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Soundtrack To I Do is moving from Blogger to Wordpress! We hope you'll join us as we transition, we're very excited for all the new things we have planned to share with you all! The URL will stay the same, www.soundtracktoido.com, but some other things may be affected - the RSS feed, subscriptions, etc. - please bear with us and pardon our dust. Looking forward to seeing you at the new site!

Thursday Tips: Choosing Your Bridesmaids

Image by Jessica Velarde Photography

(These are a day late because blogger was down yesterday.)

I thought it would be fitting to write my Thursday tip on this topic this week, since tomorrow I head South for the weekend to do my bridesmaid duties. Yay! Let me tell you – I love being a bridesmaid. Aside from the expense, which can get up there, I love being a part of the whole wedding process, since (if you haven’t noticed) I love weddings so much! So… this is my 6^th go round as a bridesmaid, and I have 2 more this year. Plus I still have a few close friends who are not yet married. I like to joke that I’m working my way toward 27. J

As a result of my frequent trips down the aisle wearing anything BUT white, I am going to have a difficult decision when my own wedding day comes (for those of you who haven’t caught on yet, that date is lingering mysteriously in the unforetold future.) So, I decided to make this list of tips for all of you reading, and for my future engaged self to come back to. Enjoy!

• Don’t worry about tradition. Tradition states that you should have one bridesmaid and groomsman for every 50 guests. Well, guess what? Most traditions have gone out the window these days anyway. If you are having 200 guests and you want 8 bridesmaids, and 8 groomsmen because you can’t imagine not having those 16 people up there with you, go for it! If you are having a huge formal wedding with 500 guests, but only want your sister and your husband’s best friend, then do it. This is your day, and (hopefully!) it’s only going to happen once. Do what you want. (I was going to title this tip “Tradition is for Losers” or something similarly humorous, but I didn’t want to offend the tradition-lovers out there, because if tradition is your thing, that’s fine too!)

• To offend or not to offend. One of your dilemmas may be that you don’t want to offend people. It’s time for some tough love my friends: how people react to your decisions is not your problem. I have a good number of women in my life that I love dearly. However, I refuse to have 20 bridesmaids, that’s just ridiculous. So chances are someone is going to get their feelings hurt. (Perhaps I’ll write another post on how to deal with that.) Maybe you want to ask them to be a part of your day in another way. Maybe not – if they really care about you, they’ll respect your decision and move on. A note: consider how long people are going to be in your life, and how offended they might be. I don’t recommend choosing people purely because you don’t want to offend them, but if you don’t get along great with your sister, you may want to bite the bullet and ask her anyway so you don’t create a lifetime of resentment between the two of you. Your call. Just something to consider.

• Who you really want. Ok, so now it comes down to the actual choices. If you’re not basing it off of who you don’t want to offend, or who’s already had or is likely to have you in their wedding, how do you choose? Simple. Who do you want standing next to you? Let’s play a little game. Imagine that you are not standing at an altar with the love of your life. Imagine that you are in a hospital bed. Or at a funeral. Holding newborn triplets. Caring for an ill child or parent. Ok sorry to be a downer, but this only takes a minute. Now, imagine the people that will be standing at your side then. I’ve heard it said that a true friend walks in when everyone else walks out. The people holding your hand through the hard times are the same ones who are the happiest to celebrate the good times with you.

• Back to that tradition thing from earlier. Have you heard the term bridesman? Groomswoman? They are real. (Despite the little red lines under them as I type this – the dictionary hasn’t caught up with the wedding world yet.) If your best friend is a guy, or your husband wants his sister standing by his side, go for it. People have their parents in the wedding party, have 2 or 3 maids of honor, or no attendants at all! If you have uneven numbers on the bride’s and groom’s sides, people will not faint in horror. Basically, the main point to remember is: do what you want. It’s your day.

For more great tips, check out these fantastic blogs: {Every Last Detail} {Bowties & Bliss} {Little Bit Heart} {The Oceanside Bride} {Catie Ronquillo Photography} {Stremel Photography}

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Recent Inspiration

If you love music as much as I do, you'll love all these sources of musical inspiration for your wedding details from around the blogosphere lately. Pretty fun stuff!

