Amy and I had months to ponder over which songs to select for the ceremony and reception, but we didn’t make the final selections until the last minute, after we’d had time to let our options play on our mental jukeboxes.

I knew early on what I wanted as a bridal procession song, but after cycling through a variety of options, Amy finally hit on what seemed like an ideal choice for her. We knew when we saw the Disney animated movie, “Zootopia,” that we wanted to use its theme song a recessional. But it wasn’t until we settled on incorporating a “tea and sweets” ritual into our wedding ceremony that we came up with a song that also combines British and Japanese cultures, just as the tea ritual was designed to do. (The song is from a Japanese animated film that’s based on a fantasy novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones.)

After I showed Amy Sara Barielles’ adorable video for the song, “I Choose You,” we both agreed that it would be a perfect “first dance” song. And of course I had to have a few songs from Glee, including the song I chose to honor our bridal party and everyone else who helped to pull the day together.

Follow the links below to view the songs on YouTube or to purchase them on iTunes.

Ceremony

Parents and bridal party entrance: “Totoro” (String quartet) from the Miyazaki animated film My Neighbor Totoro (1998), performed by the Accordi String Quartet (purchase on iTunes)

Amy’s entrance: “Prologue” from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), score by John Williams (purchase on iTunes)

Cynthia’s entrance: “Always With Me” (Itsumo Nando Demo) from Spirited Away (2001), performed by Yumi Kimora. Japanese to English translation. (purchase on iTunes)

Tea ceremony: “Merry-Go-Round of Life” from the Miyazaki animated film Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), performed by the Mononoke Ensemble (purchase on iTunes)

Recessional: “Try Everything” from the Disney animated film,  Zootopia (2016), performed by Shakira (purchase on iTunes)

Reception – Significant Moments

Bridal party and brides dinner entrance: “My Life Would Suck Without You” (Glee Cast) – Original by Kelly Clarkson (purchase on iTunes)

Cake Cutting: “Least Complicated” from Swamp Ophelia, by the Indigo Girls (purchase on iTunes)

Brides’ First Dance: “I Choose You” by Sara Barielles (purchase on iTunes)

The video is a must-see!

Dedication to Shawn: “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” by Jim Croce (purchase on iTunes)

Brides’ Last Dance: “Fields of Gold” – Original by Sting as sung by Eva Cassidy (purchase on iTunes)

Send-Off: “Somebody Loves You” by Betty Who (purchase on iTunes)