It’s safe to say that out of all the events for which you will gather
your friends and family to celebrate your marriage, the wedding
ceremony itself will be the most meaningful and, hopefully, memorable.
In the United States, music plays many vital roles in the wedding
ceremony, from providing flow and ambiance to highlighting the deeper
emotional meaning. Many former brides and grooms remember the songs
played at their weddings for the rest of their lives, and they can
relive that romantic day when hearing those songs again.
Since music is so important to your wedding ceremony, I always
advise hiring one or more live, experienced, professional musicians to
handle it. Qualified, well-researched musicians will be able to tailor
the music in real time to fit what is going on in your ceremony, which
will help one part flow effortlessly into the next. Also, you’ll find
it truly ties together all of the visual and verbal elements, from the
flowers to the vows, with timeless style and class.
For the music, most American wedding ceremonies have six major parts, each with their own special requirements:
1. The prelude
2. The wedding party’s processional
3. The bride’s processional
4. The interlude
5. The recessional
6. The postlude
If you do not want to choose individual songs for your ceremony,
experienced wedding musicians will be able to play appropriate songs in
the right places. But picking out your own music can be more meaningful
and satisfying. The first decision you should make that will guide you
in your choices is whether you want your music to be traditional and
classic or lesser-known but unique. The professional wedding musicians
you hire should have a supply of music from both categories in their
repertoire.
The Prelude
The purpose of the prelude music is to welcome guests as they are
being seated before the ceremony. It also should give a cheerful yet
subdued atmosphere, setting the stage for the solemnity of the event.
The prelude generally begins 15 to 20 minutes before the ceremony start
time, and it often involves quite a few songs. Because of this, it’s
best to give the musician(s) an idea of the genre of music you want and
leave the individual song choices up to their discretion. Since the
prelude sets the tone for the rest of the ceremony, it’s a good idea to
base your genre choice on the type of music you will be using later in
the ceremony. Popular genre choices include Classical, Love Songs,
Jazz, and Broadway, and these genres can be mixed together within the
prelude to suit your taste. Each of these genres has sub-categories
(Baroque or Romantic Classical music, old or new love songs, etc.), but
it’s safe to leave those choices up to the musicians unless you have
strong feelings one way or another.
The Wedding Party’s Processional
The wedding party’s processional marks the official beginning of the
ceremony. It should have a slow but flowing feel, ushering the
beautiful bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party down the
aisle. Perhaps the classic example here is Canon in D by Pachelbel, but
you should listen to various musical selections to find a song that
strikes a chord with you.
The Bride’s Processional
The bride’s processional can be an incredible moment, as memorable
to everyone involved as the vows or any other part of the ceremony. You
should choose a very special song here. If you go with Classical music,
the obvious traditional choice is Wagner’s Bridal Chorus (“Here Comes
the Bride”). But any Classical piece that strikes you as particularly
beautiful or meaningful can be used here. If you’re going with jazz,
pop, or Broadway, use a song with beautiful music as well as lyrics
that are meaningful to you. Even if you don’t have a singer at your
wedding, the lyrics to a popular song will still play in everyone’s
minds when they hear the melody.
The Interlude
The interlude can actually be many different moments in the
ceremony, my very loose definition being any time there are no words
being spoken for a minute or more. For most ceremonies, the interlude
is the unity candle, memorial candle, or rose presentation. These are
moments of quiet reflection, and the music you choose should encourage
this mood. A popular and appropriate unity candle choice is The Wedding
Song, partly because the lyrics mention the word “union.” Sweet
Classical favorites include Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach, Ave
Maria by Schubert, and Meditation from Thais by Massenet.
The Recessional
At last, time to celebrate! The wedding officiant’s pronouncement of
husband and wife is followed by enthusiastic applause and joyous
recessional music as the happy couple leads the way back up the aisle.
The song you choose should be bright and upbeat, inviting everyone to
celebrate your union. The top traditional choice for the recessional is
Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. A close second and third are Beethoven’s
Ode to Joy and Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary. But any song with a joyous
feel that speaks to you will work well in this spot.
The Postlude
The postlude sets a pleasant atmosphere as guests are leaving. It
can last between 10 and 30 minutes, so it’s best to treat the postlude
like the prelude and simply give the musicians an idea of what you
want. Experienced wedding musicians will play postlude music that is
refined but upbeat, adding the finishing touch to your beautiful
ceremony.
The best starting point for specific ceremony music ideas is the
repertoire list on the website (or in paper form) of the musicians you
are hiring. The songs listed there are usually ones that the musicians
are requested to play frequently and that the musicians know very well.
