First, I realize that many brides won’t have the privilege or the pleasure of sharing a dance with their father. I’d be happy to offer suggestions based on your individual situation. There are ways to pay tribute to your dad and/or express your appreciation to other significant people in your life. For this article, I’d like to assume that your father will be there on your wedding day, and you are looking forward to this dance.

When beginning your search for songs to dance with your Father, you should first decide whether this dance is ‘from you to him’ or ‘from him to you’. Once you decide this, your song selection will naturally narrow itself to songs with lyrics appropriate for either situation. Also, certain songs will feel more fitting based on whether they are sung by a male or female artist. Another aspect of the perception of the dance which you might want to consider in the early stages is your dad’s opinion. You might want to see if your father has a preference of songs or ideas about the dance. I am sure there are some fathers who have been anticipating this day much longer than the bride has… believe it!

My second bit of advice is to avoid making the song selection a surprise. With all that is going on at the moment you dance, it’s not likely that the impact of a song you delicately chose will make the impression you hoped for. One of the last things on your father’s mind at this moment is to listen to the lyrics of a song to try and figure out why you chose it. On the contrary, if you provide him with a copy of the selected song in advance, he can listen to and absorb it so that when he hears the first note, his emotions will be triggered.

Finally, as I have mentioned in some of my previous posts, think about the dance. Picture how you anticipate it happening… really put yourself in the moment. Will you dance formally with proper posture (dad holding your hand at shoulder height), will you be sobbing and hugging him, or will he be twirling you around? Depending on the importance of the dance, you might want to give it a go once before the big day. Get the kinks out so you can focus on the reality and significance of the dance.

The three-page list of songs contained in this post is a collection of songs that I have either discovered over the years or that my clients have used. I’m sure there are many more possibilities. I hope this list might give you a few ideas that you might otherwise have not considered.

We all know that the music makes the party—but what’s making the music this year? With the introduction of newer than new technology, there is a plethora of ways to make a medley out of any and all kinds of music sources. In 2010, look for less of the boring background music and more of this:

Customized Tunes: Budget-friendly and dead-on with your favorite music, just bring your own ipod and have a sound technician there to set it all up and monitor the volume. What better way to get exactly what you want?

Video DJ’s: Mix masters at their greatest, video-dj’s artfully intertwine great music with rockin’ video. The video can feature the actual crow dancing, music video’s that match the songs, or video’s provided by the bride and groom. Interactive and entertaining, the specialists can capture the party unlike anyone else.

Traditional Tributes: Old-fashioned multi-piece bands complete with a wedding singer are back on the stage. Choreographed dances and live musical ammunition can liven up a party the good old-fashioned way.

Photos from Curtis Knight & Pop my Photo

photo: studiotonline.com

To some, the choice of wedding songs is easy.  Many feel it isn’t important.  There are couples who believe the song they choose for their first dance together as husband and wife is one of the most important musical decisions for the day.  There are many aspects of this dance that a couple can consider, but one of the most common discussions I hear is about the popularity of the prospective songs.

My advice is to choose a song not based on it’s popularity.  Rather, you should select a song based on it’s significance.   If the decision is important, so should the song be important to you both.  Your first dance together as husband and wife doesn’t need to be some deeply romantic moment. I have had plenty of couples choose light hearted songs because it was them.

It is true that if you pick a song that is not popular, it is a much less likely that you will hear it on the radio 5, 10 or 20 years down the road.  Realistically, you will not hear your wedding song 20 years down the road on the radio anyway.  You can always burn a CD and keep it in the car.  Who knows if radio will even be around in another 20 years.  You may be able to dial the song in to have it played on your car stereo.

My advice is to think of songs that are important to you both.  Pick the one that best fits who you are!

I would love to hear what some of you chose as a wedding song and why you picked that song.  How did you go about making a final decision?

Grooms, under what category might you fall?

For simplicity, we could categorize grooms into two groups, those who dance and those who don’t dance.  The groom who doesn’t dance will often understand that guests will be dancing and that much of the music played will be music that he either doesn’t listen to or that he dislikes.  The groom who dances typically will have a lot of requests and some pretty pointed ideas of what he’s going to want in order to have a good time. For the non dancers, fear not.  You can still have music that you listen to (even if it is unusually heavy) played on the wedding day.  It just needs to be sprinkled in at the appropriate moments.

