger in just winging it, because worse than music stopping abruptly at the end is having the song end before you finish your walk up the aisle!  I want one song for all of us, Once Upon a Time In the West sang by Hayley Westenra.