Ah, the connecting power of Facebook! I befriended Nigel (and then his girlfriend, Claire) on Facebook many moons ago due to some similar interests in music. Nigel soon became a fan of my own music, as did other members of his family I connected with on Facebook, too. (Hi, Pete!) Once Nigel got wind of my Custom Songs, he asked me if I would write one for he and Claire's upcoming UK wedding dance in July 2010 and I was completely honored to do so.
My connections to Nigel and Claire via Facebook had already made it clear to me that family and friends were extremely important to this couple. The group of people they belonged to were just as special to them as the family they were making together. When taking notes for their Custom wedding dance song, I asked Clarie if the joining of family and friends would be a good theme for their lyrics. She whole-heartedly agreed. Hence the song title and theme of "Joining the Circle" was born.
Another poignant circle in this wedding couple's story is that of their wedding bands. Claire's mum passed away when she was 13 and Nigel's father passed away over 6 years ago. The memories of their beloved parents lost still live on in the wedding rings that Claire and Nigel wear (Claire her mother's, Nigel his father's). So "Joining the Circle" also meant joining the strong family ties of their past to the strong loving ties of this new marriage.
And I get weepy every time I think about that kind of blessing and bond, as I imagine Nigel and Claire do, too.
I wanted their song to speak not only to the special details about Nigel & Claire's relationship, but to also personally address the people who were sharing their marriage celebration. With the opening lyric "This is our love letter to each other and to you..." I was making sure that this love song was an invitation to everyone in Nigel & Claire's lives to join their circle, too.
To have written the song played for their very first dance as a married couple? And to work on my very first UK wedding ever?
PRICELESS!
The lyrics to "Joining the Circle" are below. To hear the song, please click the player link!
Joining the Circle
Words and Music by Jennifer Haase c 2010
This is our love letter
To each other and to you
Becoming one as family
Means much more than just we two
It takes a village to build love a road
Surprises and memories we’ve molded with gold to
Join in a circle
With these wedding bands
With kindred and friends
And this love is worth more
Now that we stand
Woman and Man
Joining the circle
Fair cream-colored roses
In a church where lords once prayed
Blessings for our marriage
Full of heritage and grace
But these are just sanctuary walls
Until we sons and daughters all
Join in a circle
With these wedding bands
With kindred and friends
And this love is worth more
Now that we stand
Woman and man
Joining the circle
Holding close the spirits
In the heirlooms on our hands
Feeling just as breathless as the days
This love began to
Join in a circle
With these wedding bands
With kindred and friends
And this love is worth more
Now that we stand
Woman and man
Joining the circle
Special Thanks to....
Nigel & Claire Sholl for being true champions of the power of family love. I'm so honored to join your circle, too, of friends who celebrate the good times--both past and present--with you.
CONGRATULATIONS!
"Hi Jennifer, our big day came and went and was fabulous, so many people asked us where we got our special song from, it was an amazing day celebrated in some style with the best first dance a couple could ever have wished for, you are an amazing talent and a brilliant songstress we truly cannot thank you enough for helping make our day so very special xx --Nigel Sholl, Custom Wedding Dance Song called "Joining the Circle", July 2010.
