Thursday Tips: The Do Not Play List

I love Thursdays. For many reasons. But a fun reason to add to the list is Thursday Tips. Some of our lovely wedding blog friends are doling out the helpful thoughts and suggestions for brides (and grooms!) just because... it's Thursday!

My tip for today may seem like a no-brainer for those of you who have either: already been married (and possibly learned your lesson the hard way) or been to many weddings, and determined that this little factor at a wedding can be - well, a big factor.

So here's the tip: give your DJ (or band, if they play covers) a Do NOT Play List. This does not apply to the super easy going bride and groom who love any and all types of music and songs. But for the rest of us, there are probably at least a couple of songs that make us cringe.

Perhaps there is a certain genre that you hate. (Techno? Country?) Be sure to let your DJ know. Maybe you just can't stand the thought of one or more of the "group dance" songs (the chicken dance? the YMCA? dare I say... the Macarena?) There is always the possibility that someone will request them, so if you absolutely don't want to hear them, put them on the list!

The music played at a reception varies depending on the couple and the band/DJ. However, there's a good chance you are going to get some hip hop songs thrown in the mix, or possibly even the majority of the playlist. Let's face it, a good hip hop beat can get a lot of booties shakin'. If you are more on the conservative side, you may want to check out the most popular hip hop songs right now, and decide whether the lyrics are right for your wedding. After all, your grandma probably doesn't need to hear about the sweat dripping down Lil' Jon's... Well anyway, let's move on.

Basically, unless you are giving your DJ an entire playlist (which many couples do - more power to them!) you may want to think about the songs that you would NOT like to hear on your wedding day, so you don't have to worry about it on the day. Just hand over the No Play List and you are good to go!

Check out these other fabulous blogs for more Thursday Tips: Every Last Detail

Bow Ties & Bliss Love, Milk & Honey Little Bit Heart The Oceanside Bride

And if you need help finding your playlist, or don't want to do the work of inspecting lyrics, or just need some musical inspiration.. Stick around! We'd love to help.

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Guest Post: Have A Little Faith

I'm so happy to have Jenna from Little Bit Heart with us today! She is sharing her story of how she and her fiance chose their first dance song - and it's a good one! :)

Thanks so much to Colleen for having me today! I loved writing about how we chose our first dance- I hope that one of these might help you find yours :) Good luck and have fun with it!

Our tall order for our first dance song:

1. Something older, that wouldn't date our wedding too much. This was on the wish list since American Wedding, where Jim and Bandcamp Michelle danced to a Wallflowers cover of "Into The Mystic". Downside of this requirement: we never get to hear our song on the radio. Once in a while in movies, yes- but not the radio.

2. Obvious: "good words." Houses have good bones, we needed good words to stand on. No pressure.

3. The love song that made me feel like "Hallelujah" (the Jeff Buckley version)- which is what I would have said, if you wanted me to pick a song I loved, except for the whole "love was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you" part.

The first dance was the last song we needed to give the band. Neil's mom wanted to dance with him to Elvis' "Welcome to My World." Done. My dad loves Hootie and the Blowfish, so we avoided a song that was just going to make us cry more and went for "Hold My Hand" (I know it wasn't a conventional choice but we had a blast dancing to this!).

So- it came down to the two of us and a CD. The favorites that made the CD: "Heaven" (Bryan Adams, but we liked the gorgeous version by Brandi Carlisle), "Feels Like Home" (Linda Ronstadt), "All I Need" (this wasn't older, but it got a "Hallelujah" pass; only problem: my mom didn't like it too much), "I Found A Reason" (Cat Power's version), and "Have A Little Faith In Me" (Hilary Scott's is like Mandy Moore's but without that frog-ribbit sound). We listened to that CD so closely (and probably more times than Neil had patience for), with me all but crawling in the speakers to find our good words. And it was that one, that first verse from "Have A Little Faith In Me" that got us:

"Let my love throw a spark

Have a little faith in me"

I looked at Neil and said, "I mean, right there- my love's a spark? That's it." and that was that. We put the Cat Power and Mat Kearney songs in the wedding video (if you're stuck between two or three- don't forget you might need to pick out a few songs for this as well), and danced to that one for the first time as Mr and Mrs. Because really, isn't that what marriage is? Having a little faith.

