When you choose wedding songs for your wedding ceremony, you need to take into consideration your spouse’s likes and dislikes as well. Planning and rehearsing the wedding songs is critical to the success and smooth flow of the ceremony on the D-day.

What Type of Wedding Songs Should You Choose?

As mentioned earlier, the wedding songs should be a job that you do with your spouse not with yourself or even friends or parents. Find out what songs he/she loves and have it on the list of a few dedicated songs that would delight you and your partner.

Besides the especially dedicated songs, you would also need to plan the flow of the songs along with the orchestra. For example when exactly the orchestra, band or DJ should play the song, where the groom dances for the first time with his bride immediately after their marriage, and so on.

The order of the wedding songs, their tempo, whether or not they should be sung with the lyrics or without are just a few of the aspects that need to be ironed out before the wedding ceremony commences.  In order to do so, you would need to rehearse with the band, DJ or other choice at least two to three times, just as you would be dancing at the wedding.

Add a Little Spice to Your Wedding

If you would be inclined to add a little spice to the wedding ceremony, have an impromptu singing competition where your guests would have to sing any song that could be dedicated to you separately or as a couple. You could also offer token prizes for the person who dances the most, the best and the most outrageous. It is very much in your hands to make your wedding as much fun-filled as you would have it and wedding songs are a great medium for doing this.

In order to bend it a little, surprise your guests with a different genre of songs well selected to match the wedding environment. You could also call on stage in the middle of the celebrations a famous vocalist, or offer to sing yourself a song you have dedicated to your spouse; or ask your parents to sing their favorite song – if there is any.

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Some couples choose wedding music with lyrics that are meaningful because of their relationship – lyrics that relate to where or how they met, how they became engaged etc. Other couples want to use traditional wedding music, with lyrics that reflect the couple’s commitment and new beginnings together.

While live soloists still sing at some weddings, most couples today prefer to play a recording of a popular artist singing the lyrics. Wedding music is usually played from the beginning of the ceremony through the end of the reception, so there are plenty of opportunities to fit in the wedding music lyrics that the couple wants.

When Are the Songs Played?

Wedding music, sometimes with lyrics, sometimes instrumental only, is played before the ceremony as guests are being seated, during the processional when the bride and bridesmaids walk up the aisle, during the ceremony, and during the recessional, when the newly married couple walks back down the aisle together.

At the reception, wedding music lyrics might be played during the bride and groom’s first dance, during the bride’s father-daughter dance with her father, the groom’s mother-son dance with his mother or during a dance of the wedding party only. Music is also played while the cake is being cut, during the “dollar dance,” when the maid of honor and best man collect money for the couple, during the garter and bouquet toss, and during the last dance of the night that marks the end of the wedding reception.

Wedding Music Lyrics During the Ceremony

During the wedding ceremony, the couple might want to play one of several songs that have a time honored tradition as wedding music. Lyrics to these songs often refer to the couple’s love for each other or their new life together. For example:

Unchained Melody, originally recorded by The Righteous Brothers, who sing, “My love, my darling, I hunger for your touch…I’ll be coming home. Wait for me.”

In My Life, originally recorded by The Beatles: “Though I know I’ll never lose affection for people and things that went before, I know I’ll often stop and think about them; in my life, I love you more.

Love Me Tender, recorded by Elvis Presley or Norah Jones: “You have made my life complete, and I love you so.”

These three sentimental favorites have classic lyrics. Wedding music during the ceremony often includes one or more of these songs. The lyrics of the music the DJ plays during the reception are also important, but reception music is primarily dance music, so the lyrics often play a background role to a music’s melody and beat.

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Oh how times have changed as now the wedding music is just as much a part of the personal statement the bride and groom are making as the invitations or the party favors.  When people have a big church wedding they are still choosing their wedding music from the classics on the list but more and more couples are having their weddings in other kinds of halls. Therefore choosing wedding music that is personal and important to them is starting to affect the way that churches hold weddings. Also, more churches are allowing personalized music selections to appease the new generation of wedding planners.

Everyone knows that the music at the reception is going to be the ultimate expression of personal taste from the bride and groom.  At my wedding reception my wife and I chose a song by 2 Live Crew for the cake cutting music and I will leave it to you to figure out which song.  The point is that more couples want complete control of all aspects of their wedding which is the way it should be.

Long gone are the days when the church will just tell you that the bride will come to the altar to the ever familiar Here Comes The Bride and long gone are the days when the church will pick the somber music to be played as your wedding music.  Now couples are putting that choice into their hands and more people are enjoying their weddings planned just the way they like it.

It Is Still the Bride’s Day

Even though the wedding music is a personal expression of the couple it is usually the bride that chooses her own music that she will march down the aisle to.  This is usually a very personal choice and in some cases I have seen the bride choose wedding music that is a tribute to her father who is the one that walks her down the aisle.  It does a heart good to know that kids want to take a part of their special day and dedicate it to their parents.  It gives hope for the future.