If you are in the later group, the advice I give you is to be considerate of your fiance’s wishes.  Of course, all of this is dependent on many factors, but for the most part the bride cares very much about each aspect of her wedding day, including the music.  Just because a groom is not interested in the many other facets of a wedding day, doesn’t give him carte blanche with the music.  Because the music is so important to setting the tone, it’s likely that the bride will want to be the guiding force when making song selections.

For you non dancers… there is still hope (that you might get some of YOUR music played at the wedding).   Pick some songs that are not offensive, that are less heavy than usual, and that would be appropriate for particular times of the night.  These times do NOT include the ceremony procession, the first dance, nor most other really special parts of the wedding day, sorry to point out the obvious.  There are, however, many times such as while people are eating their salads or during the cocktail hour, for which the music you like could get incorporated, thus making you feel more comfortable.

No matter which type of groom you might be, I believe it is important to be an integral part of selecting the first and the last dance songs of the reception.  Even if you are a “non-dancing” groom, you will likely partake in the wedding song (the first dance) and you should consider being there for your spouse for the last song.  In my opinion, these two songs are among the most important of the wedding day, the first dance for obvious reasons, and the last because it’s the last chance to reflect on the day as it’s still happening. The last song is that song that people will hear in their head as they are thanking and congratulating you.  So if you want nothing to do with the music selection, or if you are hands on, please pay special attention to deciding with your fiance what the two most special songs of your reception will be.

With Independence Day falling on a Saturday this year and a Sunday next year, surely many brides will decide the holiday weekend is a perfect chance to get everyone together for their celebration.  I realize the idea of a holiday wedding is debatable, so let’s discuss that in the future… for now, it is what it is… a 4th of July wedding!   Should you have your band or DJ play nothing but American-themed music, or should only a select few “American” songs be played at specific times?  Maybe it makes more sense to have a set of music played that goes along with the theme of the day (or weekend… realizing that having your wedding on the 3rd doesn’t negate the truth of the matter).  As always, this is your day.  If Fireworks can be seen from your reception site, this can be another good time to play patriotic songs to give your guests some of what they might be missing with their other family and friends.  You can do whatever you’d like!  However, keeping in mind the opinions of your guests is never a bad idea.

My advice is to either go all-out-american or decide on a point when the entertainment should do a set of American themed music.  The first idea, to me, is somewhat of a bold and challenging move, but I think that it will be something that people talk about for many years.  If pulled off right, it will ad a unique musical element that your guests will likely get into.  This choice will require lots of research and guidance/cooperation from your entertainment so keep this in mind when interviewing.   The later idea, doing a set of patriotic songs, is a sure fire way to incorporate the theme while not overloading the idea of America’s Independence on your wedding day.  Songs such as Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” or Don McLean’s “American Pie” are classic examples of tunes people know, love, and will sing and dance to. The timing of this set should be after dinner… make ‘em wait for it… until everyone is good and ready to accept and get involved with it.

fMRI image detailing the connections between the music, memory and emotion centers in the brain: Petr Janata / UC Davis

Ever heard a song from the past and found yourself emotionally transported back to that time?  It’s a part of the extraordinary power of music.  And it’s a critical consideration when you pick the key music and songs for your wedding.

The connection between music and memory is is both well known and documented.  It’s also of particular interest to me, more on that in a future post.  So when I read a glowing review of “The Music Instinct: Science and Song” (Wednesday, 9-11 p.m. ET on PBS)  I plugged it straight into my DVR.  According to the Wall Street Journal, “there isn’t a boring minute here,” and it could clearly impact the way you pick your most important wedding songs.

What should you do now?  Would it be morbid to play his music, disrespectful?  Not in the least bit.  Remember, he was an artist and would want it no other way.  He wrote and performed his music for people to enjoy.  By playing the songs, you would be honoring his career, not disrespecting it.

I have had the opportunity during this past weekend, just days after his death, to play some Michael Jackson songs at two separate weddings.  Without a doubt, no questions asked, the first MJ song played at each wedding was the highlight of the dancing.  It received the biggest and best response from the guests.  MJ has always been a staple in my repertoire, but playing his music now has a new meaning to me and likely to guests at a wedding.

