National anthem at wedding ?

[itsallgoodinthehood]

Getting married at Windsor Guildhall next year . Windsor being the key point here.
We went to look around yesterday and I was surprised how emotional it made me feel . It was so overwhelming with all the history in one room .
My fiancé is Windsor born and bred hence he is very patriotic.
He goes along with the flow on most things and seriously doesn't ask for much .
BUT we were told yesterday that we needed to have 6 songs at the start of the ceremony then one for my entrance and then 3 for when we are signing the register. He wants to have two verses of the national anthem played after Ive come in and just before we start out marriage bit with the registrar.
Im quite liking the idea .
Its not too put there is it ?

@VickyEadieofThigh

I don't understand - how is a register office insisting that a couple have music at all? You don't have to have any.

I did wonder this, but I guess it’s for when guests are arriving. In my experience ceremonies are only about 20-25 minutes long, so I can’t even see how all that would fit in. Still, I presume OP knows more about it than we do, given it’s her wedding.

I think if you know anyone at all with a sense of humour this will end with people laughing.

You might have reached the stage a lot of people do when planning a wedding - the bit where you need to ask yourself ‘is this a royal wedding?’.

It would be fucking hilarious though. If I was a guest I’d feel like I was in one of those Hallmark film interpretations of Harry and Meghan’s romance.

No way.

I assume you could have the music to other patriotic songs like Jerusalem as long as there were no lyrics sung. Is that allowed?

Or something by Queen.

I think its a great idea. It's your wedding and you should do what makes you happy.

Please don't do it! People will forever remember your wedding as "the one with the national anthem".

@BarkminsterBlue

Are you seriously going to take the views of a bunch of strangers on the internet over the wishes of your fiancé? There are two people getting married here. One of them really wants this and the other doesn't hate the idea. Who cares if MN sneers? MN sneers at fucking everything.

This in bucket loads

I imagine that me and my friends would probably curtsey as you walked past us after the ceremony. Then tease you for the rest of the day. Which could get tedious for you once we've all had a bit to drink.

It's likely that this will be something you'd regret.

It’s your wedding. Don’t let other people try and influence you. That is a mistake I made at my wedding and looking back there were things about it that I would have done differently. If people judge you over a piece of music that is played at your wedding then frankly they’re not worth worrying about.

is this for real?

yes, play it. since it's Windsor you should incorporate the German National Anthem too.
but close with something juicy like "Despacito"

I would laugh if I was a guest, despite it being the most depressing dirge ever written.

@Starcaller

I'd think it was delightfully bonkers

me too!

@BarkminsterBlue

Are you seriously going to take the views of a bunch of strangers on the internet over the wishes of your fiancé? There are two people getting married here. One of them really wants this and the other doesn't hate the idea. Who cares if MN sneers? MN sneers at fucking everything.

This thread was a dreadful mistake. You're either going to talk your fiancé out of something he really wants or you're going to go ahead and spend your wedding ceremony with MN sneers echoing in your head.

The secular thing is an issue but you could simply tell the registrar that it's an instrumental version of My Country, 'Tis of Thee.

So cringe I don't know where to begin.

Your guests will be so embarrassed for you.

er no pompous and embarrassing

I'd loathe it, and as a wedding guest would find it very, very odd.

The registrar will still probably object to an instrumental version as they know it has religious content and you are trying to wiggle out of it.

We tried this for music we liked not the National Anthem

Finally had success with foreign language music - they didn't go so far as to check the translation.

The Jupiter movement of The Planets is perfectly secular.

I think OP should walk down the isle to the big build in the Mars movement.

Then Oh Fortuna from Carmina Burana for the signing of the register.

Finally they both leave to Mah Nà Mah Nà (Do doo be-do-do).

My brother has delusions of grandeur so did have it played at his frightfully posh, cathedral based wedding. He had a few minor members of the royal family there who basically cringed in the corner when it started up.

Don't be my brother.

Besides it's miserable and tedious.

I am a republican and an atheist so refuse to stand or sing it.

It's cringe!

I’d think you were a pair of dolts

Only because you're getting married in Windsor and your fiancé is a Windsor born and bred does this sound halfway reasonable. The local connection is clear.

Anywhere else or anyone else, I'd think this was completely mad if I was a guest. I wouldn't say anything though.

I think I'd be a bit stunned but there's an equal risk I'd get the giggles if I didn't know it was coming. It's a terrible tune for a wedding so it would look like you have chosen it either for a sense grandeur or some strange patriotic protest. Nobody would chose it for the beauty of the music.

I think it would raise a few eyebrows. I agree that Elgar would be a great option if you want something patriotic.

If I were one of your guests I would feel embarrassed hearing it.