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A reader asked an awesome question…
A: Before the ceremony, we had a cocktail hour with mostly swing and big band music by classic, agreeable artists like Frank Sinatra, Etta James, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, etc.
We made a playlist and just had our sound engineer run it on Windows Media Player (I know) during the wedding. We had an entrance song (I Think I Love You by the Partridge Family, a nod to my David Cassidy-obsessed mom), then had the ceremony and went right into the dancing. Here's a short list of some of the songs I remember…
First dance: Love at First Sight by Kylie Minogue
Father/daughter: What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
Mother/son: I Will Follow You by Ricky Nelson
And then to get the party started…
The Party - Justice ft. Uffie
Crazy For You - Madonna (basically tons of Madonna)
A Cause des Garcons - Yelle
Fantasy - Mariah Carey
Evil - Ladytron
Guilt is a Useless Emotion - New Order
What Them Girls Like - Ludacris
American Boy - Estelle
Toxic - Britney Spears
{Image via Snippet & Ink by John Dolan}
The first time Rich and I danced together was in the parking lot of a convenience store on the campus of a local college. I met him for a drink one evening in the first few weeks of dating. We were driving home {in separate cars}, and he suddenly pulled into said parking lot, opened his door, and turned up his radio to blast LL Cool J's Loungin' {Who Do You Love Remix}…sing it: “Who do you love…are you for sure.” Anyways! 
He began to dance and got me out of my car to dance. Ridiculously random and insanely sweet, it is a dance I will always remember.
We continue to have impromptu dance parties in our living room, but it is a rare occasion when Rich and I have the opportunity for a nice, close, slow dance. Our love for dancing and music {me the listener/occasional singer, Rich the actual musician} plays a vital role in our relationship, so naturally the first dance and song are important. Surprisingly, we do not have “a song.” You know, the one that every time it comes on the radio I sigh “Ooh it's our song, baby!” Yeah…no. So, here are my current choices for our first dance, in no particular order:
1. Sky to Blue - Phillip Roebuck {I cannot find the lyrics}
2. Stay With You - John Legend
3. Your Smiling Face - James Taylor
Real Simple has some ideas for unusual first dance songs. Perhaps I will check some of those out. Of course, they will not be so unusual anymore if everyone starts using them. 
Of course, I have James Taylor on my list, so who am I to talk?
Here's another expert's opinion on music for your reception.
Amy Serrago, of the band Nite-Time in NYC, agrees that if you can afford it, having both the band and a DJ is the best of both worlds!
A live band brings an air of excitement to any event. There is something about watching and listening to live people making music right in front of you that takes the whole experience up a notch, and your wedding is a once in a lifetime event. A professional event band should be able to cover all types of music, but this is an especially great choice if you are into rock, swing, Motown, alternative, and genres generally utilizing live instruments to create their sound. If your fiance proposed to you at a Bruce Springsteen concert, trust me, you're band people.
Dave Dionne, a DJ in Maine who has been in the wedding industry for the past 23 years has given some great insight to this subject. Here's what he has to say about the ongoing discussion! Dave Dionne:
One of the great wedding debates is whether to have a band or a DJ at your wedding reception. In either case you'll want to get an experienced wedding DJ or band! A really good wedding DJ will have quite a few advantages over a band.
Music:
The total number of songs available to a DJ has no limits (especially for those DJs using a laptop computer and having access to the internet). A music playlist for your cocktail hour, dinner and the dancing portion of the reception can easily be put together by your DJ. That means having music customized to your reception reflecting your tastes. Bands on the other hand are limited in their potential song selections. They follow their playlist and are completely limited to the songs they know (and practice) as a band. Your DJ will supply music continuously throughout the reception. Some bands are notorious for their breaks. There's nothing worse for the party than the sudden silence that accompanies a band's break!!
Read more…
Music is a beautiful element to include in your wedding. I've seen it used in really cool ways - the traditional “Here Comes The Bride” blasted over a little speaker in a park (unexpected and a beautiful moment!), or a bride's entrance to a beautiful cover of the haunting Leonard Cohen song “Hallelujah” (my personal favorite version is by
Rufus Wainwright).