From this experience, I have grown as an entertainer in an unexpected way.  I have gained a new respect for the Elvis fans of the world.  Until this past weekend, when I played these MJ songs, I have never been a huge fan of Elvis.  As a matter of fact, I didn’t like his music much at.  I would often avoid playing it at weddings because I thought it was hard to dance to and not moving enough.  I do think my approach with Elvis will now change, knowing that the generations of people that were shocked by his death will appreciate a good Elvis song to rock out to.  Now, I just to find those perfect Elvis selections that will work well on the dance floor.  Any Ideas?

What is a cocktail reception?

Two words that come to mind when I think of a cocktail reception are elegant and casual.  These words probably shouldn’t be used together… unless they are describing different parts of the reception, which here they are.  The word elegant is completely a subjective description of the cocktail reception.  Honestly, a backyard BBQ, by some standards, qualifies as a cocktail reception. One obvious difference is elegance.

Secondly, casual characterizes the itinerary or flow of the reception.  According to The Webster’s Dictionary, casual means relaxed.  This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a plan or expect to have certain highlights of the celebration.  Rather, you should not expect these highlights (ie, a first dance, cake cutting, speeches, etc) to happen at too particular of a time.  Let the feeling of the reception move at it’s own pace. Use the music/entertainment to influence without instructing.

Keeping these two ideas in mind, I’d like to bring your attention to a few elements to keep in mind when planning a true cocktail reception.  First, keep your guests informed.  Any invitation specialist agrees that the invitation is a telling piece.  It can relay a feeling, specify attire, describe the event (either verbally or more subtly).  Email makes communicating with your guests especially easy.  Who says you can’t send your guests and email telling them how excited you are about the celebration and tell them about the setting and style of the reception.

The second element seems to be the characteristic of a cocktail reception that many couples overlook.  Assigned seating, or the lack there of.  I believe this is the single most important element of a cocktail reception, yet it’s the characteristic that is most often neglected.  Let’s use the term seating to encompass more than just the assigned seating but the placement of seats, type of seats, and the idea of mingling.  There should be no assigned seating to entice guests to move around, find a place to sit for a bit while encouraging guests to mingle and meet each other.

Tall cocktail round tables can be an excellent inclusion because they encourage people to stand while providing them with a place for their food and/or drink. Another substitute to normal round tables are short tables such as end or coffee tables.  These type tables compliment lounge seating very well, which is the preferred type of seating at a cocktail reception.  You shouldn’t, however, choose not to have a cocktail reception because you don’t have lounge seating.  Incorporating some unique table arrangements and seating patterns can go a long way.  Mainly, don’t tell your guests where they are to sit… give them the freedom to do as they please.

Eye candy!  There should be plenty for your guest to do and/or look at.  Unique decorations, pictures, video/photo montages, scenery (such as beaches, gardens, pools, ponds, or facility decor), lighting, the list goes on. The more there is for guests to see, do and talk about, the more successful this style of reception will be.

The food served should be a combination of cocktail type foods and some more substantial cuisine.  For example, have some hors d’oeuvres passed throughout the first portion of the reception and have a carving station open up after a while.  Perhaps in another area or 20 minutes later, have another station open.  Have mini entrees served.  Mini would be a good word to keep in mind when planning the food for a cocktail reception.

Lastly, the music.  The music for a cocktail reception should reflect the style of the bride and groom while complimenting the atmosphere of the location you have chosen.  The music should be chosen to accompany the natural flow of the evening and to stimulate guests senses when appropriate.  When it feels like the evening should move to dancing for example, your entertainment shouldn’t slam on some dance music.  It’s likely the music will need to build to get people in the mood.  Should you be having a cocktail reception, more than any other type, it is important to hire an experienced DJ or band that knows how to read a crowd.  Try finding entertainment that focuses on music and programming more so than interaction and involvement.

For a true cocktail reception, don’t anticipate dancing too much.  That’s not to say that guests won’t be dancing at all. Nor does it mean that there isn’t the possibility they will be dancing from the moment they get there.  By allowing the guests to do what they want when they want, the feeling of a cocktail reception, the feeling of things being more relaxed will prevail.  Having high expectations for any particular element, such as dancing, could lead to disappointment.

So, what is a cocktail reception?  A cocktail reception is a relaxed gathering of your closest friends and family.  There should be lots of small (mini) food throughout the reception.  There should be music to accompany the atmosphere and that will influence guests to mingle and dance when appropriate.  Without assigned seating, the guest should have a free flowing feeling that encourages mingling and strolling around while enjoying the music, decor, and design of the reception.

