It all started with my friend Thomas Dang Vu asking for recommended vendors in Hawaii that could ship fresh lei to New York. He explained that he was planning a wedding for his dear friends. I sent him a few names of places that friends of mine have used over the years to which he thanked me and joked, “Now I just have to find music… LOL!” My reply was where and when?!?!
Wedding music during your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception sets a mood and reflects the style of your celebration. Your music selection can be a fun way to personalize your special day. While trying to pick songs that move or inspire you, it can be overwhelming with seemingly infinite choices. It is not every day that you and your friends discuss, “What are popular ukulele songs for a wedding ceremony?”
The good news is that Hawaiian music features some of the world’s most beautiful love songs. Be careful though because what sounds like a beautiful song might be a protest song or too risqué when you delve into the lyrics. It pays to do a little homework on Hawaiian songs to make sure that the poetry is befitting of your wedding. Read this article, “Wedding Music Police.” Read more →
What an honor to perform wedding ukulele in New York. Katie and Scott’s wedding was my first time at the United States Merchant Marine Academy located in Kings Point. The ceremony was held at Mariners’ Memorial Chapel built to commemorate the sacrifices of the officers and men of the U.S. Merchant Marine who gave their lives at sea in World Wars I and II.
“I cannot think of a bigger honor than to be invited to perform music at an event as personal as a couple’s wedding celebration.”
Weddings are extremely fun. For a musician, weddings generally include ceremony music (prelude – before the ceremony; processional – down the aisle, recessional – end of the ceremony), cocktail hour, and/or the reception. Clients often request a mix of instrumentals and vocals. Not only does Hawaiian music set an island mood, but the tradition includes many poetic love songs very well suited to wedding celebrations. The ukulele and Hawaiian music can provide a celebratory and romantic ambiance for any wedding. It is a privilege to be an ukulele player in New York!
Over the years, I have had the pleasure of meeting amazing brides and grooms as well as their family and friends. I enjoy seeing beautiful venues that I would otherwise never have seen from studio spaces in Manhattan to Long Island beaches. One recent wedding took place in North Salem, New York at the Hammond Museum. Tucked away in the woods is a hidden oasis, a Japanese Stroll Garden, that makes a unique backdrop for any event.
“Great instruments just call to be played and are sources of new found inspiration. I am blessed to have such an ukulele in my possession.”
My first outing with my new KoAloha tenor ukulele was a beach wedding in Point Pleasant, NJ. Weddings hold a very special place in my heart. I feel there is no bigger honor than to have a couple invite me into their lives by including me in their wedding celebration! Congrats to the bride and groom, Amanda and Daniel! Perfect weather, great guests, and a beautiful ceremony. They transformed the New Jersey shore into Hawaii by including hula dancers at the reception. It sure is great to be getting outside now, a stark contrast from the cold of January when the ukulele arrived at my doorstep straight from Honolulu.