Wedding Music Planning

Where do you start your wedding music planning? You have so many elements to consider and so many choices in wedding music, that it can seem like a daunting task. In order to find the wedding music that will be right for you, your budget, your theme and the formality of your wedding you have to understand a few things about music: Wedding music has two aspects -- functional and aesthetic.

The functional aspect of wedding music is to fill in the spaces between important events on the wedding such as the actual ceremony, speeches etc. It also helps to set the appropiate mood or feel ceremony, the processional music helps the wedding party keep their steps in time etc. The funciton of wedding music at the reception ranges from relaxing background dinner music to up to date party music to get your guests dancing.

The aesthetic part your wedding music will play in the overall event is probably the most important and most of your time will be spent during this part of your wedding music planning. It will obviously be dictated very much by the functional aspects of the different parts of your wedding, but it will most importantly reflect the wedding couple's music tastes, overall style, and any particular theme they have chosen. The aesthetic aspect is what will evoke the mood and memories of the wedding day in the minds of you and your guests long after the meal has been forgotten. This is where your special choices will make or break the event. The best tip I can provide here is to keep a notebook just especially dedicated to your wedding music planning. Keep a record of songs you would consider for every aspect of your wedding. Write down the titles of songs when you hear them playing in a movie, on radio or TV, at other weddings and parties, or just when you remember a song you are particularly fond of.

Wedding music professionals (band leader, organist, dj) will be able to help you select the best functional music to fill in the spaces and create the mood of any particular aspect of the wedding day. They will in most cases also be able to provide you with a list of standard choices to help in planning your wedding music.

Try to see your wedding as the perfect romance movie with different "scenes" . Movies are terribly dull without the right musical score to add the neccessary drama and flair. It is exactly the same when you plan your wedding music. Lets take a look at the different "scenes":

* Pre-Ceremony Music

* The Processional and/or Bride's Entrance

* Blessings and Wedding Hymns

* Unity Candle Songs

* Recessional and/or Confetti Ritual

* Pre-Reception Music or Cocktail Hour

* Grand Entrance Song

* Background Dinner Music

* Cake Cutting Song

* First Dance Song

* Family Dances (Father & Daughter, Mother & Son)

* Garter & Bouquet Songs