Images by Amy Raab

Thank you again to Jenna for sharing her sweet story with us! Go check out her lovely custom papergoods at her site!

Would you like to share your story with us? We'd love to hear it!

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Tuesday Shoesday: New Love

Just felt the need to share these New Love pumps from Chinese Laundry. Because they are going to be on my doorstep in 5-8 business days. I'm very excited to meet them.

Image from Nodrstrom

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This Week's Favorites

I stumbled upon a whole lot of beautiful and amazing things to look at and listen to around the wedding blogoshpere this week. Here are a few of my favorites that I want to share with you. Be inspired.

Claire at A Realistic Wedding got married this weekend! Before she left, she shared a Sneak Peek with her readers of her first dance song. Go check it out!

Megan, from Glamour & Grace had Sarah Montes as a guest to share a unique and sweet DIY project that I adore. Can you guess why I love it? Go see. But I'll give you a hint.

On Sugar Spun Suite last week, we got to be voyeurs in the incredibly creative art-inspired proposal by Aaron Vanden.

And... finally, my favorite... because I am a ridiculously huge Beatles fan... All You Need Is Love: A Beatles Themed Wedding! (Shared on Boho Weddings And Events)

Hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

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Guest Post: On The Side Of Angels

Today I'm so happy to share with you this lovely story written by my guest Karen. Later, you should pay Karen a visit at her blog, Karen's Healthy Lifestyle. But for now, read her sweet story of how she and her fiance chose their first dance song.

It had to be perfect. It couldn’t just be any old song. It had to fit our relationship, it had to demonstrate our feelings toward each other, and it had to be something we could each dance to. Most of all, it had to be something different than what everyone else was playing. Our wedding song, like our ceremony and reception, had to be unique and fitting for us.

We sat for hours listening to various songs that were used for weddings. We looked at list after list of recommended songs, and we even tried a few on for size. Dancing to “Almost Paradise” we thought we had found it. Right up until Daniel started mocking the song, changing the lyrics to “Almost Parrot Ice…” The frozen drink we enjoyed at the convenience store down the street was not quite what I had in mind for my first dance as Daniel’s wife. Next!

One day we decided to take a break and just listen to music for the enjoyment. We threw on the LeAnn Rimes CD that I didn’t pull out too often and started cleaning our tiny condo. From one end of our home to the other I could hear the tracks of “You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs.” Other than to get more cleaning done, though, I wasn’t too inspired. Truth be told, I was secretly hoping to find “that” song on this CD. I was getting tired of searching, and I was getting ready to give up on dancing at my wedding altogether.

Then track seven started. “I’ve never been so certain, I’ve never been so sure.” Stop cleaning. “We’re on the side of angels, if we believe this love is pure.” Stand completely still. “Is it so hard to trust it, ‘cause we’ve been wrong before?” I held my breath, thinking about how this was a second marriage for both of us. “There comes a time in every life, we find the heart we’re waiting for.” Tears started to stream down my face.

“Um, Daniel,” I called. “I THINK WE’VE FOUND IT!” I crossed the room, grabbed my future husband, and we danced around the living room. “Every time you touch me, don’t you feel it too? The gentle hand that’s guiding us You to me, me to you.” We danced, and we sang. We played the song over and over again, looking for any reason to declare it imperfect. It was flawless. LeAnn Rimes’ “On the Side of Angels” was exactly what we had been looking for.

I called the DJ the next day and told him what I wanted played as our first dance. He had never heard of it, and he was very honest when he told us he had no intention of buying a CD just for one song he was unsure of. This was before the days of single track downloads, so Daniel and I went out and bought another copy of the CD that day. We gave it to the DJ for his collection. Problem solved.