Soundboard Cake! Found on Hi-Fi Weddings

Vintage record as a guestbook on Minnesota Bride

Sheet music invites from The Posh Paperie

Record cake pops on Borrowed & Bleu

Totally awesome boom box picnic box from Boxsal as seen on

Postcards & Pretties

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Real Wedding: Laura & Trevor

I'm super excited to share this wedding today. I think you're going to be able to guess what my favorite thing about it is, but in case you can't... it's the shoes! I can only dream that next time I'm a bridesmaid someone will "make" me buy and wear shoes like these! So amazing. Plus a beautiful bride and a sweet story. What more can you ask for?

Emma from Emma Jane Photography sent over these incredible photos. Here's what she had to say:

Laura and Trevor met when one of his buddies asked her out. Trevor was supposed to be his wingman. Clearly, that didnt pan out for his friend very well, seeing as Laura hit on Trevor during the Rugby Party and the rest is history!

Laura knew Trevor was "the one" when she was sick one day and he brought her Wheat Thins and Diet Coke, her favorite food!!!!

We met Laura during one of our visits to La Belle Elaine's. We hit it off instantly (even helping her choose her wedding gown... actually we just gave her our honest opinions and it worked out well, have you seen the photos?) and had been looking forward to their wedding ever since. In the meantime we have really gotten to know Laura even better through Facebook. As soon as Trevor returned from overseas, meeting him and "catching up" was the first order of business.

As the big day drew nearer we started planning the final details. Laura really wanted some photos near the Arctic Club where we all could show off some of our style. Luckily, the Seattle rain held out just long enough for us to capture gorgeous shots of this AMAZING couple. We would like to extend a HUGE thank you to Laura & Trevor for sharing their day with us. THANK YOU!!!

I asked Laura to describe her and Trevor’s life together in song and this is what she shared…

The Way You Look Tonight – Tony Bennett – probably the closest to “our” song. (Also the first dance song!)

Clumsy – Fergie – This is how I felt when we first started dating

Waiting on a Woman – Brad Paisley – Because Trevor is always waiting for me… patiently…

and lastly Baby Got Back – Sir Mix A Lot – …for obvious reasons. LOL!!! Could you be any cuter Laura??? Well, judging by these photos, I highly doubt it.

The fabulous vendors:

Ceremony and reception held in the Northern Lights Dome Room at the Artcic Club, Seattle Washington

Photography by Emma Jane Photography

Flowers by Tanya Davis at Elements In Bloom

Dress and Veil from La Belle Elaine's

DJ Brian Dale from Wave Link Music

Event Planner - Jillian Cook from Perfect Harmony Events

Makeup by Heidi Whitney at Salon Maison

Caterer - Brooke Byrne at the Arctic Club Hotel

Congratulations and best wishes to Laura and Trevor!! What a beautiful day! And a huge thank you to Emma for sharing these amazing photos with us!!

If you can't get enough of this wedding, check out the bride and groom's personalized page.

If you are a bride, groom or photographer and would like to submit your wedding to Soundtrack To I Do, please do!

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Thursday Tips: Finding Budget Friendly Vendors

Ok, so I'm cheating a little bit on this week's Thursday Tips. I am working on a secret project that is taking up most of my blogging time. But I didn't want to leave you hanging this Thursday, so here are some tips from my awesome friend Jess, on hiring budget friendly vendors. Hope they are helpful!

I've learned that hiring vendors can be the biggest budget-breaking task of planning your wedding, and a daunting one at that! So, I've put together a few tips to help you find budget friendly vendors and lessen the stress of trying to do so...

1. Hire a wedding planner.

I know there are budget savvy queens of DIY projects everywhere calling me crazy right now, but sometimes going 100% DIY isn't always the most cost-effective solution. The reason being, is that a good wedding planner, along with their experience, advice, and amazing stress-lessening powers, will come with connections. We've hired a friend of the family who has been doing wedding coordinating on the side for years to help us plan the reception and find our vendors. best. decision. yet. She found us a highly recommended DJ/musician for our reception for $600 (I had been quoted $1,200 from other vendors! yikes!). She also found our reception location and got them to waive the $1,500 room rental fee so that we only had to pay for the catering! She has already saved us more money than we are paying for her services. Trust me, planning a budget savvy wedding does not mean you have to do it all on your own!

