Category — Music

Forever Moments Photography

I finished a phone interview with a reporter from Ulster Publishing who is writing an article on how to make your wedding inexpensive in a down economy.  He approached me for my insight as a wedding insider, and man, did he get an earful!

Once I stopped patting myself on the back (I am a wedding expert, after all) I shared my 4 favorite ways to save on the wedding music.

1. Ask For A Discount. If you want a discount, ASK.  Very few brides realize that wedding prices are negotiable.  And of course, the wedding industry doesn’t WANT you to know.  If you simply ask…without high pressure or “negotiating” tactics…3 out of 4 wedding professionals will offer you a discount.
2. Avoid the Upsells. Some DJs and bands will sell you on expensive lighting or prop packages (Hawaiian leiis, inflatable instruments, giant sunglasses and other junk that’s better off at a sweet sixteen party, in my humble opinion.)  DON’T take the bait.  A good entertainer will give you a fantastic party without the options.  And lights are practically useless in the daytime…another thing they “forget” to tell you.
3. Ditch the Cocktail Hour Music. Don’t hire a professional for your cocktail hour.  Most reception halls can pipe in canned music or play one of your CDs, or you can set up an iPod.  Save your music $$’s for where it matters most: the dancing portion of your day.
4. Ask Talented Family and Friends To Perform.  If you’ve got musicians in the family, consider asking them to perform your ceremony music.  If you’re okay with a non-professional level performance, this is an excellent way to easily save $250-500 and add a personal touch that makes your wedding unique.

If you’re ready for more unique cost saving ideas, check out my eBook on How To Plan Your Dream Wedding On A Budget.  And make sure you download my free special report…following my “Bride’s Secret Weapon” method increases your chances of getting a killer discount by 50-75%!

Photo by Anthony Kelly

You’ve probably heard (or heard of) the traditional choices for the father daughter dance:

“Daddy’s Little Girl” by Al Martino.  “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle.  The new favorite, “I Loved Her First” by Heartland.

And the most popular mother son wedding dance songs:

“Song For My Son” by Mikki Verrick.  “Mama” by Boyz II Men.  “The Man You’ve Become” by Molly Pascutti.

But what about the “undiscovered” bests?

I’ve put together a list of my favorites…along with links so you can hear them for yourself.

Father and Daughter Dance

“Daddy” by Kendall Payne - This is uber-sweet and sentimental.  You’re gonna need tissues for this one, but it’s beautiful.

“Daughter” by Loudon Wainwright III - With a bit of a bluegrass twang and a great sense of humor, this is loving and all too true.  (Also featured on the “Knocked Up” soundtrack.)

“My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw - This isn’t exactly “undiscovered,” but its one of the most beautiful with a touch of melancholy, father daughter dance songs that rarely gets chosen.

Mother Son Wedding Dance Songs

“My Mother Said” by Mr. Heath - This one is freakin’ hysterical.  I dug this one up for a mother and son who refused to take their dance seriously.  It’s ridiculous…but somehow still sentimental.

“Mama” by Il Divo - A touch operatic, but quite moving with very appropriate lyrics.

“Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)” by The Dixie Chicks - A little bit country and whole lot of sweetness.  If my step-son ever gets married, we WILL to dance to this one.

Got a favorite “undiscovered” parent dance song?  Leave me a comment.

pjinomaha

Now a topic I can really sink my teeth into…

The Best Wedding Dance Songs

If you’re wondering how you’re ever going to pick out your wedding songs…or if you’re considering trying to pick out ALL the songs for your reception (which would be about 75 songs to cover 4 hours)…my first bit of advice would be to find yourself a kick-ass entertainer.

The “right” songs for any wedding vary according to the guests, the environment, the mood, the phases of the moon…Your best bet is to hire a talented professional, give him a “Do Not Play” music list, tell him the songs and artists you like, and let him go to town.  He’ll be able to read the crowd and play what is right to maximize the dancing.

However, I do strongly recommend that you put some thought into choosing songs that are right for you during your wedding ceremony and the introduction and special events at your wedding reception.  Especially if you are a music lover.

This is the best (and cheapest!) way to really express your personality and create a wedding that really represents you.

Easier said than done, right?  It’s really not so difficult if you can avoid these problems…

Problem #1 - You have NO IDEA what songs would be good for dancing, your First Dance, introduction music or parents dances.

You need to find a site that provides a list of the most popular wedding songs.  Scratch off the “love ‘em or hate ‘em” songs you despise and let it jog your memory about your favorite tunes.

Try the Mobile Beat Top 200 Requested Songs of 2008 or Our Wedding Songs for songs to play for specific events to start.

Problem #2 - You know the songs that you like…when you hear them.  Looking at a list of song titles and artists leaves you clueless.

You need a website that recommends songs for your special events and plays audio samples.

Try the song lists at WedAlert.com.  It offers lists of songs for every wedding event from Ceremony to Last Song, and you can click on a link to listen to a quick excerpt.  You can also search for the songs on YouTube.com and pull up videos by the original artists or search for “First Dance song” or “wedding song” or “father daughter dance” and get an idea of what’s popular these days.

Problem #3 - You hear songs on the radio that you’d love to play at your wedding…but you forget them as soon as you get out of the car!

Keep a pad and pencil in the car or wherever else you listen to music.  When you hear a song you like, jot it down before you forget.  Compile a list and keep it in your planning binder.  (You do have a planning binder, right?)

Ah, there’s so much more to say about the best dance wedding songs.  Much more to come.

What is YOUR favorite dance tune?  Leave me a comment.