On June 24, 2000 Daniel and I got married at the Grand Canyon Deer Farm in Williams, AZ. A week later we had our reception in the backyard at Daniel’s parents’ house. When the time came for our first dance, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Because the song was not so popular that it was played over and over on the radio, our guests really heard the lyrics.

I knew at that moment we had made the right choice. Not just for the song, but for our lives. We were going to make it. Life together may not always be easy, but we would be together. “We’re on the side of angels after all.” Not every marriage gets to start with angels on their side.

Thank you so much Karen for sharing your beautiful story with us!!

Want to share your story? We'd love to hear it!

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Shaun & Corina's Beautiful Beach Wedding

In keeping with yesterday's beachy theme, I have the privilege of sharing with you these fabulous photos from Shaun and Corina's wedding in Carmel, California. The photos were taken by the lovely and talented Jessica Velarde.

Ah, so beautiful, aren't they? And don't you love the daring little squirrel eating the rose petal about 2 inches away from the bride's dress? I do.

If you need some musical inspiration for your beach wedding, check out these tunes.

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Beachy Tunes

For your beach or summer wedding, here are some great songs that combine romantic sentiments with the relaxed, beachy feel and the upbeat spirit of summer. Of course there are many more out there, but these are some favorites. Also, many from this selection can be used during the ceremony or different portions of the reception, because of their love-related lyrics. (As opposed to, for example, Wipe Out.) Enjoy!

Lucky - Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
One Summer Night - The Danleers
Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Is This Love - Bob Marley
Kokomo - The Beach Boys
Sea Of Love - The Honeydrippers or Cat Power
Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra or Michael Buble
Under The Boardwalk - The Drifters
Theme from "A Summer Place" (Instrumental) - Percy Faith Orchestra
Heatwave - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Escape (The Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes
Ebb Tide - The Righteous Brothers
Walking On Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves
Baby I Love Your Way - Big Mountain
Turn Your Lights Down Low - Bob Marley & Lauryn Hill
Come Go With Me - The Del Vikings
Love Song - 311
Moondance - Van Morrison
Hawaiian Wedding Song - Elvis Presley
Surfer Girl - The Beach Boys
Better Together - Jack Johnson
White Sandy Beach Of Hawaii - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Love Is My Religion - Ziggy Marley
Every Breath You Take - UB40
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Lauryn Hill
I Melt With You - Jason Mraz
In The Still Of The Night - The Five Satins
Into Yesterday - Sugar Ray
Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darin
One Love - Bob Marley
Dancing In The Moonlight - King Harvest
Stay - Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
Summer Nights - John Travolta & Olivia Newton John

Listen to these songs on the "Beach/Summer Wedding" playlist on our Listen To The Music page.

Image by Dynamite Imagery

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For Japan With Love From This Irish Girl

Tomorrow Soundtrack To I Do will be taking a day of silence in support of For Japan With Love, a fundraising event put on by Ever Ours and Utterly Engaged. All money donated goes to Shelterbox, an organization that supplies shelter and emergency supplies for victims of disaster. Please check it out and support however you can.

And, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, I'll leave you with this Irish blessing, which has been hanging on a wall in my family's home since I was a babe:

“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.”

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Honoring Your Attendants

I can't attribute where I read this, because I spend half my life on wedding blogs these days, but I heard this idea that I thought was really sweet and special. The idea is this: at your wedding reception, you can call out your bridal party onto the dance floor for a special dance. Of course, there is a potential for concerns about the pairings, date issues, etc. but you can work that out ahead of time with your attendants. As they each come out, your band leader, DJ, emcee, what-have-you, can say their names, and possibly a little message about them (a fun fact, how you met, etc.) I thought this was such a great way to honor your attendants and also let the rest of the guests know a bit about who they are!

