The music you walk down the aisle to on your wedding day might not be one of the most pressing matters on your mind as you plan your big day, but it certainly isn’t a detail that should be overlooked. Your options are vast, but it’s beneficial to keep a few things in mind while choosing the right tunes for your wedding march:

Does it fit your style?
If you and your fiancé spend all of your free time at rock shows where at least half of the audience leaves with a bloody nose, it might not be true to your nature to hire a concert harpist. That’s not to say that harpists aren’t a completely viable option, but it might be prudent to think long and hard about what sort of music represents your personal tastes. If you and your fiancé are huge fans of the Beatles, there is no rule that says you can’t march up to the altar to “When I’m 64,” though “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road” might make your future mother in law fall out of her chair.

Recommended Tunes: Apocalyptica; Finnish Cello Rock .

Will it give your grandmother a heart attack?
If your family is super conservative, and the last piece of contemporary music they heard was Lady Gaga at the mall (and it ruffled their feathers), you might not want to start your big day off with a hearty recording of “Enter Sandman.” While you want to be true to who you are (and the music that you care about), it often isn’t worth it to alienate your family with R&B hits that feature the word “booty” more than once. Consider alternatives such as string quartet versions of contemporary songs (or softcore live versions of songs. Did anyone see the acoustic “Hey Ya” on “Scrubs”?). You get the music you love, and your grandmother survives the ceremony.

Recommended Tunes: Vitamin String Quartet; Famous for string versions of contemporary tunes from Black Sabbath and Bob Dylan to Green Day and Dragonforce.

Is it meaningful?
If the traditional wedding march really is your thing, by all means, set the cellist at it. But if you and your fiancé are choosing your own wedding march, don’t be afraid to pick a song that is meaningful to your relationship. Was the song you danced to at prom “Time After Time”? Did you catch him crying while listening to “I’ll Follow You into the Dark”? Nothing is cheesy if it’s meaningful – don’t let your friends or family bully you into a decision if it isn’t something you really want.

Recommended Tunes: Beatles String Quartet Tribute; Everyone knows a meaningful Beatles song.

Is it realistic?
Most venues can accommodate a boom box and a mix tape along with your aisle runner and unity candle, so seriously consider how fancy you want to get after that. If you have your heart set on a live string quartet but you would have to sacrifice the open bar, remember that quality recorded versions of string music do exist, and your guests probably won’t throw their hands up in rage if they can’t see where the sitarist is. Remember also that bands you hire for your reception are usually fine with showing up a little early for some ceremony mood music (for an extra fee – though it’s much smaller than hiring two separate musical groups).

Recommended Tunes: Andrea Bocelli; A beautiful voice known for slow, romantic songs. Cheaper than hiring Josh Groban to show up to your wedding.