Talk with your musicians as far in advance of the ceremony as possible
about your musical selections. This way, if you have a special request
that is not in the musicians’ repertoire, they may be able to
accommodate it.
Lastly, have fun with the process of choosing your music! You can
make listening to possible ceremony music a wonderful opportunity to
slow down in the midst of your hectic planning and reflect on the love
that you and your partner feel for each other. Music has the power to
express this beautiful sentiment to all of your friends and family
during your wedding ceremony, so take advantage of it!
WEDDING RECEPTION PERFECTION, TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
Over the past years I have performed at many, many wedding receptions.
From my experiences I've come up with some keys to help insure a
smooth, enjoyable and trouble-free day. I'd like to share them with
you.
DJ Location and Setup
Since your entertainer will need to be heard by all attending, he/she
needs to be in an area that is open and visible to all. Do not hide
your entertainer in a corner or in the back of the room. The music
levels required to reach the dancers and guests would be most
uncomfortable for those near the DJ. If you must have your entertainer
in the back or corner see if the hall can provide a stage, this will
help with visibility and sound quality.
The Seating Plan
Make an effort to seat older guests and young children away from the DJ
area. The sound levels needed to cover the entire hall will be too loud
at the source for your older guests. Young children tend to run around
and could trip on equipment, wires, video light setups, etc. Seat the
young adults to middle aged guests by the DJ area, they are typically
not upset by the music nearby.
Most halls, without prior word from you, will set up the
entertainers, videographer, and photographer in a separate room for
dinner, this is inadvisable. The DJ needs to be in the hall to keep the
music going during dinner and to interact with your guests. The
videographer and photographer should be there as well to capture any
spontaneous acts by you and your guests. If you are going to provide a
meal for your professionals I recommend setting up a smaller cocktail
style table (to save space) next to the DJ area for the entertainers.
If a separate table is not possible then seat them at the closest table
to the DJ area.
The Plan of Events
Your entertainer should finalize your plan
of events in a reference style format for you and your event
professionals. This reference sheet should also be shared with your
wedding party during your rehearsal dinner. This way everyone in the
wedding party will have an idea of what will be happening the next day.
Party On!
With any wedding the main focus will be on the bride,
groom, and wedding party. It is imperative that these key players are
in the room, and together at all times. Should the bar be located far
from the dance floor, or in another room more often than not the groom
and ushers will congregate there. This leaves bridesmaids without dance
partners (which is sometimes how they like it!). Keep this in mind if
your hall gives you an option as to the location of a mobile bar.
Position the bar as close to the dance floor area as possible.
Everyone loves children, however children's behavior (running,
sliding, jumping) can effect your dance floor environment. Ask your
function hall if there is an area (photo room, separate room) that is
available to you. Ask a friend, family member or even a baby sitter to
monitor the kids, help them with their meals, and entertain them with
games, stories, and activities. This will give their parents a chance
to relax and really enjoy the evening knowing their children are being
taken care of. Plus you'll be saving the dance floor for the dancers!
It's great to give your DJ a list of your favorite selections to play.
However, sometimes your favorites are not the ones that will move your
dance floor. Give your DJ the flexibility he/she needs to work in your
guest's requests, sure hit selections, and your personal favorites.
Have confidence in your entertainer. Since they have played to many
audiences they are best qualified to find the right mix to motivate you
and your guests.
The night is a success and there is only one hour left. This is the
time to let the entertainer know that you wish to extend the services.
This way they can tailor the music accordingly. Also, be sure to check
with your function coordinator and other professionals on their charges
and requirements for time extensions.
Changing At The End
Should you decided to change clothes before
your last dance, you should determine ahead of time how long it will
take, then plan to be changed and ready 15 minutes before the end of
the event. This will give you time for your last song (4-6 minutes) and
time to say good-bye and thank you to your friends and guests (9-11
minutes).
HOW TO CHOOSE A DJ
Choosing a DJ for your function is one of the most important decisions
you can make to insure the success of the event. Everything else can be
perfect, but if the music isn't good, the party will fizzle. Selecting
the right DJ can be confusing. There are over 15,000 DJs in America,
all promising they'll do a great job for you. So how do you pick the
right one for you? This article will provide some guidance to help you
make the decision easier.
The best and easiest way to find a DJ you'll like is to hire one you've
already seen. If you've been to a wedding or a party where the DJ was
great, find out who he or she was. If you didn't get their card, ask
the host or the manager of the function room where the party was held.
If you haven't seen a good DJ recently, ask your friends. Your friends
probably have the same taste in music as you. Maybe they've been to a
function you missed. Let them know ahead of time you'll be looking, and
ask them to keep their eyes and ears open.
