Wedding DJ or Wedding Band

The question that every bride and groom must answer is this: Wedding DJ or wedding band? If you aren't getting married anywhere near a big city, the answer may be clear. In less densely populated areas, you'll find more wedding disc jockeys and fewer wedding bands, simply because demand for the latter won't be as high. If, on the other hand, you live in New York or Boston or some other musically inclined metropolis, you'll probably have a ton of wedding entertainment options to choose from!

Oh boy, another decision to make... To make it easier, let's lay out some pros and cons. A wedding disc jockey is less expensive, able to play selections by original artists, generally does not take up much space, and travels just as far as a wedding band. On the other hand, people who make a living studying, writing, singing, recording, and performing music are more apt to have a better foundation of music presentation.

But selecting a wedding band can be a frustrating and time consuming process -- just ask some of your married friends who opted for bands over DJs.

Videos of live performances can sometimes be helpful, but you should know that 99% of them are lip-synched and are seldom a true representation. People also tend to hear with their eyes and not focus on the music. After the fifth video the eyes can get a bit blurred from all those tuxedos. A very basic band video costs about $5,000 to produce and can quickly become outdated depending on its content of current music selections. With a CD you can really hear the care that a band puts into their product. You can listen to it in many different situations, and if it's any good, you should hear a wide range of material. If a demo has a great variety of songs sung well by different people and features decent horn playing, guitar work and strong background vocals you are headed in the right direction. Having an excellent song list is also a good indicator that can help in the selection process.

If you find a wedding band that you think is the one for you, and are having a Saturday evening reception on a popular wedding date, don't put off hiring them. There is a very high likelihood that others are inquiring about the same date, unless your wedding falls between January and the end of March. Bands generally can't "hold" these dates due to the high number of Saturday calls they get. It is very normal to book a band with a good name from a promotional package instead of risking waiting for the perfect opportunity to see them live.


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Wedding Music Order of Events

If you can afford to have live musicians at your wedding ceremony, we say "Go for it!" Live music adds a special touch to a wedding ceremony that cannot be replicated with a CD in a boombox or a wedding disc jockey playing Here Comes the Bride. Live wedding ceremony music is not only a nod to wedding traditions of days gone by; it's also extremely elegant and entertaining for wedding guests waiting for the bride to make her grand entrance.

Of course, once you have hired live musicians to play at your wedding ceremony -- we recommend a classical quartet -- you still need to know what music happens when. Your musicians may or may not be familiar with the usual order of wedding ceremony events, which means it's your job to know everything you can about wedding ceremony music. Here's a primer to start you off:

The Prelude
As guests are arriving and being escorted down the aisle to their seats, a mix of classical pieces and soft contemporary songs lets them know that something special is about to happen.

The Pre-processional
Wedding music helps build emotion as family members and other honored guests who are not members of the wedding party are escorted down the aisle. The mother of the bride is usually the last to be seated before the wedding party comes down the aisle.

The Processional
This is the point in the ceremony when the groomsmen, best man, groom, bridesmaids, maid of honor, ring bearer, and flower girl walk down the aisle. The bride and father of the bride are the last ones to walk down the aisle in the most dramatic part of the ceremony.

The Ceremony
In a traditional Christian church wedding, hymns, calls to worship, or other wedding music that is part of the order of the wedding service can be performed by your wedding musicians as the ceremony unfolds. This is also the appropriate time for an instrumental or vocal solo.

Recessional
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the wedding officiant announces that the bride and groom are married and music is usually played at this point. This is when many couples let their personalities shine through with their music selection. During the recessional, the bride and groom are first, followed by the wedding party and the officiant.

Interlude or Postlude
This is when the guests exit the church. Wedding music can be played until the guests are out of the ceremony area.

With a few modifications, this order is appropriate for a quicker or less traditional ceremony. It's always a good idea to have wedding music as guests arrive, as the wedding party enters, and as the bride and groom exit together.


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First Dance Songs for Weddings

The first dance is many couples' favorite part of the wedding reception. Besides the fact that the bride and groom are in the spotlight during the dance, being on the dance floor all alone gives the newlyweds some time to chat in private. Seriously... so much of a wedding reception is spent schmoozing with seldom-seen relatives or graciously accepting congratulations that the bride and groom may never get another opportunity to spend a few quiet moments exchanging sweet nothings. Thank heavens for the first dance!

But choosing a first dance song can be complicated. You and your sweetie may not have ever dubbed any song "your song." Your favorite songs may have adult themes or bad language hidden in otherwise loving lyrics. And if neither of you is particularly into music, you may not even know where to begin! This is where your wedding DJ can help you -- he or she will have helped a lot of couples choose a first dance song and will likely have a huge list of possibilities for you to choose from. However, before you run off and call your wedding disc jockey, we here at Smart Wedding Planning have put together a short list of the most popular first dance songs for weddings. Here's a taste:

• "God Bless the Broken Road" (Rascal Flatts)
• "Wonderful Tonight" (Eric Clapton)
• "Inside Your Heaven" (Carrie Underwood)
• "The Way You Look Tonight" (Frank Sinatra)
• "Amazing" (Aerosmith)
• "Always" (Shania Twain)
• "I Cross My Heart" (George Strait)
• "It's Your Love" (Tim McGraw and Faith Hill)
• "I Need You" (Tim McGraw and Faith Hill)
• "Lost in This Moment" (Big and Rich)
• "Don't Take The Girl" (Tim McGraw)
• "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing" (Aerosmith)
• "A Whole New World" (Peabo Bryson)
• "Breathe" (Faith Hill)
• "Because You Loved Me" (Celine Dion)

Click to see the whole list of popular first dance songs for weddings

First Dance Songs

There are so many wonderful love songs out there today that choosing a first dance song can be more stressful than fun. It is especially difficult when you and your intended like different kinds of music or don't see eye to eye when it comes to different artists. How can you get past an impasse? Compromise, compromise, compromise!

