On March 29, Music for Every Occasion provided a string trio for a sophisticated wedding ceremony at Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton.
In September of last year, the mother of the bride was referred to me by the Music Department at Florida Atlantic University. When we began emailing, I was delighted to learn that the bride lived in the same city where I was raised - Seattle. She was planning a South Florida wedding for March and was interested in violinists for the ceremony. After chatting with her over the phone and considering her preferences and budget, I recommended our most popular ensemble – string trio.
In September of last year, the mother of the bride was referred to me by the Music Department at Florida Atlantic University. When we began emailing, I was delighted to learn that the bride lived in the same city where I was raised - Seattle. She was planning a South Florida wedding for March and was interested in violinists for the ceremony. After chatting with her over the phone and considering her preferences and budget, I recommended our most popular ensemble – string trio.
For her ceremony, the bride's musical choices were "Allegro" (Vivaldi) for the processional, "Canon in D" for the bridal entrance, and "La Rejoissance" for the recessional.
The staff of the Woodfield did a fantastic job preparing the room for the ceremony and were friendly and attentive, bringing chairs for the musicians when they arrived. Julie Cohen, the wedding planner from it events, was incredibly helpful and directed the musicians on where to set up.
Our string trio began prelude selections at 6 P.M. The harmonious melodies of the trio created an elegant ambiance as guests arrived and took their seats.
Our string trio began prelude selections at 6 P.M. The harmonious melodies of the trio created an elegant ambiance as guests arrived and took their seats.
The first notes of “Allegro” sounded at 6:30 P.M., signaling the beginning of the processional. Grandparents of both the bride and groom were the first to walk down the aisle. Following were the groom with his parents, and then the bridal party. Surveying the procession, wedding planner Julie (from it events) cued the musicians for their transition to the bridal entrance. As “Canon in D” began, all eyes were upon the radiant bride as she entered the room. Escorted by her parents, the joyous bride walked down the aisle to stand beside her soon-to-be husband.
This ceremony was especially meaningful because the wedding officiant customized the ceremony script with personal glimpses into the lives of the bride and the groom. She began with their meeting online and initial impressions of each other. After their first date, both the bride and groom were eager to contact each other again. So the bride thought of a really creative way.
They’d met over dinner, and she’d taken her leftover pasta home. However, she’d forgotten to put it in her fridge, accidentally leaving it in her purse all night. The next morning, she wasn’t sure if it was safe to eat. In the words of the wedding officiant, “She could have called her mother to ask. She could have called her friends; instead, she called [her date].”
And when he answered, he immediately asked to see her again.
The officiant continued to take us on the couple’s journey, from the groom’s romantic proposal to the couple’s heartfelt appreciation that their family and friends were present to celebrate with them. It was clear that the couple cherished the relationships with their loved ones.
Woven into the ceremony were two beautiful readings that so aptly captured the deep, enduring love of the beautiful couple. The first poem was simply entitled "Love".
They’d met over dinner, and she’d taken her leftover pasta home. However, she’d forgotten to put it in her fridge, accidentally leaving it in her purse all night. The next morning, she wasn’t sure if it was safe to eat. In the words of the wedding officiant, “She could have called her mother to ask. She could have called her friends; instead, she called [her date].”
And when he answered, he immediately asked to see her again.
The officiant continued to take us on the couple’s journey, from the groom’s romantic proposal to the couple’s heartfelt appreciation that their family and friends were present to celebrate with them. It was clear that the couple cherished the relationships with their loved ones.
Woven into the ceremony were two beautiful readings that so aptly captured the deep, enduring love of the beautiful couple. The first poem was simply entitled "Love".
"Love"
Roy Croft
I love you,
Not only for what you are
But for what I am
When I am with you.
I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself
But for what
You are making of me.
I love you,
For the part of me
That you bring out;
I love you,
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can’t help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.
I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple;
Out of works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.
I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good,
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.
Roy Croft
I love you,
Not only for what you are
But for what I am
When I am with you.
I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself
But for what
You are making of me.
I love you,
For the part of me
That you bring out;
I love you,
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can’t help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.
I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple;
Out of works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.
I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good,
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.
The second was a passage from A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway:
At night, there was the feeling that we had come home, feeling no longer alone, waking in the night to find the other one there, and not gone away; all other things were unreal. We slept when we were tired and if we woke the other one woke too so one was not alone. Often a man wishes to be alone and a woman wishes to be alone too and if they love each other they are jealous of that in each other, but I can truly say we never felt that. We could feel alone when we were together, alone against the others. We were never lonely and never afraid when we were together.
At night, there was the feeling that we had come home, feeling no longer alone, waking in the night to find the other one there, and not gone away; all other things were unreal. We slept when we were tired and if we woke the other one woke too so one was not alone. Often a man wishes to be alone and a woman wishes to be alone too and if they love each other they are jealous of that in each other, but I can truly say we never felt that. We could feel alone when we were together, alone against the others. We were never lonely and never afraid when we were together.
To the lovely bride and groom – congratulations on your wedding! May you enjoy a long and happy life together, with prosperity, good health, and everlasting love!