If the first two suggestions don't work, your job gets tougher. You
might have to go to the Yellow Pages. Look under Disc Jockeys, Music
and Entertainment. You may find DJs listed any of these categories.
Circle the ads in which the DJ mentions the type of party you are
planning. For example, if you're planning a wedding, a DJ whose ad says
"We specialize in weddings" would be a good one to call. You'll
probably find several DJs whose ads look good.
How do you tell which one is best? Probably the worst way to choose a
DJ is on price alone. Some DJs are more expensive than others. Prices
can range from $100 to $2,000 for a 4 hour event. That's quite a
difference, and it would be very temping to choose the cheapest
alternative. If that's all you can afford, than you have no choice.
But, consider the law of supply and demand. There is a reason some DJs
charge more money than others. They are usually worth it. More
expensive DJs tend to be the more experienced DJs. They can charge more
because they have a lot of jobs, and they have a good reputation.
Generally, the DJs on the low end of the price scale are new to the
business, and trying to get established. They could do a great job, and
might be worth a shot if your party is on the informal side. But there
is probably more risk with a less experienced person.
As you speak with the DJs, pay attention to their professionalism over
the phone. It tends to spill over into their DJ style. The most
important thing to ask about is their experience with your type of
event. If you are planning an event like a wedding, school dance, or
company party, it would be normal to expect a professional DJ to have
performed for at least 20 of these events. A number in the hundreds is
actually common for a DJ who is well established.
DJs with less experience might also do a good job. And they'll usually
cost less. If you talk to one who sounds interesting, ask them for
references. Get 5 or 6 names and phone numbers of people who have
recently hired them. Call these references and ask about the DJ's
performance. Any DJ can easily give you 2 or 3 names. Getting more
names is a better test of the quality of their performance.
You might also ask the DJ if they are performing in a location where
you could see them. If so, make a visit, unannounced. Observe how the
DJ interacts with the crowd. Are people having fun? Are people dancing?
Is the music too loud? Is the DJ dressed appropriately? These are all
good clues to the DJ's skills and personality.
Always ask the DJ about their request policy on requests. The best DJs
will take requests from the audience and work them into their routine.
However, do not expect the DJ to play every request. Many requests are
simply inappropriate for the mood of the event. A good DJ is not a
jukebox, he will blend requests with songs he feels will properly
motivate the crowd. The art of DJing is timing, and this takes
experience. Forcing a DJ to ignore his or her instincts by making them
play every request will result in an "uneven" (and less fun) party. On
the other hand, the DJ should try to play as many of your audience's
requests as possible. Try to get a feel for their philosophy of
requests as you interview them. It is also appropriate to give a DJ a
list of 5 or 6 songs you "must have". Just don't make that list 15 or
20 songs long.
Many DJs boast about the number of songs they have. While variety is
great, the fact is that they will only be able to play about 60 to 70
songs in a four hour show. Having the right 60 songs is a lot more
important than having 5,000 songs your crowed doesn't want to hear.
After you tell the DJ what type of party you are having and who the
audience will be, ask them what type of music they'd suggest. You
should feel comfortable with most of his or her selections.
Many DJs also boast about having great equipment. Unless you are
familiar with professional audio gear, you probably won't know the
difference between which brands are great and which are budget.
However, your DJ should at least have professional grade equipment. If
they brand names you are familiar with at the local electronics
retailer, that is cause for further questioning. Home stereo equipment
is not designed to stand up under 4-5 hours of high volume use. It
could fail in the middle of your party! For example, typical
professional DJ power amplifiers usually have 300 to 1000 watts per
channel, where consumer amplifiers that are considered powerful may
only have 100 watts per channel.
Some DJ companies have more than one DJ working for them. In this case,
it's important to get references on the particular DJ who will be
assigned to your show. Even if the company has been around for ten
years, they might have hired your DJ last week. He might be a pro
himself, or he might be newly trained. Be sure who you're getting.
The perfect DJ for you will be affordable, experienced at your type of
event, and have great references. There are probably a lot of DJs out
there who fit that description. As you search, remember that above all,
you want your event to be fun.
HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD SPEND ON ENTERTAINMENT
Wedding costs are a major concern for most, as well they should be. How
much to spend for food, gown and tux's, location, photographer and, of
course, entertainment.
All of these expenses can be reduced, but which ones should be and why?
If you get your food from McDonalds, you'll never hear the end of it,
but if you provide steak and lobster, how many will remember? Quite a
few, for no other reason than it's out of the ordinary. But if your
having chicken, roast beef or fish (standard dinners) how many people
will remember what they ate 6 months later?