In some cases the bridal march is collaboration between the bride and groom but when that happens it is usually a song they both feel strongly about.  Of course they will save their song for the first dance at the reception but there is no doubt that wedding music is rapidly becoming an expression of the bride and groom as well.

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Right away is the time to plan your wedding music. Good talent gets booked fast and you don’t want to end up having to select the brand new DJ with only a few weddings under his belt or something even worse. Booking your music a full year in advance is advisable but at a minimum, you should know who will be showing up and what he or she will be playing at least six months prior to the wedding date.

For most weddings, selecting the music for the wedding ceremony isn’t that complicated because most often, it’s controlled by the person in charge at the location where the ceremony will take place. When you’re researching your wedding ceremony options, be sure to inquire about any guidelines with respect to wedding ceremony music as these could possibly impact your decision. If the ceremony is being held outdoors, check for electrical hook-ups or book live musicians.

Wedding music during the ceremony is basically secondary to the ceremony itself so the music is really meant to sort of ‘fill in the gaps’ during the non-speaking periods such as while guests are being seated, during the procession, and while lighting the unity candles. Of course, it’s your wedding and it can be custom-designed.

The music that’s played at the reception, however, is going to mean the difference between a successful reception and one that’s ho-hum. And this is where things can start to get complicated. When you begin searching for wedding reception music, you’ll realize rather quickly that you have a lot of options. You can book a live band, or a DJ that’ll play pre-recorded music, or you can buy that CD full of top wedding songs and have someone act as the DJ.

It’s important that you both agree on the type of wedding music you want played at your reception. There are ‘traditional’ songs that almost always are played at certain points during the reception such as the father/daughter dance, the cake cutting, the dollar dance and so on. And then there is all the music in between. Do you want jazz, country, R&B, new age, Italian, Latin, Jewish-inspired, or a little bit of everything? That’s an important decision to make because the musicians you select have to be able to deliver what you want or you won’t be happy.

Try to book experienced professionals for your wedding music. Always ask for and check references. Even contact the Better Business Bureau. If booking live talent, arrange to hear a live performance before booking. Scrutinize the contract before signing to make sure all parties agree on the number of hours music will be provided and that everything that has been agreed to is in writing. Find out the cancellation and refund policy, too.

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The first thing to consider is whether you want a live band or a DJ to perform at your wedding.  There are a couple of things to consider when deciding between a live band or a DJ.  The first thing is price.  A DJ is likely to cost considerably less than a live band.  A DJ is usually just one person or possibly two people while a band usually consists of an average of about five performers.  Right there is where you typically see a rise in cost because the fee you see in bands is usually split between quite a few people and therefore higher than the fee for one or two DJs.  Next you need to consider selection.  Many bands that perform at weddings have a set list that is typically not as long as the list of recorded music that the DJ has on hand.  While this may not seem important because there are not many songs played during the wedding it does come into play if guests request individual songs.  The other thing to consider is that a DJ is capable of keeping the crowd entertained for the entire duration of the wedding. They usually even play light music while dinner is being served.  Bands however usually play approximately 15 minute sets at a time and then take a break which could interrupt the flow of the wedding.  When choosing between a band and a DJ it is important to consider these factors and decide which works best for you.

The most important tip for choosing a live band or DJ is to make sure that you have the opportunity to see them perform before you commit to their services.  Most live bands and DJs that perform at weddings gain popularity through their performances at other weddings.  The best way to find a live band or DJ that will do a great job at your wedding is to use a live band or DJ that you enjoyed at the wedding of a friend or family members.

In choosing a live band or DJ it is imperative that you ensure that your contract specifies the exact names of those who will be performing at your wedding.  This is usually not a problem with a live band because they usually have the same members present at all of their performances.  DJs on the other hand are a different story.  Many DJs become so popular that they are unable to perform at all of their committed parties.  In this case a DJ may offer your party to another DJ for a small finder’s fee.  In other words the DJ may essential sell the right to perform at your party to another local DJ.  Additionally a very popular DJ may also have a number of younger, less experienced DJs that sometimes work for him.  If you suspect that this is the case, it is important to make sure that your contract specifies exactly who will be performing at your wedding.

You may find that there are a variety of live bands and DJs available for hire in your area.  This could make choosing just one a difficult task.  One great way to ensure that you are choosing a good live band or DJ is to seek recommendations from close friends or family members.  If you didn’t attend their wedding or don’t remember their entertainment, ask them if they would recommend their live band or DJ.  If they do come highly recommended, ask your friend or family member if you can borrow a copy of their wedding video.  Pay special attention to the parts of the video where the guests are dancing and decide if you think the live band or DJ might work for your wedding. 

Although you may be certain that you wish to hire a particular band or DJ but try to interview at least three to five potential candidates before making your final decision just for comparison.  You may find you feel more comfortable with a service provider or that there is another band or DJ that suits your needs better than your previously preferred candidate.  Finally, once you make your decision make sure you obtain a detailed contract that specifies all of the details of your wedding as well as all of your expectations. 

 

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