Soundtrack

(via)

We all know that music/dancing is in the top three awesome things about weddings (the other two being food, and people we like gettin' hitched), so if you don't have a DJ what should you do? Make your own playlist!! We all have that friend who really wishes they were a professional DJ and with the iPod docks getting cheaper, smaller, and louder by the day you can take your speakers with you to the venue and get a feel for how loud they are. If not, talk to a friend in a band (yeah, you know you have one) and see if they can hook up the speakers to your dock which is something even I can do. (For the record, there are five year olds who can work sound systems better than I can!)

There were some obvious choices (for us, Blues Brothers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Etta James) but then I sat down and started looking at the guest list-- were there songs that I associated with folks that would be good for the event? Were there more musically in touch people than myself who might have a better suggestion than BSB's "Everybody"?

Utilize your guest list, make everyone feel like they're part of the planning process, and take some of the stress off your shoulders all at once!

Daddy Dearest

At mother's day, we talked about a mother/daughter dance and things you can do to remember mothers at weddings-- now that it's father's day, we'll talk about the ever popular father/daughter dance!

I've been to many a wedding with a father/daughter and mother/son dance-- it's very touching, but let's be honest... nobody wants to sit around and watch the bride have a cheesy moment with her father while being forced to listen to "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle for the billionth time. Also, let's be honest, a song that my father and I always liked was "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who and that is SO not a wedding song or even one that anyone else would understand.

Instead, how about a father's toast? Everyone likes a toast at a wedding, it means you get to take one more swig of champagne, and most fathers don't tend to get a chance to say how they feel about the couple and the journey they're about to go on in life. Yeah, OK, so a toast isn't a novel thought, but I'm also willing to bet that most dads out there are a little more excited about public speaking than public dancing!

If you happen to be in the position of not having your father with you and you have notice, set up a small remembrance table or a series of pictures of you and your father-- the you here can refer to bride or groom, as frequently the groom's father isn't really mentioned. I'm a big fan of the pictures at receptions trend, so there will be more on that later.

Happy Father's Day!

Mama mia!

Nely Photography

Ever heard of a mother/daughter dance? I hadn't really thought about it until now; I started this post last night and the only thing that saved was the title, so with ABBA in my head I naturally thought of dancing! Looking around, I found this adorable picture from a Hawaiian wedding done by Nely Photography-- who wouldn't love a a beautiful moment like this? You could go with the soft and sweet song like many father/daughter dances, but if you're anything like my mother and I you'll pick something like Bonnie Raitt that's got a little sass to it!