Why Let them Eat Cake?

I always love to see “new” and creative ideas at wedding receptions and Saturday was a first. So many things were unique about Jessica and Bill’s wedding. The most exceptional creation was their wedding “cake”!! Each layer of the cake was actually a huge rice crispy treat. Upon first glance you could not even tell that the flowers, ribbons, and butterflies were resting on breakfast cereal.

I am very glad that when Jessica and Bill shared their first rice crispy treat together they did not have any frosting to get on each other. Creativity is everywhere in the wedding world. A traditional wedding cake would have been a let down for this fun-loving couple. Jessica and Bill’s personalities really needed something more dramatic and marshmallows, cereal and all of the embellishments made their “cake” one to remember.

Congratulations Jessica and Bill ~ you celebrated your true individuality and love in your own "Certain" fashion!!

Guests Follow Your Lead

The “first dance” opens the dance floor. All of the wedding traditions follow. When it is really time to hit the dance floor, most guests tend to follow the lead of the bride and groom. Even the most entertaining band or DJ can only play 15 to 20 songs an hour. So if you have spent a great deal of time working with your entertainment source, you should be able to select music that you enjoy as well as selections that help everyone celebrate your new union.

No one formula is used to create the “right” mix of music for a wedding reception. The biggest concept to get your hands around is what you want on your dance floor. Do you want guests of all ages dancing to familiar tunes as well as upbeat selections and sweet love songs? Or do you expect your guests to hang out listening to songs you can only bob your head to or sit back taking it all in?

If you like the idea of guests dancing the night away, you may want to consider how much dancing you enjoy. The reception is really a time to take pleasure in and create musical moments to remember for years. Take the time to mingle as well as dance with your guests. Even the shyest couple can participate in the Anniversary Dance (also known as a “generations” dance) or a Snowball Dance.

Weddings tend to bring out all types of participation dances. I have written in the past about “the YMCA”, “the Electric Slide”, “Cha Cha Slide”, “Cupid Shuffle”, and others. Interaction and involvement in the wedding reception makes guests feel welcomed and part of the whole celebration. I am not condemning or condoning “the Chicken Dance” or “the Hokey Pokey”; but they bring guests from one to 101 out to a common place. It may just look a little dorky, but sometimes shaking body parts is all part of the fun.

You know your family and friends better than a DJ or band. So work with your wedding professional ahead of time to talk about favorite fast tunes and slow hits that will get guest involved in your celebration. You may even enjoy dancing around the room acting like a train conductor.

Enjoy your planning; enjoy your celebration!!

First Dance Opens the Dance Floor

I started feeling a little sentimental about “first dance” song selections when I was finishing up music for the next couple of wedding receptions. It made me think that there are so many wonderful love songs out there for bridal couples. I generally recommend that a couple select a song that is meaningful to them specifically. I mean this is the song that traditionally "opens" the dance floor and lets guests know that it is alright to make their way to the dance floor themselves.

In the past, I have had couples want to change things on the order of their traditions for their reception. That is fine as long as you have your first actual dance activity as the "first dance."

I came up with a few popular song selections. Of course, the sky is the limit when it comes to "which" song makes the cut.

Always enjoy your wedding planning as it the first step to your new life...

Here are a few first dance song selections and artists:

A KISS TO BUILD A DREAM ON

LOUIS ARMSTRONG

ALL MY LIFE

KC & JOJO

ANGEL EYES

JEFF HEALEY BAND

CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING

REO SPEEDWAGON

CHANCES ARE

SEGAR/MCBRIDE

FROM THIS MOMENT

SHANIA TWAIN & BRIAN WHITE

THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT

FRANK SINATRA

KEEPER OF THE STARS

TRACY BIRD

IT’S YOUR LOVE

TIM MCGRAW & FAITH HILL

WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL

ALLISON KRAUS

YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL

JOE COCKER

MORE THAN WORDS

EXTREME

CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE

ELVIS PRESLEY

COULD I HAVE THIS DANCE

ANNE MURRAY

LOVE WILL KEEP US ALIVE

THE EAGLES

UNCHAINED MELODY

THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

LOUIS ARMSTRONG

UNFORGETTABLE

NATALIE & NAT KING COLE

EVERYTHING I DO I DO FOR YOU

BRYAN ADAMS

HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY?

ROD STEWART

I CROSS MY HEART

GEORGE STRAIT

LOVE OF A LIFETIME

FIREHOUSE

FAITHFULLY

JOURNEY

THE FLAME

CHEAP TRICK