Jenna loves music. Jenna loves Alex. Jenna and Alex have a musically rad family. Jenna says it best:

I’m the type of person who likes to have a soundtrack. Music can completely change my mood – and one of the things I knew would start my wedding day off stress-free was to create a playlist, so I wouldn’t be frustrated switching from bad radio station to worse, trying to find something to sing along with! I never worried much about the music for the wedding itself; I knew the fiddle tune I wanted to walk down the aisle to, knew what song I wanted sung during the ceremony, and knew our family members would keep our guests dancing all night long with a mix of rock n roll, blues & traditional Cape Breton tunes. The only playlist I needed was my bridal mix. I wanted to sing out loud on the way to the salon, dance like no one was watching while I got ready for pictures – and I did! I started the mix with the runner-up wedding songs – the first dance potentials that just didn’t quite make the list but would put me in the right romantic frame of mind early in the morning. Then I filled it with songs that are my favourite summer sing-a-longs from this summer, peppered with a few oldies. I loved it the day of the wedding, and I love listening to it still! I’d definitely recommend any bride-to-be who is calmed by music take the time to create a ‘getting ready’ playlist – I can’t imagine the day without & it will always remind me of the those magical moments of seeing myself transform from every day to princess!

Naked As We Came – Iron & Wine
Hold Me with Both Hand – Matt Andersen
I Do – Peter Katz
I’m So Glad – Royal Wood
Wedding Song – Lily Come Down
What I Wouldn’t Do – A Fine Frenzy
Their Wedding Day – David Francey
Bridal Train – The Waifs
Home – Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Sold – Dan Mangan
The Sound of Sunshine – Michael Franti & Spearhead
Tennessee Tobacco – Danny Michel
New Shoes – Paolo Nutini
Steal My Kisses From You – Ben Harper
Relator – Pete Yorn & Scarlet Johansan
When I Get My Confidence Back – Two Many Sisters (My cousin Carla’s old duo – she sang during our ceremony & for our first dances)
The Littlest Birds – The Be Good Tanyas
10 – Paolo Nutini
Hard Line – Jill Barber
Shine Up My Boots – Corb Lund
Nowhere With You – Joel Plaskett
Love Alone – Bill Hilly Band
Two Princes – Spin Doctors
Put Your Records On (Acoustic) – Corrine Bailey Rae
Hold On – The Cottars
She Was The Prize – Gaelic Storm
When it Comes My Turn – David Myles
Simple Things – DB Clifford
High Hopes – Paolo Nutini
Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
Scar That Never Heals – Jeremy Fisher
Hey Soul Sister – Train

And now cue the musically talented family!

Ceremony/Reception
Walked in to ‘A Tune For Frankie’ by Altan, played by my cousin. We were piped out by the bagpiper (Courtney MacPherson) who first taught me years ago (I can’t play anymore!) & once played with The White Stripes at their 10th anniversary show (I was there – awesomeness!)

First dance – Saltwater Hearts by Dave Gunning & Fred Lavery (as sung by my cousin, Carla, & Alex’s uncle Pete’s band, Matchstick Mike & the Chain Smokin’ Alter Boys)

Father/daughter – My Little Girl by Steve Kirwan (performed by above group of family)

Mother/son – Walk With You by Edwin McCain (performed by the above group again – with slight re-write to make it mother/son not father/daughter)

Then my husband and I, my dad & stepmom, my mom & brother, and the MOH & bestman all danced a traditional Cape Breton square set figure to my cousins’ playing.

The rest of the evening was half Matchstick, half my cousins!

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Photos By: Matthew Yorke