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Father Daughter Dance Favorites

The father daughter dance is such a sweet and special tradition. Some fathers and daughters have a perfect song that means something to them or represents their relationship. If you don't already have a song in mind for your father daughter dance, here is a list of some favorites that are often used because they fit the occasion so well. The songs are sentimental and sweet, and the lyrics have been carefully inspected for their relatedness to a father-daughter relationship, or to the sentiments of your wedding day, between a father and daughter. Enjoy!

As - Stevie Wonder

Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion

Blessed - Elton John

Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle

Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John

Child of Mine - Carole King

Cinderalla - Stephen Curtis Chapman

Daddy's Hands - Holly Dunn

Daddy's Little Girl - Al Martino or Michael Buble

Daughter - Loudon Wainwright III

Don't Know Much - Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville

Father And Daughter - Paul Simon

Father's Eyes - Amy Grant

Forever Young - Bob Dylan

Forever Young - Rod Stewart

God Only Knows - The Beach Boys

Goodnight My Angel - Billy Joel

Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison or Rod Stewart

How Sweet It Is - Marvin Gaye or James Taylor

I Hope You Dance - Leann Womack

I Loved Her First - Heartland

I Will - The Beatles

I'll Be - Reba McEntire

In My Arms - Mark Wills

In My Daughter's Eyes - Martina McBride

In My Life - The Beatles

Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder

It Won't Be Like This For Long - Darius Rucker

Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel

Kind And Generous - Natalie Merchant

Landslide - Fleetwood Mac or The Dixie Chicks

Let Them Be Little - Billy Dean or Lonestar

Little Miss Magic Jimmy Buffet

Lullaby - The Dixie Chicks

My Girl - The Temptations

My Little Girl - Tim McGraw

My Special Angel - Bobby Helms

My Wish - Rascal Flatts

Ordinary Miracle - Sarah McLachlan

Parent's Prayer - Steven Curtis Chapman

Rainbow Connection - Kermit The Frog

She - Elvis Costello

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver

Stand By Me - Ben E. King

Thank Heaven For Little Girls - Maurice Chevalier or Merle Haggard

The Way You Do The Things You Do - The Temptations

The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra

The Wonder Of You - Elvis Presley

There Goes My Life - Kenny Chesney

There You'll Be - Faith Hill

Through The Years - Kenny Rogers

Unforgettable - Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole

What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

When You Come Back Down - Nickel Creek

You Are So Beautiful To Me - Joe Cocker

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder

You Belong To Me - Jason Wade

You'll Be In My Heart - Phil Collins

You've Got a Friend - James Taylor

If you'd like to listen to these songs, check out the "Father/Daughter" playlist on the Listen to the Music page.

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Classical Ceremony

For those of you who want to have a traditional ceremony, classical music would naturally be your choice. I am a big fan of contemporary music, but traditions are around for a reason, right? Right. Below is a list of the most popular and well known classical pieces for weddings, as well as some lesser known pieces that can also be used. All of these can be used at your discretion, either during the prelude (as people are getting seated), the processional (when the wedding party comes down the aisle), the entrance of the bride (self-explanatory), the recessional (when the bridal party exits the ceremony), or the postlude (as the guests leave). They can also be used for communion, a candle lighting or sand ceremony if you choose to include these during your wedding. A few of these are meant only for particular parts of the ceremony, and I have specified them below.

Most Popular

Bridal Chorus - Richard Wagner (Specifically for bridal entrance)

Wedding March - Felix Mendelssohn (Specifically for the recessional)