You are going to have to learn to do this a lot over the years, so you two might as well learn how to do it right now. Do your best to find something that has relevance to your relationship and try to pick one that you both agree upon. Maybe you can look back into your past to find the perfect first dance song -- did you ever dance on a date or go to a concert early on in your relationship? That can help you choose a song.

Here are some of the most popular first dance songs chosen by brides and grooms:

• "At Last" (Ella Fitzgerald)
• "God Bless the Broken Road" (Rascal Flatts)
• "Wonderful Tonight" (Eric Clapton)
• "Inside Your Heaven" (Carrie Underwood)
• "The Way You Look Tonight" (Frank Sinatra)
• "Amazing" (Aerosmith)
• "Thank God I Found You" (Mariah Carey)
• "Ain't No Other Man" (Christina Aguilera)
• "Always" (Shania Twain)
• "I Cross My Heart" (George Strait)
• "It's Your Love" (Tim McGraw and Faith Hill)
• "I Need You" (Tim McGraw and Faith Hill)
• "Lost in This Moment" (Big and Rich)
• "Just Like Heaven" (The Cure)
• "Don't Take The Girl" (Tim McGraw)
• "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing" (Aerosmith)
• "Angel" (Aerosmith)
• "When I'm With You" (Sheriff)
• "A Whole New World" (Peabo Bryson)
• "Angel Eyes" (Jeff Healy Band)
• "Breathe" (Faith Hill)
• "Because You Loved Me" (Celine Dion)
• "Amazed" (Lonestar)
• "Could Not Ask For More" (Edwin McCain)
• "Don't Know Much" (Aaron Neville)
• "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (Elton John)
• "Endless Love" (Lionel Richie and Diana Ross)
• "Everything I Do" (Bryan Adams)
• "Faithfully" (Journey)
• "From This Moment" (Shania Twain)
• "How Do I Live Without You" (LeAnn Rimes)
• "I Swear" (All 4 One)
• "I'll Be" (Edwin McCain)
• "Love of a Lifetime" (Firehouse)
• "Unchained Melody" (Righteous Brothers)

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Wedding Ceremony Music Tips

When people think of wedding music, their thoughts typically turn to reception music, as it is the reception music that keeps the party going. But when you're thinking about wedding music, don't forget the ceremony music! It is the processional and the recessional that set the mood. The music that is played before the ceremony even starts keeps guests amused as they wait for the big entrance. And, if your ceremony is a religious one, the music played during the ceremony itself can clue less religious guests into the solemnity of the ceremony.

The following tips can help ensure that your wedding music is the perfect backdrop to your ceremony, from start to finish.

• If you're not going to ask your wedding DJ to provide the music, try to book your musicians at least one year in advance. Think about whether you would prefer an ensemble or a soloist. Don't forget to factor in cost!
• Make sure your wedding ceremony location has room for your wedding musicians and their equipment. If your wedding will take place in a house of worship, ask your officiant whether there are rules regarding music and musicians.
• Ask if there are any acoustical considerations at your ceremony venue. Your wedding musicians may need to adjust their volume or use specific equipment.
• If you're not sure what musical selections to choose, don't hesitate to ask for recommendations from your musician. Aside from the wedding standards, she should be able to suggest several options. Don't be afraid to go against the grain and choose music that is meaningful to you.
• Don't be afraid to mix music styles. Whether you're trendy or traditional, a mixture of classical and soft contemporary has wide appeal.
• To avoid your first few guests sitting in silence, have your wedding musicians start at least a half hour before the ceremony, preferably as the first guests begin arriving. You can choose the music that is played at this point or let your musician choose popular standards.
• While it's not necessary to have a special wedding song during the ceremony, it can lend a poignant and moving moment for guests, family, and the couple. You may choose to have a musical number during the exchange of rings or lighting of the unity candle.
• Pay attention to song lengths. If the bride will be walking down the aisle, prelude music length should coincide with song length. It's best for prelude music to fade out, not stop abruptly or play too long. If you having music mid-ceremony during the ring exchange or unity candle, the times should coincide as well.

Rememberthat carefully chosen ceremony musicians will leave a lasting impression for your guests and a precious memory for you and your partner.

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What's Your Live Wedding Music Style?

What's Your Live Wedding Music Style

There's just something about live music that lends a special energy to an event. A subdued string quartet or classical guitarist can lend an intimacy to your affair, while an orchestra or Top 40 group can be simply electric. Music sets the mood for any celebration, but perhaps no more so than a wedding reception. As you plan your important day, take time to consider what sort of mood you want to evoke at your celebration.