2. When it comes to food, go all inclusive.

There are definite advantages that come with having a reception venue that does their own catering. There are a lot of things that restaurants have that you would have to rent (and pay for) if you were to go with an individual caterer and separate location. For example, we are paying for the catering at our venue (which is also a restaurant), but they are also providing the tables, chairs, plates, silverware, glassware, napkins, serving supplies, etc. at no additional charge. They already have all of these things and because we are purchasing their food, we get to use them! It's not only saving us a lot of money in rental fees, but it also simplifies everything and saves a lot of worry because I know that they'll have everything we need.

3. Hire individual vendors instead of companies.

Bigger companies, such as large florist chains, bakeries, or photography studios, can do great work. But, they often have more employees and a much greater cost on their end than an independent vendor would have. Because of this, they tend to be priced significantly higher. An independent vendor can be just as talented in their craft as those bigger businesses. However, they will not only be much cheaper, but will also provide more personalized service than a large company. You will most likely be their only client of the day and they'll be able to take the time to get to know you and find out exactly what you want.

4. Use your referrals.

Many vendors in the wedding industry have built relationships with each other as they've worked together on different events. A lot of vendors will refer you to others they trust and have worked with before. This sometimes means a better rate. For example, photographer might give you a discount for booking them at the recommendation of a planner they work with regularly. Using a referral is a great way to get both a reliable vendor, and a better deal.

5. It never hurts to ask.

Many vendors will work with you to provide the service you need within your budget if you only ask. If you love someone's work or service but their set prices are out of your budget, be honest with them about it and see what they are willing to do. You may not get a huge discount, but they will very likely be happy to customize their work so that it can be provided at the price point you're able to afford.

Thanks for sharing Jess! You can also find these tips and much more budget related help on Budget Savvy Bride.

In case you missed it, last week's Thursday Tip (which I actually, ahem... wrote myself) was about Considering Your Audience.

For more great tips today, visit these other lovely blogs: {Every Last Detail} {Bowties & Bliss} {Little Bit Heart} {Shay Chochrane Photography} {Catie Ronquillo Photography} {Stremel Photography}

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Get Excited.

And that's all I'm going to say. 'Cuz I like to be mysterious. But seriously, get excited.

Photos by Jessica Velarde Photography

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More Father/Daughter Dance Songs

If you're looking for Father/Daughter songs, check out our list of Favorites. If you need more inspiration, here are some other great choices.

A song may be on this list (as opposed to the favorites list) because it is lesser known or less popular, or because the lyrics don't relate entirely to the father/daughter relationship or the sentiments on a wedding day. For example: My Little Girl, by Steve Kirwan, is not well known, but the lyrics are perfect for the father/daughter dance. Conversely, Daughters, by John Mayer, is a very popular song, which has been used often for the father/daughter dance, but the lyrics describe his relationship with a girl who is emotionally stunted because her father left her when she was young. This is NOT to say that songs like Daughters should not be chosen; if you love the song, or it has personal significance to you, use it! As for the less popular songs, you may find a gem, or if you just like to stay off the beaten path and choose a song that has not been chosen by many others, go for it. Check out these songs, check the lyrics, and find out if one of them is right for you. Also, if there is a certain verse that doesn't quite fit, you can always have someone sing it live instead of playing the recorded version, and take out the part of the song that you don't love. Enjoy!

