I can’t decide what my favorite musical element of this wedding is. From original composed music, to the bride and groom sing-a-long (complete with egg shakers), to the rockin’ reception music – Susie and Demian had such lovely music surrounding them throughout the day!

Susie adds: My new husband (!) Demian and I wanted to make our wedding as inclusive as possible. Demian is a community organizer, so unsurprisingly he wanted to make our celebration communal. And as a journalist, I wanted the important components of our wedding to have a good story to back them up. At the same time, we wanted to honor the different backgrounds of our family without watering it down. (Demian is of Jewish/Argentinian decent. I’m of Christian/Korean decent.) So we got everyone invested in the whole thing…from decoration making, flower arrangements, right down to the music!

For the ceremony, we had a string quartet play music that Demian and his father composed. Demian composed the processional and bridal march and his dad composed the recessional. It was a grueling process, but extremely rewarding at the end.

During the ceremony, our fathers performed a song together. My dad sang and Demian’s dad played the guitar for the hymn, Thou, My Everlasting Portion. It was definitely a ceremony highlight and just a great defining moment to the joining of families!

During the reception, we performed a Korean tea ceremony called Paebaek. Demian’s dad composed the music for that, too!

We decided to skip the first dance and instead we performed a first duet. Demian and I sing songs all the time, often with really stupid alternate lyrics from the original. One of those songs is Time’s a Wastin’ (June Carter Cash and any dude). This time around, we sang the original lyrics. Our guests shook egg shakers and hand cymbals. To our relief, it was a hit!

Some dance highlights include the “bad dance contest.” It was a surprise that our friends put together, and it included a very large and messy trophy to the winner. We also danced the horah, a traditional Jewish circle dance. Demian’s dad composed the music for that, but Demian surprised him with a “hip-hop” remix. If you are wondering about the weird masks on the dance floor, those are photobooth props.

The entire night was amazing. It’s such an odd feeling to have everyone you love in one room celebrating you, but it’s also a great feeling. I don’t think we could’ve asked for anything more.

ceremony music:
prelude – Theme song for Il Postino (love this movie!)
postlude – Rainbow Connection (the kermit version) and Somewhere over the Rainbow
Processional, bridal march, recessional – music composed by Demian and his dad
Hymn performed by the dad’s – Thou, my everlasting portion

cocktail/dinner music highlights:
The Postman – American Analog Set
Let me Tell You About my Boat – Mark Mothersbaugh
Forks and Knives – Beirut
Person Person – Mirah
Lull – Andrew Bird
Skinny Love – Bon Iver
If you Could Speak – God Help the Girl
Take Care – Beach House
Shine – Album Leaf
Tennessee Waltz – Les Paul and Mary Ford
My Only Swerving – El Ten Eleven
Your Light is Spent – Final Fantasy
New Soul – Yael Naim
Star Dust – Django Reinhardt
Act of the Apostle – God Help the Girl
Stars Fell on Alabama – Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald (Alabama represent! woot woot!)
Playground Love – Air
Another Sunny Day – Belle and Sebastian
The Next Time Around – Little Joy
Marry Me – St. Vincent
Come Monday Night – God Help the Girl
September Song – Django Reinhardt

Bridal party entrance:
I Want You Back – Jackson 5
First duet: Time’s a Wastin’
Bad dance contest: Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
Bouquet Toss: Single Ladies – Beyonce
Garter Toss: It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones

Dance Highlights:
Twist and shout – Beatles
Just What I Needed – The Cars
ABC – Jackson 5
Just Like Heaven – The Cure
Rock Lobster – B52’s
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Don’t Stop till You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
Groove is in the Heart – Deee-light
Poison – Bell Biv Devoe
The Sign – Ace of Base
Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club
99 Red Balloons – Nena
Senorita – Justin Timberlake
Be my Baby – The Ronettes
D.A.N.C.E. – Justice
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Around the World – Daft Punk
Young Americans – David Bowie
This Charming Man – The Smiths
Don’t Stop the Beat – Junior Senior
Buddy Holly – Weezer
Candy Girl – New Edition
Kiss – Prince
Gonna Make You Sweat (everybody dance now) – C&C Music Factory
Sleepyhead – Passion Pit
Ignition Remix – R Kelly

a few slow dance songs:
Two Doves – Dirty Projectors
Do You Realize – Flaming Lips
Crazy – Patsy Cline
Dream a Little Dream – The Mamas and the Papas

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Photos by: Francis Marie Photography