The truth is, dancing with Dad then will likely hold the attention of your guests more than at any other time.  If this dance is special for your both, knowing that your guests are engaged and seeing them watch you will invoke a feeling of importance to the moment.  There are other times you can dance with Dad and still have the attention of your guests, but none quite as powerful as immediately following your first dance.

You could dance with Dad before or after cutting your cake, first thing after dinner, last dance before dinner, or the first dance to open a set of music.  Know this… having a dance with you Father at any point other than immediately following your first dance may have less of a spotlight shown on you both.

Choosing the right song is not always the simplest task.  For many, your Dad might make it very easy by picking a song that he has been thinking of.  I can almost hear the words of some fathers, “Sweetheart, you’re sugar… you’re spice… you’re everything nice, and your Daddy’s little girl.”  I find more often the father has no idea what song he wants to have played for a dance with his daughter.  What do you do now?

First, research!   Google, WeddingAces.com, WeddingWire.com, DJ sites, iTunes, Amazon… due diligence! What I suggest is that you collect a list of songs that you may like based on the initial feeling you get when you hear it.  Once you have come up with a list of possible songs, listen to the lyrics or look up the lyrics to better understand what the songs express.  Narrow the list by eliminating the ones that you don’t like.  Now you will be left with a number of songs that you think would be fitting for the dance.  I suggest burning a CD with these songs (typically 3-7 songs), and give it to Dad (or mom).  Allow them a chance to listen to the songs that you think are appropriate.   Ask them to choose one or at least narrow your selection to two or three choices.  The end result should be a song that is meaningful to you and familiar to Dad, which is a win win and the perfect choice in my book.

TIP:  Don’t try to surprise Dad with the song selection on the day of the wedding.  Chances are, the last concern he has on the day of the wedding is what song he will be dancing with his daughter to.  The dance may be very important to him, but the lyrics of a song are not what he’s thinking about.  If you want the song to be a special element of the dance, let him know and listen to it leading up the wedding… then at the sound of the first note, the emotions he has felt listening on his own will be felt in front of all of your guests.

Over the years, I have made a collection of songs that were used or recommended for a groom’s dance with his mother. I am sure there are more. I know some of these might seem a little unusual or even comedic. Surely, there will be some ideas here that you didn’t think of, and some that you have heard many times used as a mother/son song. I hope, if nothing else, it will provide a start to you search for a song to dance to.

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Tips: I suggest that whomever is instigating the search process choose the songs you like or can deal with. Pass these few choices off to the other person so they can pick one. I do not suggest making the song selection a surprise for the wedding day. There is far too much going on at the moment of the dance for anyone to be in the moment all the while trying to “get” the song you’ve chosen. There is no rule as to whether the song should be from the Groom to Mom or vice versa. Just decide what you feel it should be and stick with that.

Best luck and congratulations!

Visit the WeddingWire Song Gallery to watch the music videos of the song recommendations above.

So you have booked your entertainment.  Now you have 12 months or more to communicate your musical preferences to the Band or DJ.  To many, it seems like an overwhelming task, but when broken down into just a few steps, it will not only be more manageable but more fun!  So where should you begin?

1) Use a music list. A good, generic music list is a great way to start.  Most entertainment companies can or will supply you with a hard copy of a list of music that is commonly played at a wedding.  My opinion is that it’s better for this list to be shorter than longer.

Too many songs can make the process of circling and crossing out songs seem monotonous.   The advantage to starting with this step is that it will get your mind thinking in wedding mode… you will start to think of songs that don’t appear on the list and you should note all those ideas on a separate page or in the margins.  Again, it’s best if this list is not too elaborate and if the songs are made up of popular wedding songs.   This can be an excellent tool for your entertainment to know you threshold for “wedding music”.

2) Start a running list of music you like. Keep a pad of paper anywhere you listen to music… the gym, the car, at work.   If you hear a song you like, jot down the name and/or artist.   Don’t worry too much about whether the songs you are writing are wedding appropriate.  The idea here is to give the entertainment a good sense of what kind of music you like.   Make sure you write down the songs because it’s been proven that your memory becomes less useful as the date of your wedding approaches…. really, ask any bride planning her own wedding.      A few months out from the wedding date, collect all of your notes, and make one list of songs you like… if you feel the list is too long, it would be helpful for your entertainment if you prioritize the list.  If you wanted to go a step further, you can indicate where you thought the songs would be most appropriate.