A New Day Has Come - Celine Dion

Always - Frank Sinatra

Always Be Your Baby - Natalie Grant

Annabel - Don Henley

As I Lay Me Down - Sophie B. Hawkins

Beautiful In My Eyes - Joshua Kadison

Beside You - Tal Buchman

Blackbird - The Beatles

Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

By Your Side - Sade

Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder

Colour My World - Chicago

Daddy - Beyonce

Daddy's Girl - Peter Cetera

Daddy's Girl - Red Sovine

Dance With My Father - Luther Vandross

Daughters - John Mayer

Dream - Pricilla Ahn

Edelweiss

Father Daughter Harmony - Phil Keaggy

Father Of The Bride - Mike Douglas

Find Love - Clem Snide

First Day Of My Life - Bright Eyes

Forever - Michael Bolton

Gracie - Ben Folds

He Didn't Have To Be - Brad Paisley (For Step-Dads)

Hero - Mariah Carey

I Am Your Child - Barry Manilow

I Don't Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith

I Turn To You - Christina Aguilera

I Will Remember You - Sarah McLachlan

I Wish You Love - Dean Martin

I Won't Dance - Louis Armstrong & Ella Ftizgerald

If I Could - Barbara Streisand

If It Wasn't For Your Love - Heather Headley

If We Hold On Together - Diana Ross

I'll Always Love You - Whitney Houston

I'll Remember - Madonna

I'll Stand By You - The Pretenders, Carrie Underwood

I Wanna Be Like You - Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy

I Will Be There For You - Jessica Andrews

I Wish I Could - Collin Raye

I'm Your Angel - R. Kelly Featuring Celine Dion

Jackie Wilson Said - Van Morrison

Less Than The Song - Joan Baez

Life Is Beautiful - Keb' Mo'

Love Can Build A Bridge - The Judds

Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley

Love Without End, Amen - George Strait

Lullaby - Creed

May Each Day - Andy Williams

Memories - Elvis Presley

Moon Dance - Van Morrison

Moon River - Andy Williams

Moonlight Serenade - Frank Sinatra

My Dearest Darling - Etta James

My Father - Nina Simone

My Heart Belongs To Daddy - Ella Fitzgerald

My Little Girl - Steve Kirwan

My One True Friend - Bette Midler

Nightingale - Norah Roberts

No Place That Far - Sara Evans Featuring Vince Gill

Return To Pooh Corner - Kenny Loggins

Shining Star - Manhattans

Ships - Barry Manilow

Shower The People - James Taylor

Someone To Fall Back On - Jason Robert Brown

Somewhere Out There - Knights Bridge

Sunrise, Sunset - The Original Cast of Fiddler On The Roof

Surfer Girl - The Beach Boys

Taking You Home - Don Henley

Teach Your Children Well - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Tenderness On The Block - Shawn Colvin

Thank You For Loving Me - Bon Jovi

Thank God For Kids - The Oak Ridge Boys or Kenny Chesney

That's How Strong My Love Is - Otis Redding or The Rolling Stones

The Dance - Garth Brooks

The Glory Of Love - Bette Midler

The Keeper Of The Stars - Tracy Byrd

The Things We've Handed Down - Marc Cohen

Then They Do - Trace Adkins

Takes My Breath Away - Tuck & Patti

Through The Years - Kenny Rogers

Time To Say Goodbye - Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli

Times Of Your Life - Paul Anka

Tiny Dancer - Elton John

To Sir, With Love - Lulu

Too Marvelous For Words - Frank Sinatra

True Love Ways - Buddy Holly

Tupelo Honey - Van Morrison

Turn Around - Harry Belafonte

Two Of Us - The Beatles

Universe - Mark Wills

When I'm Sixty-Four - The Beatles

When My Little Girl Is Smiling - Steve Alaimo

When The Stars Go Blue - Tim McGraw

When You Were Sweet Sixteen - Mills Brothers

Who Knows Where The Time Goes - Judy Collins

Wild World - Cat Stevens

Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler

Winter - Tori Amos

You Are My Sunshine - Norman Blake

You Can Let Go - Crystal Shawanda

You Decorated My Life - Kenny Rogers

You Don't Have To Let Go - Jessica Simpson

You Look So Good In Love - George Strait

You Needed Me - Anne Murray

You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban

You'll Always Be My Baby - Sara Evans

Your Smiling Face - James Taylor

Your Song - Elton John

You're A Big Girl Now - Bob Dylan

You're A Big Girl Now - Stylistics

You're Gonna Be - Reba McEntire

You're My Hero - Theresa James

You're Still You - Josh Groban

Zoe Jane - Staind

To hear these songs, check out the Father Daughter playlist on the Listen To The Music page.

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