My earliest recollection involves performing a song in my grandmother’s kitchen. My sister and I often contributed vocals at family weddings alongside our uncle. I also sang as part of the choir at Mercy College in Sligo.
Following my education, I secured a job at a bank, causing my involvement in music to decrease. Subsequently, I started a family and had three children.
The idea of pursuing a career in music seemed farfetched at the time, primarily due to my lack of confidence. Singing was more of a hobby, as I didn’t believe I was particularly talented.
Career-wise, I was dedicated at the bank, passed all my assessments and was juggling work life with raising kids in creche. When an opportunity came knocking to quit the bank, I was in a dilemma about what path to take next. Losing the routine of a career can lead to feelings of being lost.
The only clear skill I had was singing. This got reaffirmed when the funeral director approached me after I had sung at my husband’s grandfather’s funeral and suggested I could sing at more funerals. Even though I was initially apprehensive given my emotional disposition watching something as mild as Emmerdale, the suggestion clicked for me.
I accidentally published a Facebook page about my singing exploits and was pleasantly surprised by the outpouring support I received, and so I stuck with it.
Achieving recognition took years. The game-changer for me was winning the “best newcomer” award on a wedding platform in 2016, and “best wedding singer” in the subsequent year.
A wedding’s iconic moment is the bride’s entrance. The choice of music is central to setting the mood. I always advise brides to listen to their chosen song alone, to truly experience its emotional value. I aim to make them comfortable with their selection, considering some might have lost parents or aren’t completely comfortable walking up the aisle.
Music has the power to stir deep emotions, which can sometimes result in tears and smudged make-up – an unwanted combination at weddings. For this special day, pairs usually wish for the music selection to embody their personality. However, when the ceremony is held in a church, Beyoncé’s entire discography isn’t often an option. There’s also the need to consider the more religious members of the family and the clergyman’s preferences.
As for prevalent song choices, those evolve perpetually. Half a decade back, Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years and How Long Will I Love You were much in demand. Nowadays, thanks to the recent Elvis biopic, an increasing number of requests are made for Can’t Help Falling in Love.
When the couple starts to sign the register, it’s possible to accelerate the pace a bit. The Turtles’ Happy Together and Forever and Ever by Randy Travis are slowly regaining popularity, replacing the Lumineers’ Hey Ho, a top choice five years ago. The classics like Signed, Sealed, Delivered are in constant rotation, as couples attending another wedding often want a unique song.
The Covid pandemic led to a barrage of postponed nuptials. The wedding industry is much less busy this year, as couples failed to meet and it will likely take an additional year or two before marriage proposals become more common again.
People typically get hitched between May and September, with bank holiday weekends being particularly chaotic. Thursdays are also popular due to enticing hotel deals. Last year saw many Monday weddings.
The wedding landscape has changed significantly since I tied the knot two decades ago. Now, extras like flower-framed backdrops, chocolate fountains and a display of Taytos are common.
Indeed, I’ve witnessed a change in the last year where sometimes, the master of ceremonies announces the couple’s request for guests to abstain from taking pictures, allowing them to share the first images.
I recall a particularly challenging wedding where a couple with a terminally ill child wanted to seal their bond before their closest kin. Such events are a stark reminder of life’s blessings.
Since I commenced my singing career, I’ve had no cause for regret. It allows me to balance time with my children and find a sense of purpose in my work.
In anticipation of performing at a funeral, I seldom get a full night’s sleep. The understanding that it marks someone’s final farewell makes it a profoundly solemn duty that I’ve been entrusted with; it feels like a privilege.
Uniquely, the song ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ is something I personally can’t deliver vocally. If it’s requested, I will certainly perform it in instrument. The family’s wishes are my guiding star. I tell them to arrange the funeral as they deem best, without any trace of regret.
The aim of incorporating music in such solemn ceremonies is to afford mourners an outlet for their grief, and hopefully, a source of comfort. By having people unwind and allowing them to experience the emotions conveyed through the songs, the purpose is served.
My career as a singer is something I’ve cherished ever since it’s begun. The flexibility I enjoy allows me to spend invaluable time with my children whilst fulfilling my work commitments – something that gives me a sense of purpose. The feeling of enriching lives through my craft, yet being able to return home and savour moments with my young ones when they’re still growing, it’s utterly rewarding.
Prior to the kick-off of a wedding ceremony, you can witness families reuniting after long spells, expressing their joy through embraces and kisses. To watch everyone so cheerful and to participate in shaping that warm ambience, it’s deeply touching. It stirs thoughts like, ‘This is so beautiful; where else would I rather be?’
Simulated dialogue with Joanne Hunt.