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                                                                 Wedding Planning

This is a little about how a traditional wedding ceremony normally proceeds. Anything can be changed to fit your own ideas and needs.

                                                                              Prelude
The Prelude is an interval of music starting 20 to 30 minutes prior to your ceremony. Your music establishes the mood for your wedding. The mood is up to you and you can use vocal or instrumental music to create it. The music can also introduce a suitable background for prayer, reflection, and light conversation.

                                                                         Seating of the Parents
The groom’s mother, father, and finally the bride’s mother who is the last person escorted to their seats. A classical piece with a strong march rhythm will capture the guest’s attention and announces the beginning of the wedding ceremony. The music continues until the aisle carpet has been unrolled.

                                                                           Processional
The bridesmaids start the procession followed by the ring bearer, and the flower girl.
The music should have a clearly audible cadence so it is easy for your attendants to can keep in time while walking.

                                                                          Brides Entrance
The bride’s entrance is the climax of the day. The music played greatly contributes to this lifelong memory. 

                                                                            Recessional
The end of the ceremony is usually marked by the bridal kiss or the announcement of the married couple. The bride and groom exit arm in arm followed by the flower girl, ring bearer, and bridesmaids/groomsmen.

                                                                              Postlude
The postlude begins after the recessional. Since the music expresses your joy it should be fast and triumphant.

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                                                                              Reception 
This is a typical order of events at a traditional wedding reception. Anything can be changed to meet your own ideas and needs.

1 - Bridal Party and Bride and Groom Announcement upon arrival at the venue.
2 - Dinner
3 - Toasts
4 - Bride and groom 1st dance
5 - Father/ daughter  and Mother/son dance
6 - "More Than" dance
7 - Bouquet Toss
8 - Garter Toss
9 - Games
     examples:  Bridal party scavenger hunt, shoe game, etc.
10 - Cake cutting/Bride and Groom Toast
11 - Open Dance Floor-Wedding Dance Party


                  
                                                                  Songs
Here are the top suggestions for songs for your wedding.
These are the most requested songs, but there are many others. Ask your DJ.

 CeremonyPrelude music: Played prior to the ceremony, while guests are arriving.

• Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven)
  
• Isn't It Romantic (Glenn Miller)
  
• Water Music (Handel)
  
• Ave Maria (Schubert / Gounod)
  
• The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
  
• Greensleeves (Traditional)
  
• Rhapsody In Blue (Gershwin)
  
• God Only Knows (The Beach Boys)
  
• As Time Goes By (A Kiss Is Just A Kiss) (Tony Bennett)
  
• Arioso (Bach)
  
• Ode To Joy (Beethoven)
  
• Brandenburg Concerto #2 (Bach)
  
• Gloria (Vivaldi)
  
• Unchained Melody (Righteous Brothers)
  
• 
  

Processional & Bridal music: Played during the time the family, wedding party, and the bride walk down the aisle.

• Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride) from "Lohengrin" (Wagner)
  
• Trumpet Voluntary in D (The Prince of Denmark's March) (Clarke or Purcell)
  
• Canon in D (Pachelbel)
  
• The Four Seasons (Handel)
  
• Water Music (Handel)
  
• What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
  
• Unforgettable (Nat King Cole)
  
• I Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)
  
• When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge)
  
• In My Life (The Beatles)
  
• March From Lohengrin (Wagner)

Interlude music (optional): The songs played during the ceremony.

• Ave Maria (Schubert)
  
• Amazing Grace (Traditional)
  
• La Traviata (Verdi)
  
• Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach)
  
• And I Love Her (The Beatles)
  
• Primavera: First Movement, Allegro (Vivaldi)
  
• Love Me Tender (Elvis Presley)
  
• Für Elise (Beethoven)
  
• We've Only Just Begun (The Carpenters)
  
• Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)
  

Recessional music: Music played as the new husband and wife walk up the aisle together.

• Wedding March (from "A Midsummer Night's Dream") (Mendelssohn)
  
• Ode To Joy (from The Ninth Symphony) (Beethoven)
  
• Hallelujah Chorus (from "The Messiah") (Handel)
  
• Trumpet Tune (Purcell)
  
• Magnificat In D (Bach)
  
• The Long And Winding Road (The Beatles)
  
• I Got You (I Feel Good) (James Brown)
  
• How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
  
• Then He Kissed Me (The Crystals)
  
• I Got You Babe (Sonny and Cher)
  

 

Reception music:

First Dance music: First dance as husband and wife.

• There's No Way (Alabama)
• Unforgettable (Nat King Cole)
  
• Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)
  
• Can I Have This Dance? (Ann Murray)
  
• The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
  
• It Had To Be You (Harry Connick, Jr.)
  
• What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
  
• Endless Love (Diana Ross and Lionel Richie)
  
• I Cross My Heart (George Strait)
  
• I Swear (John M. Montgomery or All 4 One)
  
• A Whole New World (Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle)
  
• As Time Goes By (A Kiss Is Just A Kiss) (Michael Feinstein)
  
• When You Say Nothing At All (Allison Krauss)
  
• Faithfully (Journey)
  
• No Ordinary Love (Sade)
  
• Here And Now (Luther Vandross)
  
• I Can Love you Like That (John M. Montgomery)
  
• Power Of Love (Celine Dion)
  
• Tonight I Celebrate My Love (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson)
  
• Everything I Do {I Do For You} (Bryan Adams)
  
• When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge or Michael Bolton)
  
• All My Life (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville)
  
• I'll Be There (Mariah Carey)
  
• On Bended Knee (Boyz II Men)
  
• At Last (Etta James)
  
• Don't Know Much (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville)
  
• From This Moment On (Shania Twain)
  
• Our Love Is Here To Stay (Harry Connick, Jr.)
  
• Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers)
  

Father/Daughter music: The dance between the new bride and her father.

• My Girl (The Temptations)
  
• Thank Heaven For Little Girls (Gigi)
  
• Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
  
• Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
  
• The Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
  
• My Dad (Paul Petersen)
  
• Hero (Mariah Carey)
  
• Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle)
  
• Times of Your Life (Paul Anka)
  
• A Song For My Daughter (Steve Moser, Mikki Viereck, Ray Allaire)
  
• Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)
  
• The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
  
• Have I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart)
  
• Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
  
• My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)
  
• Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)
  
• What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
  
• Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)
  
• Daddy's Hand (Holly Dunn)
  
• Daddy's little Girl (Kippi Brannon)
  
• Daddy's Girl (Peter Cetera)
  
• Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler On The Roof - Sndtrk)
  
• Lullabye (Billy Joel)
  
• A Whole New World (Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle)
  
• How Do You Fall In Love (Alabama)
  
• Isn't She Lovely (Stevie Wonder)
  
• Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
  
• Thank Heaven For Little Girls (Gigi)
  
• Father's Eyes (Amy Grant)
  
• Friends (Elton John)
  
• In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
  

Mother/Son music: The dance between the husband and his mother.

• My Wish (Rascal Flatts)
• Don't Know Much (Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville)
  
• Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle)
  
• I.O.U (Jimmy Dean)
  
• Moon River (Andy Williams)
  
• Moon Dance (Van Morrison)
  
• 'Til The End Of Time (Perry Como)
  
• Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)
  
• Have I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart)
  
• Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
  
• Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
  
• Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
  
• What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstong)
  
• In This Life (Bette Midler)
  
• You're The Inspiration (Chicago)
  
• Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
  
• Friends (Elton John)
  
• Wishing Tree (Sonia Dada)
  
• Blessed (Elton John)
  
• Hero (Mariah Carey)
  
• In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
  
• A Song For My Son (Steve Moser, Mikki Viereck, Ray Allaire)
  
• Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler On The Roof - Sndtrk)
  
• In My Life (The Beatles)
  
• Ever I Saw Your face (Roberta Flasck)
  
• Greatest Love Of All (Whitney Houston)
  
• I Wish You Love (Natalie Cole)
  
• Thanks Again (Ricky Skaggs)
  
• Stand By Me (Ben E. King)
  

Bridal Party Dances music: The dance including the Bride & Groom, Bridesmaids & Groomsmen, and family members.

• That's What Friends Are For (Dionne & Friends: Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder)
  
• Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)
  
• Friends In Low Places (Garth Brooks)
  
• We Are Family (Sister Sledge)
  
• Friends (Elton John)
  
• Heroes and Friends (Randy Travis)
  
• In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
  
• Celebration (Kool & The Gang)
  

Cutting The Cake music: Played while the Bride & Groom cut the cake.

• Cut the Cake (Average White Band)
  
• I Wanna Grow Old With You (Adam Sandler)
  
• How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
  
• Sugar, Sugar (The Archies)
  
• Hit me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)
  
• When I'm 64 (The Beatles)
  
• Recipe For Love (Harry Connick Jr.)
  
• That's Amore' (Dean Martin)
  
• Happy Together (The Turtles)
  
• Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard)
  
• I Got You Babe (Sunny & Cher)
  
• Love & Marriage (Frank Sinatra)
  
• Oh Yeah! (Yello)
  
• Axel F (Harold Faltermeyer)
  
• Peter Gunn Theme

Garter And Bouquet Toss music: Played during the bouquet toss and garter toss.

• The Stripper (David Rose)
  
• Legs (ZZ Top)
  
• You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate)
  
• Oh Yeah! (Yello)
  
• Macho Man (Village People)
  
• Theme From Mission Impossible (Danny Elfman)
  
• Wild Thing (The Troggs or Tone Loc)
  
• Let's Get It On (Marvin Gaye)
  
• Bad Boys (Inner Circle)
  
• Another One Bites The Dust (Queen)
  
• Curly Shuffle (Jump n' The Saddle)
  
• Kiss (Prince)
  
• Do Ya Think I'm Sexy (Rod Stewart)
  
• Gimme All Your Lovin' (ZZ Top)
  
• Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison)
  
• Freak Me (Silk)
  
• Hungry Eyes (Eric Carmen)
  
• Heaven (Bryan Adams)
  
• U Can't Touch This (MC Hammer)
  
• Shameless (Garth Brooks)
  
• *Single Ladies (Beyonce)
  
• *Girls Night Out (The Judds)
  
• *Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)
  
• *Whipped Cream {Dating Game Theme} (Herb Alpert)
  
• *Miss America Theme (Various)
  

*Songs for Bouquet Toss Only.

Last Dance music: The last song of the night for the Bride & Groom and their remaining guests.

• Glad You Came (The Wanted)
• Last Dance (Donna Summer)
  
• New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)
  
• Good Riddance {Time Of Your Life} (Green Day)
  
• From This Moment On (Shania Twain & Bryan White)
  
• Save The Best For Last (Vanessa Williams)
  
• Wonderful Tonight (David Kersh)
  
• Could I Have This Dance (Anne Murray)
  
• You're Still The One (Shania Twain)
  
• Closing Time (Semisonic)
  
• Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
  
• I've Had The Time Of My Life (Bill Medly & Jennifer Warnes)
  
• How Your Love Makes Me Feel (Diamond Rio)
  
• Goodnight, Sweetheart (David Kersh)
  
• The Party's Over (Nat King Cole)
  
• Goodnight Sweetheart (Spaniels)
  
• What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
  
• The Dance (Garth Brooks)
  
• Truly, Madly, Deeply (Savage Garden)
  
• Always And Forever (Heatwave)