NOTE:  if you feel confident you have hired a true professional to provide the entertainment on your wedding day, you should leave the song placement up to them.  Make it clear that your markings are just thoughts so as to not restrict them from doing what they do best!

3)  Think about the special songs for the wedding day. From the processional music to the last song of the night, there are many songs that stand out as being more important or special.  These songs can significantly impact the mood of the wedding.  My opinion is the special songs I am writing of (introductions, parents dances, cake cutting songs) should reflect your taste in music and personal style.  Since these songs accompany such important parts of the wedding day, they will be heard and noticed more than others so take some time to select songs that are meaningful and again ask your entertainment professional for guidance when possible.

If followed, these steps will help you choose music for your wedding day that is appropriate and unique.   I also recommend asking your friends and family what they’d like to dance to at the wedding.  Planning the music shouldn’t be a chore, it can often be a fun conversation piece at the diner after the bar or over Thanksgiving dinner.

photo: aisledash.com

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, what better time to decide on a special dance to share with Mom on your wedding day? Here are a few suggestions that may help.

Highly Sentimental: With deeply emotional lyrics, these songs may be just the ticket for a mother and son who are very close.

Roberta Flack: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Dixie Chicks: Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)
LeAnn Womack: I Hope You Dance
Boyz II Men: A Song for Mama
Pretenders: Forever Young
Elton John: Your Song
Josh Groban: You Raise Me Up

General Feel-Good Songs: These songs have a more “classic” feel, and are appropriate for a mother and son who may be a little more reserved. They also work great for sons who are dancing with a stepmother, aunt, or other family member, and for shared mother/son and father/daughter dances.

Eva Cassidy: Songbird
Louis Armstrong: What a Wonderful World
Beatles: In My Life
Frank Sinatra: The Way You Look Tonight
Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole: Unforgettable
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Muppet Movie Soundtrack: The Rainbow Connection
Rod Stewart: Forever Young

A wonderful gesture for Mother’s Day would be to burn some of these songs to a CD to give to Mom as a gift. You may even want to ask her to choose the song that’s most meaningful to her as the song you’ll dance to on your wedding day!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QujA8YYgTWU[/youtube]

Brian & Katie’s music selection for this mix:

When You Say Nothing at All — Alison Krauss
Hound Dog — Elvis Presley
The Twist — Chubby Checker
Hokey Pokey
Oompa Loompa — from Willy Wonka
Kung Fu Fighting — Carl Douglas
Chicken Dance
Grease Lightening — John Travolta w/Grease Cast
YMCA — Village People
Billie Jean/Thriller — Michael Jackson
Mr. Roboto — Styx
Walk Like an Egyptian — the Bangles
Ice Ice Baby — Vanilla Ice
U Can’t Touch This — MC Hammer
Love Shack — the B-52’s
Apachee — Sugar Hill Gang
Cha Cha Slide (Casper Slide part 2) — Mr. C the Slide Man
Cotton Eyed Joe — Rednex
Macarena — Los Del Rio
Oops I Did it Again — Brittany Sprears
Bye Bye Bye — N’SYNC
Lose Yourself — Eminem
Hey Ya — Outkast
Dirt Off Ur Shoulders — Jay-Z
When You Say Nothing at All — Alison Krauss

photo: Arpiaphoto.com

Imagine this frightening scenario:  You choose the music you love for your wedding reception, and your guests don’t dance!  Many couples are anxious about incorporating their own music tastes into their wedding playlist, because they don’t listen to “pop” music.  This has become a fairly common concern, but you need not fear – there are plenty of ways to accommodate any type of music at a wedding.

If you are really into a certain band or a certain genre of music, I personally think that you must incorporate that music into your wedding.  Music is such an important part of the reception, and it’s a place for you and your new spouse to express what you, and your relationship, are about.  Don’t worry about your guests, we can keep them happy – it’s all about timing and balance.

There are a few main strategies for working with non-standard music, and the time and place you play each song depends on one thing: “danceability.”  It’s pretty simple – if the song has a decent beat, a DJ should be able to work it into a dance set later in the evening.  If not, you’re looking at either using it as a slow dance, or placing it somewhere else.

