What’s in a song? A magical experience for the bride, groom, and guests
by Weddings Down East

A custom-tailored suit for the groom. One-of-a-kind wedding invitations. Flowers that express your own personality and style. We all want our wedding to be as unique and original as we are. More and more, wedding planners, brides, and grooms are looking to customize their weddings for a truly memorable and signature experience.

So what about music? We spend countless hours choosing a reception band, music for the ceremony, and favorite songs for the first dance. We know that music sets the tone and heightens the experience of celebration in an almost magical way. So what if the essence of the bride and groom’s relationship could be captured in an honest, original song, commissioned for them and shared with guests at the toast ceremony of the reception?

That’s exactly what is being offered by Maine-based WeDu, an exclusive, commission-only songwriting service for weddings. WēDu songs are inspired by the story of each bride and groom, and thus are completely original compositions with original lyrics that poetically illuminate the tender, funny, and real moments of their courtship and decision to marry.

Rather than just being a gracious gift and keepsake for the bride and groom, WēDu songs create an intimate and defining moment in the wedding reception as the song is played and shared with guests. (Songs can be performed live or played from a broadcast-quality digital CD recording). Each guest receives a printed card with the lyrics to follow, drawing the guests into the celebration like a soundtrack draws you into a movie. It also creates a poignant moment for the bride and groom to reflect on their journey together.

Ellen Tipper, the voice behind WēDu, notes, “These songs are really stories, fascinating stories about connecting two lives in the universal custom of marriage. I’m inspired by my clients – it’s an honor to build a musical tapestry for them.” And the feeling is mutual. The wedding couple is honored in a timeless way when their story is portrayed in a song. Shares one bride now living in Northern California, “The song was so beautiful and full of imagery. It crystallized all of my emotions about our relationship, about the day, about all of our friends and family who came to share in this moment with us. I cried, I laughed – I was spellbound and so was everyone else in the room.”

Custom songs are growing in popularity for many events, but most use generic melodies and manufactured lyrics. To offer compositions that are inspired by each individual story is a craft which takes time to create and perfect. “I’m not trying to create a song mill,” says Ellen. “To get to the true essence of a relationship, you have to sit with it for a while, look at it from different angles, and let it blossom into song. You know when you’ve found the right lyrics and melody to express the couple’s originality. It’s like the sweet spot when you hit a tennis ball. It just sings.” Kind of like the feeling you get when you know you’ve found your lifelong partner.

To find out more about commissioning a song from WeDu, visit the web-site at www.wedusongs.com or contact Ellen at 207-785-6714 or via e-mail at ellen@wedusongs.com.