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"The songwriters, producers and musicians behind ‘Chapel of Love’ explain why it wasn’t the Crystals’ version or the Ronettes’ recording but the Dixie Cups’ charmer that topped the charts for three weeks in June 1964"

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-dixie-cups-and-chapel-of-love-1434472856?tesla=y

Cool story. It's interesting how things come together like that. Very fascinating. I had no idea about the Red Bird record label either. I always loved seeing the red bird with a guitar while scrounging for records.  :)

In Ronnie Spector's autobiography she says she and the other Ronettes were convinced it would be a smash if Phil released their version, and they were mad at him when he didn't.
I think the Dixie Cups did it better though.
First time I heard this song properly it was the Jonathan Richman/Spitballs version which is very different! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vv48KzMFtA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vv48KzMFtA)

Great little article. Thanks for that, R.

I like the comment by Paul Dacher: "Yes, there was a time marriage was the subject of pop songs. And producers knew what a celeste is."  ;D

It occurred to me some time ago that Chapel Of Love had a fair amount of influence on Brian. The horn break he uses in the lead up to the bridge of Wouldn't It Be Nice sounds very much inspired by the horn break in Chapel Of Love, the one leading into the second verse.

And maybe this is stretching it a bit, but I hear melodic phrases in the celeste part at the end of Chapel that hint at things like the descending glockenspiel and muted guitar notes in Surf's Up and the short ascending/descending chromatic phrase used in Wind Chimes/Can't Wait Too Long.

Even the instrumental figure leading up to the chorus of Help Me Rhonda sounds like it's adapting Chapel Of Love's vocal melody at , 'gee, I really love  you and we're'

This is what I hear.