For songs that aren’t danceable, cocktail hour and dinner are fantastic places to work in all the indie rock/80’s Euro pop/downtempo electronica songs you’d like. (You can even use a few for your ceremony music!)  The best thing about cocktail hour and dinner is that nobody is really actively paying attention to the music.  It’s mood music – it’s below the volume level of the crowd and it’s there to provide ambiance.   Anything that’s reasonably low-key will work for dinner, and just about anything at all will work for cocktail hour, whether fast or slow.

For songs that could work for dancing, you’ll have to give your DJ a hand-picked (reasonably short) list of the songs that are most important to you.  Playing songs that your crowd doesn’t know or recognize can be a risky proposition, but it can be successful if the song is placed correctly in a set of otherwise recognizable music.  This is an area where a DJ’s experience and ability to mix songs will make the difference: a great DJ will be able to seamlessly beatmix into (and out of) these non-standard songs without anyone noticing, much less returning to their seats.  Not that it works every time — a well-placed and well-mixed song can still clear the dance floor — but your chances of success are much higher if you’re working with a DJ who knows what he’s doing.  Be prepared for this to backfire at least once over the course of the night, and just make sure that your DJ knows that he/she can cut that song short and move to something else.  Remember, there’s no rule that says a song has to be played to the very end!

Probably the most important factor in getting your guests to dance to your non-traditional music choices is how much you dance.  Yes, you.  If the bride and groom are out there on the dance floor having a blast, people are far more likely to join them – even if they don’t know the song.

So, don’t be afraid to make your wedding music truly your own – just be sure to work closely with your DJ and discuss what you’re looking for, and get out there and dance!

~ Evan

The Stars’!    As rare and infrequent as it is, I do have some thoughts about ballroom dance at a wedding.

There has been a pretty steady trend of choreographing the first dance, which has it’s pros and cons.  A choreographed first dance tends to seem rather rehearsed and even somewhat unemotional.  However, if you pull it off well it is sure to excite and even impress your guests.  My suggestion for doing this is to start now, and practice a lot.  Hopefully on the day of the wedding it will be almost second nature and you can not only perform but also get wrapped up in the sentiment of your first dance together as husband and wife.

I think for an engaged couple, ballroom dance lessons is something that should be considered for several reasons.  First, having a professional show you a few tricks will make you feel more confident no matter who you are.  Even more importantly, taking ballroom dance lessons gives you something intimate and relaxing to do while enjoying time together.

On the wedding day, you shouldn’t fear sprinkling some ballroom songs throughout the reception.  There are a ton of songs that people love which are not only chart topping pop songs, but also perfect for ballroom dance.  For example, Marc Anthony’s “I Need to Know” is one of my favorite cha-cha’s.  ”Spanish Eyes” by Al Martino… excellent Rhumba!  Just keep in mind that it’s likely that only a small percentage of your guests will know how to do these specialty dances and you don’t want to alienate the guests who are intimidated by ballroom dance.

If you love ballroom dance and want to do something unique to incorporate it into your celebration, consider hiring a Ballroom instructor to teach a 20 minute group lesson.  I once saw a husband and wife team perform a salsa at a wedding and then teach the guests their spicy moves.  The guests loved it!  Happy Dancing!

photo: brandyscrap.com

I can’t say that I have a lot of experience in the bridal shower realm, but one can’t deny that April showers are followed by May Weddings! As a seasoned professional in the entertainment business, I followed my instincts when thinking about this week’s special topic on Wedding Aces… bridal showers. My instincts took me directly to the ultimate information portal… Google! You could surely get this info by researching yourself, but perhaps my refined search for musical activities can save you some time.

Games or activities play a large role at a shower. In addition to the entertainment value, they typically will reflect the personality of the bride. These three ideas are perfect for the bride who loves music!

I take no credit for these ideas. It turns out that About.com has some excellent wedding ideas… the following presented by the Weddings Guide on About.com, Nina Callaway.

In the style of The Newlywed Show, testing the bride’s knowledge of the groom’s likes and dislikes is always interesting and entertaining for all. Try asking the groom for a list of his top 10 favorite musical artists/groups. On a poster board, list the artists in order of his preference. As the bride, under the scrutiny of her friends and family, says an artist someone can reveal the artist, showing how accurate she is. On a second board, write down the artists she gives that the groom did not mention… he’ll probably get a kick out of these once the day is over!