If you buy the fanciest dress and the best Tuxedo's, you will look
FABULOUS in all your pictures, but many people now rent not only the
Tuxedo's, but also the gowns! It saves them money and, lets face it,
it's unlikely that you will ever wear that gown again.
When it comes to photographers, you will want to spend a large portion
of your budget on getting one of the best! After all, those pictures
will last a lifetime. If you don't have a great photographer, you're
not going to get great pictures. So you don't really want to skimp too
much there. That wedding album is something you will keep out on your
coffee table for a long time and guests from your wedding will want to
see those pictures of you and them.
As far as videographers go, most couples watch their wedding video an
average of 5-6 times with family and friends, so this can be an
expensive cost for 5-6 viewings.
Locations can have a wide variety of costs, ranging from free into the
thousands. You need to balance this out also because saving money by
having it outdoors at a park could also mean losing guests early on
because of the weather and temperature. You don't want them to leave
early do you?
Finally, we come to entertainment. It's almost always the last thing
thought about and to many it's the place where couples try to find a
bargain. There is just one problem with that theory: 80% of the success
of your event will depend on the entertainment!
That's right. Think about it! If you don't have any entertainment, then
most of your guests will leave right after they eat. Conversely, if you
didn't have any food, but still had entertainment, most would probably
stay for a while. You need both, but what kind of balance? Can your
guests be happy with hors d'oeuvres and/or veggie platters? Actually
most can! They will also be happy with just about any decent meal,
which is why so much chicken is served at weddings. They won't care
that much what the meal is as long as it tastes good and is filling.
You and your guests are there to CELEBRATE your marriage. To
participate in it, to share that special day for you. Which is where
entertainment plays a MAJOR role in providing you and your guests a
happy, festive and fun time!
I have been to (and performed at) many weddings, and believe me, some
have had some awful food, but with good entertainment they turned what
could have been a bad meal into a fun time!
So why do so many couples want to spend such a small amount on
entertainment? After all, that is what will ultimately make or break
your event, right? We think nothing of spending $20-30 per person for
food, but then we want to 'shop around' for the cheapest entertainment
we can find, often spending less than 5% of the events costs.
Don't you think it's worth spending 10-20% on Entertainment if it makes
up 80% of the time and, more importantly, the SUCCESS of your event? Of
course it is.
Entertainment usually comes in two forms: Live bands or Disc Jockeys
Which should you choose? Well, that depends on you, some people like
the 'live' sound, others prefer the sound of original artists (DJ
music). There are advantages and disadvantages to both, and although I
am a DJ/MC myself, I won't address those issues here.
In either case, it's important to keep in mind that there are good
bands and bad bands, and there are good DJ's and bad DJ's. We have all
heard the horror stories of having a bad DJ/Band and nobody wants bad
entertainment. But like food, the quality often depends on the price!
You can spend lots of money (10-20%) to hire DJ 'Filet', or skimp
(1-5%) and get DJ 'MickeyD'. But remember, this is a once-in-a-lifetime
event for most, and so you only get once chance.
So when trying to decide how much you can afford for entertainment,
think about how much you can LOSE if your entertainment is poor or
mediocre. Look for professionals and pay them what they are worth.
After all, if you want the best, it will (and should) cost more, in the
long run, they will provide more than a mediocre entertainer would.
Remember: "They'll forget the food, but not the fun!"
Affordable Disposable Wedding Cameras
Disposable
Wedding Cameras are a wonderful way to capture candid moments of your
wedding day. Sure you'll hire a professional photographer taking
photographs for you, but he/she can't possibly capture all of the
special happenings going on throughout the reception.
DISPOSABLE WEDDING CAMERAS
If you leave just one or two disposable wedding cameras on each table,
guests are usually delighted to snap photos for you! You can leave a
special note (or table tent) with each camera explaining why the
disposable wedding cameras are there. You can even add a list of what
events or people you would especially love for your guests to capture
in a photo for you. This can be expecially fun for a table of guests
who are not to familiar with one another, it can break the ice and
allow for some group fun!
VARIETY OF CAMERAS
There are so many different varieties of disposable wedding cameras you
can choose from today. Some of the different types and features in
disposable wedding cameras are:
**Indoor/Outdoor with flash one time use- these are the most popular and can be used in any situation.
**Zoom one time use cameras - these disposable cameras actually
have a zoom feature to focus right in on the subject of the photo.
**Continuous flash-Once the flash button is pushed an internal
battery continually recharges the flash until the camera is not used
for a few minutes.