Some other favorite music moments:
Here are some suggestions of fun, different songs to include in your wedding. Talk to your DJ or band beforehand to make sure they have the music. If you're DIYing your music, check with your venue or officiant to see if they have a speaker or PA system they can hook the iPod or computer up to, so everyone is sure to hear the music.
Read more…
I get asked this question so many times from my clients. This is what I'm hearing from brides today about the pros and cons of both options:
First, the classic reasons not to have a DJ or to definitely hire a band:
1. I want the crowd to really get into dancing so I have to have a band. A DJ just won't cut it.
2. DJs are so cheesy — they have props and light shows.
3. My guests expect a certain level of sophistication from us, so we have to have a band.
4. Live music just kicks things up a notch.
5. My guests want to be entertained throughout the night, and a band is just the thing!
Now the reasons why a band is not selected or why people love DJs:
1. I just can't afford a great band; I'm playing it safe and going with a DJ.
2. I want a lot of originals to be played- no one can sing like Michael Jackson!
3. There isn't a lot of room at my reception venue, and I don't want the band to take up too much space.
4. I want a lot of current music, and I know a band doesn't know all of those songs.
5. We have a very diverse group of guests, and I want to be able to have music for everyone to enjoy!
There are a lot of points I agree with here, but I want the experts to tell you their side of the story. That's why I'm going to be posting interviews from DJs, bands and ceremony/cocktail hour musicians, to tell us why they should be hired and what the pros and cons are of their individual industry.
Stay tuned over the next few weeks to learn a bit more about one of the most talked about aspects of a wedding!
This is post one of two - this is how to get music into your ceremony.
You've probably talked to your DJ or band about the music you want for the important parts of the reception (your first dance, your entrance, cutting the cake…), but have you thought about putting the music together for your ceremony?
There are a few key parts of the ceremony to include music in. And, as always, you shouldn't be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to the music for your ceremony. If you have songs that are special or have meaning to your relationship, but aren't really great dance songs, this is a great place to include them.
The Prelude:
The prelude the music that will play as your guests are seated, read through the programs, chat with each other and wait for the ceremony to begin. When I did theatre in college, we called it the “Pre-Show” music - the music that played as the audience came and sat down before the show started. We used it to get people “in the mood” for the show, to expand on the theme and idea of what people were going to see. You can use your prelude music in the same way.
If you're having a musician or performer beforehand, you can have them sing or play music as people enter. If you're using a DJ or having recorded music, it's a great place to include some classic love songs or other special music you love. For example, when one of my couples Lindsey and Ben got married, they asked their friends (and one of the groomsmen!) to perform a medley of show tunes to greet their guests. As Lindsey and Ben had met while working on a show together, it was especially appropriate.
Hello, dear readers!! Thank you for your patience with my lack of posting. 
I have been very busy with a few secret projects that I will be sure to share with you all soon. For now, let's jump right back into the swing of things…
We are sooo overdue for another installment of Fab Finds. Recently I've been chatting with a lot of my clients about personalizing their ceremonies by using unique, somewhat unexpected and completely custom-tailored music. Although there is something very elegant about using the traditional tunes à la Wagner and Pachelbel, I love hearing something fresh as a bride walks down the aisle. It's a fantastic way to infuse your wedding day with your personalities and tastes!
For my own wedding back in 2005, I used a fun mix of songs I love. The parents + bridal party walked in to “One Hand, One Heart” from West Side Story. I chose the ultra-romantic “All I Ask of You” by Andrew Lloyd Webber (from Phantom of the Opera - my favorite musical of all time) for my own teary entrance. We sang a beloved hymn during the ceremony: “Be Thou My Vision.” After we had sealed the deal with a kiss, I fulfilled a childhood fantasy by recessing to “Wouldn't It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys. Amazing and so much fun! Although we had a string quartet play the show tunes + hymn, I opted to play the Beach Boys tune off of a CD. The lyrics are so sweet!
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