Another game Nina describes is one where a prize is in order for the winner. As many shower games are meant to do, this one will require guests to mingle a bit and it will test their people reading skills. Before the party, ask each guest what the first album they ever bought was. For the shower, list the guests on a sheet of paper along with a list of all the albums. Have the guests try to match everyone with the correct album. The first one to finish wins a prize and the one with the most correct wins one too!

Finally, for the music lover… and the uninhibited… there is karaoke. Why not? It needn’t be a karaoke party, but it could be something that you do for an hour or so near the end. You can rent karaoke machines and song libraries from local sources or from nationwide services. My favorite is All American Karaoke. Be careful though, this could have the guests talking for weeks about how much fun they had at the shower… the men will start to wonder!

I often get asked from our brides, if I have any books that I would  recommend for them in the planning stages of their wedding? And, the answer is Yes, of course. There are some very useful books out there that I often refer to and others that I have purchased for my fiancé, since we are planning our own wedding. I recommend these 5 titles, but feel free to browse through the other titles:

• The Best Wedding Reception…Ever! | by Peter Merry
• Jo Gartin’s Weddings : An Inspiring Guide for the Stylish Bride | by Jo Gartin
• Emotionally Engaged – A Bride’s Guide to Surviving the “Happiest” Time of Her Life | by Allison Moir-Smith
• 1,000 Best Secrets for Your Perfect Wedding | by Sharon Naylor
• Your Stress Free Wedding Planner – Expert’s Best Secrets to Creating the Wedding of Your Dreams | by Alison Davis
• BONUS for all my eco-friendly couples (like us) — Organic Weddings | by Michelle Kozin

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For some couples, choosing their first dance couldn’t be easier — they’ve known since they became engaged what song they’d dance to on their special day.  But for others, finding that perfect song is more of a challenge.

A great place to start is always your memories as a couple.  Perhaps you can remember a song you heard on your first date, or a concert you attended while you were dating, or the theme to a movie you saw together.  Choosing a song with personal significance, if one exists, always makes that moment just a little more special.  Of course, for some of us, those kinds of memories run together.  In that case, there are a few approaches you can take to find a song that will be meaningful to you.

First, consider the styles of music that most appeal to you.  While many couples still enjoy the classic feel of old jazz and standards, the popularity of more modern first dance songs is growing tremendously.  Almost every music genre has songs that are appropriate, from folk rock to indie to R&B.  It’s a wonderful idea to select a type of music that really reflects who you are and that your guests will identify as “you.”

Second, the lyrics are obviously a huge part of choosing the right song.  Maybe you want a song about timeless romance, or finally finding the right person, or just the quirks of being in love.  Whatever lyrical theme perfectly tells your story, there’s a song out there to suit you.

Finally,  consider the tempo and duration of the songs you’re considering.  While some couples work with a dance instructor to choreograph a routine to their song of choice, most still wing it, and oftentimes at least one partner is uncomfortable dancing in front of a group.  That said, choosing a song with a slow enough tempo (lessening the pressure to be light on one’s feet) and that isn’t too long (three minutes is ideal) is the best way to go.  A good DJ can also edit your first dance song, whether it’s just fading it out early or even removing an entire section of the song.

Here are a few of my favorite songs for a first dance:

Timeless/Classic: Fly Me to the Moon (Frank Sinatra), L-O-V-E (Nat King Cole), Come Rain or Come Shine (Ella Fitzgerald)

Off the Beaten Path: Into the Mystic (Van Morrison), Something (Beatles), Dance Me to the End of Love (Madeline Peyroux)

Something Quirky: The Way I Am (Ingrid Michaelson), I Want to Grow Old With You (Adam Sandler), The Luckiest (Ben Folds)

The most important thing is that you choose a song that really speaks to the two of you as a couple – the first dance is a very special moment, and the right song can make it even more amazing.