**Digital one time use cameras- with digital, you can develop
the photos on a cd. Be aware that some digital cameras have a delayed
shutter so candid photos may be missed if your guests are not familiar
with the delay.
**Black & White film- usually black and white tends to be
more expensive than color, and it gives your photos a completely
different look.
**Color film- the most popular and least expensive
**15 to 36 exp- depending on what your budget is, you can have as little or as many photos as you like
**Personalized cameras- Some camera sellers can customize your
disposable wedding camera with, for example, your name and wedding
date. Or, another example would be to customize the camera colors to
coordinate with your wedding reception colors.
Some tips and advice:
Most cameras come with 400 speed 35mm
film which works well in almost any situation. As a caution, disposable
cameras probably focus four feet maximum and that the flash usually
works about twelve feet from the subject or less.
Be sure to purchase cameras with at least one year dating, just in case you need the extra time.
Some of the cameras are recycled, i.e. refilled with film and
resold, so if you're looking for only brand new cameras, be sure to
ask.
Number your cameras to get an idea of which table of guests took each of the photos.
Disposable wedding cameras usually cost from $5.50 to $10.00,
but are usually cheaper when buying in bulk. Some sellers have a
minimum quantity to order between 10-12 cameras.
Disposable wedding cameras are an inexpensive way to capture
special moments of your wedding day. Assign a friend or family member
to be responsible for collecting the cameras when the reception is
over. If you send them in the mail to be developed(or have a friend do
it) you'll be pleasantly surprised when you get back from your
honeymoon to find photos in your mailbox! You can relive your wedding
again from your guests eyes and see some moments you may have never
seen without your disposable wedding cameras.
Wedding Music Suggestions
The choices you make for your wedding music is a very important part of planning your wedding.
We have compiled a list of the most popular wedding songs to make it easy for you to choose your favorites.
Enjoy our wedding song suggestions!
First Dance Songs
Mother/Son Dance
A Song For Mama - Boyz II Men
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Don't Know Much - Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville
Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison
Hero - Mariah Carey
Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel
Through The Years - Kenny Rogers
Unforgettable - Natalie & Nat King Cole
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
You're The Inspiration - Chicago
I Am Your Child - Barry Manilow
A Song For My Son - Mikki Viereck
I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
Times Of Your Life - Paul Anka
I Hope You Dance - Leann Womack
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra
Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John
The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
You Light Up My Life - Debbie Boone
You've Got A Friend - James Taylor
Imagine - John Lennon
Bridal Party Dance
All My Life - K-Ci & JoJo
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Celebration - Kool and the Gang
Endless Love - Lionel Ritchie & Diana Ross
Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung
Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks
From this Moment - Shania Twain & Bryan White
I Do (Cherish You) - Mark Wills
I'll Be There for You - The Rembrandts
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
It's Your Love - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
That's What Friends Are For - Dionne Warwick
Shower the People - James Taylor
Truly, Madly, Deeply - Savage Garden
We Are Family - Sister Sledge
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
YMCA - Village People
You're Still the One - Shania Twain
You've Got a Friend - James Taylor
Cake Cutting
Cut The Cake - Average White Band
From This Moment - Shania Twain/Bryan White
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) - James Taylor
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) - Marvin Gaye
I Don't Want to Miss A Thing - Aerosmith
I Got You Babe - Sonny and Cher
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
I Swear - John Michael Montgomery
It Had To Be You - Harry Connick, Jr.
It's Your Love - Faith Hill and Tim McGraw
Love and Marriage - Frank Sinatra
Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire - David Foster Orchestra
Recipe For Love - Harry Connick Jr.
Sugar, Sugar - The Archies
That's Amore - Dean Martin
Theme from "Jaws" - John Williams
The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
Unforgettable - Natalie & Nat King Cole
Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
Bad Boys - Inner Circle
Do Ya Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart
Gimme All Your Lovin' - ZZ Top
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Heaven - Bryan Adams
I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls
Kiss - Prince
Legs - ZZ Top
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Macho Man - Village People
Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top
Wild Thing - The Troggs
U Can't Touch This - MC Hammer
You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate
Always And Forever - Heatwave
Closing Time - Semisonic
Could I Have This Dance - Anne Murray
From This Moment On - Shania Twain & Bryan White
Hit The Road Jack - Buster Poindexter
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith
I Love The Way You Love Me - John Michael Montgomery
I Swear - John Michael Montgomery
Looks Like We Made It - Barry Manilow
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffet
The Party's Over - Nat King Cole
To Make You Feel My Love - Garth Brooks
Truly, Madly, Deeply - Savage Garden