Canon In D - Johann Pachelbel

Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Johann Sebastian Bach

Ave Maria - Johann Sebastian Bach

Air On The G String (also called Air or Aria) - Johann Sebastian Bach

Four Seasons (Spring) - Antonio Vivaldi

Greensleeves - English Folk Music

Ode To Joy - Ludwig van Beethoven

Trumpet Voluntary - Jeremiah Clarke

Flower Duet - Clement Philibert Leo Delibes

Water Music, Hornpipe - George Frideric Handel

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Amazing Grace - John Newton

Lesser Known, But No Less Lovely

5th Symphony - Johann Sebastian Bach

Arioso - Johann Sebastian Bach

Four Seasons (Winter) - Antonio Vivaldi

Prelude In C - Johann Sebastian Bach

Largo - Johann Sebastian Bach

March In D Major - Johann Sebastian Bach

Largo - George Frideric Handel

Water Music, Air - George Frideric Handel

Andante - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

La Rejouissance - George Frideric Handel

Intermezzo - Mascagni

Trumpet Tune - Henry Purcell

March - Giuseppe Verdi

Gigue - Johann Sebastian Bach

Rondeau - Jean-Joseph Mouret

Adagio - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Nocturne - Frederic Chopin

Courante - Johann Sebastian Bach

Musetta's Waltz - Giacomo Puccini

Piano Sonata #5 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Prelude to the Afternoon of A Faun - Claude Debussy

Sleepers Awake - Johann Sebastian Bach

Water Music, Suite In F Major - George Frideric Handel

Violin Concerto #8 - Antonio Vivaldi

Waltz (from Sleeping Beauty) - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Waltz In A Minor - Frederic Chopin

Sheep May Safely Graze - Johann Sebastian Bach

Palladio - Karl Jenkins

Danza Pastorale - Antonio Vivaldi

Allegro From Brandenburg Concerto #3 - Johann Sebastian Bach

Arrival Of The Queen of Sheba - George Friderich Handel

Moonlight Sonata - Ludwig van Beethoven

Clair de Lune - Claude Debussy

There are enumerable other classical pieces, but sometimes too many choices become overwhelming. Just like traditions are traditions for a reason, the same goes for universal favorites.

If you'd like to listen to these songs, check out the "Classical" playlist on the Listen to the Music page.

Image by nuchylee

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More Classics

If the music in The Classics post was not enough for you, don't fret! There is plenty of music from this time period to go around. Here is a list of some of the lesser known, but no less lovely, songs of the time. Since many of them were recorded by two or more artists, I've listed each of the performers that recorded them. (I kept it to the big names of the 40's and 50's though - more modern covers will be in future posts.) That way, you can choose your favorite version, or your favorite crooner. No matter what, you can't go wrong with these classy tunes.

1. What Is This Thing Called Love - Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald

2. You'd Be So Easy To Love - Frank Sinatra

3. (Love Is) The Tender Trap - Debbie Reynolds, Frank Sinatra

4. At Long Last Love - Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra

5. Put Your Dreams Away (For Another Day) - Frank Sinatra

6. My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald

7. All The Way - Frank Sinatra

8. Embraceable You - Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra

9. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? - Julie Andrews, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra

10. Let's Fall In Love - Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong

11. From This Moment On - Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra

12. Someone To Watch Over Me - Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Etta James

13. I've Got A Crush On You - Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra

14. My One And Only Love - Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson

15. I Didn't Know About You - Ella Fitzgerald, Patti Page

16. Just you, Just me - Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole

17. They Can't Take That Away From Me - Fred Astaire, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

18. The Nearness Of You - Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday

19. Memories Are Made Of This - Dean Martin, Nat King Cole

20. Besame Mucho - Emilio Tuero, Dean Martin

21. Just In Time - Tony Bennett

22. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You - Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra

23. In The Chapel In The Moonlight - Dean Martin

24. Too Young - Nat King Cole

25. For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole

26. Trust In Me - Etta James

27. When I Fall In Love - Doris Day, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis

28. Until The Twelfth Of Never - Johnny Mathis

29. My Dearest Darling - Etta James

30. You Belong To Me - Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis

And the list goes on - if you wanted to use these songs through your entire ceremony, transition, and reception, you would probably have enough different recordings to last you. These, however, are a selection of some of the best.

If you'd like to listen to these songs, check out "The Classics" playlist on the Listen to the Music page.

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