Let the truth be told, no matter how much fun it looks like I am having each time I do a conga line, these audience participation songs are not on my iPod.   As a matter of fact, I don’t know anyone who listens to Hands Up in the car or while showering.  My point is that these songs have a specific purpose and they should be used [played] appropriately… that is, if they are used at all.  The topic is very debatable.  Some people think that songs like the Cha Cha Slide are cheesy and others think they are fun.  A bride might be mortified if the chicken dance is played at her wedding, but her parents can’t imagine a celebration without it.  How about you?   Will you have audience participation at your wedding?  Do you generally do the electric slide when it’s played? 

Without a clear idea about the desired atmosphere for your reception, there is no right or wrong.  If you know, however, that you want a very elegant affair, you may want to stay away from group dances.  On the other hand, if you are shooting for a more relaxed atmosphere these songs might be more fitting.  This theory is good for the two extremes, but what about the majority of couples who’s vision and planning creates a middle of the road scenario.   These couples often describe the elegant aspects of the wedding in the same sentence that they explain their wish that their guest get crazy on the dance floor.  Where does audience participation fit into this situation?

It is my believe that you rarely NEED to have audience participation songs to have a good time.  Sure, I think they can be fun from time to time.  I also agree with some DJ’s that praise these songs’ ability to often loosen people up.  However, times have changed and with those changes are new trends.  There was a time when the electric slide might be a DJ’s first song to open the dance floor or perhaps the guests would ask for it a second time.  It was these group dances that made the reception fun.  No longer is that the case.

Today’s bride has many more resources from which she can get new ideas and explore DIY projects that make her wedding unique.  There has been a gradual turn toward directing guests focus to decor, specialty stations such as a candy bar, and mini-activities like guest decorated memory albums and photo booths.  Dancing has always been a significant portion of wedding receptions and will likely always remain so. However, with new and distinctive reception styles such as cocktail receptions and iPod receptions become popular, emphasis is moved from the dance floor to other creative aspects.

I do believe that at many wedding receptions their is a handful of guests who would enjoy doing a few select group dances.  Particularly the older guests.  It can’t hurt to evaluate whether these guests will even get up to do a group dance and you might be surprised at the number of younger guests that join them on the  dance floor.   The difference today is that these songs are not used to get people on the dance floor so much as they are used to break up the dancing with a splash of nostalgia.

Bottom line is this… if you think these songs are cheesy and you don’t want them played… don’t have them played.  If you have a secret passion for doing these dances, by all means have the DJ spotlight them all! Furthermore, if your aunt Tilda really wants to do the electric slide, ask the DJ to make it a special song for her.  Doing one or two shouldn’t cheese things up as much as you might think.  Either way your guests will likely enjoy the uniqueness of your reception that reflects your personality and tastes.

Indian weddings, also referred to as Hindu wedding or South East Asian weddings, are among the non-traditional wedding seen by our studio.

Although the nuances of a ceremony may vary depending on the region and language, in many cases a traditional Indian wedding will include ceremonies such as the Baraat, the Vidaai (which traditionally takes place after the wedding) A Henna ceremony, which prepares a bride to meet her husband, and is also associates with fertility, and several others, which can expanded over two or more days, with elaborate decorations.

Today couple work hard in combining age old tradition with modern wedding receptions. A ceremony such as the Baraat, in which the Groom will travel to the bride’s home on a horse accompanied by family members, may be difficult when considering the Garden State Parkway in your path. These rich traditions however, are not left by the way side and the Baraat ceremony is something we photograph and videotape for many Indian couples in the New Jersey and tri-state area.

For any westerner invited to a traditional Indian wedding, you will be amazed and enriched by the experience.

Below is a highlight video from a recent wedding, shot by our studio which includes footage of some of the ceremonies see in a traditional Indian wedding.

Highlight Video Formal Photos

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Working with couples in the North East, (New Jersey / News York Area) offers our studio exposure to the rich tapestry of multi-cultural, multi-national and multi-religious weddings, which make up the melting pot in the Tri-State area.

We recently worked with a couple who was Middle Eastern and they incorporated some of the oldest traditions know, complimented by contemporary wedding items. While there are many different traditions, our studio focuses on what is most important to the couple and their respected families.

A non-traditional wedding, ( in the American sense of the word) is a great experience for guests, outside of the culture as well as a unique opportunity for studios such as ours to be a part of and capture the very fibers which make up our great country, diversity!

A few non-traditional items include things such as belly dancers and elaborate ceremonies, to name a few.

Please let me know if you have recently been to or planning a non-traditional wedding.

Non-Traditional Wedding Highlight Video