In every country, culture and religion, weddings are an occasion of joy in which family and friends get together to celebrate and wish for a great life ahead full of hope and faith for the newlyweds. Because weddings are celebratory in nature, music, dance and songs have always held a special place in such ceremonies.

Select wedding songs that reflect your personality and relationship. The wedding songs should be songs you both enjoy and that send a message of your love and passion for one another. The guests at your wedding will likely remember the songs, so choose them wisely. Also, for that special song during the lighting of the unity candle, pick one that has words and music to help relay your desire to make a lifelong commitment to your spouse-to-be.

The number of songs at your wedding really depends on how the ceremony and reception are conducted. During the actual wedding ceremony, there are usually instrumental songs (with piano, guitar, or violin) for the prelude, processional, recessional, and postlude. You might have one or two soloists to sing special love songs during the ceremony as well.

During the reception, you can have background music as well as special songs for the “cake moment,” your first and last dances, the bouquet toss, the garter toss, etc. If you plan to have a lot of music at the reception, it might be a good idea to hire a professional wedding DJ. This will remove a great burden from your shoulders so you can enjoy your reception without worry.

Tip: If your wedding has a certain theme such as Hawaiian, medieval, tropical, Italian or Asian, choose songs to go along with the theme.

The “First Dance” Wedding Song

The song for your first dance should be carefully picked out by you and your spouse-to-be. Choose a song you both enjoy, one with a beat that’s not too fast or too slow for both of you. Listen to the lyrics carefully to be sure it is fitting for your wedding. Try to find a song that is meaningful for you both, but not necessarily popular in modern music trends. Once you make a selection, practice dancing to the song again and again so you’ll be able to gracefully dance together at the reception.

Restrictions on Wedding Songs

If you plan to hold your wedding ceremony in a church building, be sure to ask what type of wedding music will be allowed. Many churches have strict guidelines as to what type of music they will allow. Some may even restrict “how” the music is played, such as the music must be played on a live instrument and not from a music CD. Ask these questions before selecting your wedding songs and your music methods.

Careful Song Planning

The key to a smooth wedding ceremony and reception is to plan the itinerary and song schedule carefully on paper. Be sure everyone involved with the ceremony and music understands the procedures and when to play certain songs. This is crucial to keep things flowing naturally during every aspect of the wedding.

If you’re not sure what songs are available for weddings, you can easily go online to view wedding song lists and even listen to samples. Wedding websites are available that specialize in wedding planning tips and guides, and these usually provide many helpful suggestions. There are hundreds of traditional songs to choose from as well as more modern wedding songs if you prefer to go that route. The main thing to remember is it’s “your special day,” and you’ll want your songs to be as memorable as the wedding itself.

The basic concept of a bridal show is that many of the wedding vendors in a region will get together for an afternoon or a weekend under one roof. This gives brides a chance to meet a lot of different vendors in a short amount of time. Do not think, though, that speaking briefly with someone at a show is a substitute for a formal appointment to evaluate their services. It is more like an opportunity to see who is out there, gather business cards, and make follow up appointments for a later date.

Every bridal show will have a general theme or vibe. They are often sponsored by someone, and who that someone is may make a difference in the type of vendors that choose to attend. For instance, a show sponsored by a country music radio station and held in a convention center will certainly be different than the show sponsored by a vineyard and held on their premises. The first show is likely to be a broader cross-section of the local wedding professionals, whereas the second show will feature more high-end vendors. The more upscale shows are often by invitation only, so if you are looking for that type of vendor, you will know that they have already been pre-selected for you. It really all depends what you are looking for.

There are certain categories of wedding vendors that you are more likely to meet at bridal shows than others. For instance, many well-established bridal shops will choose not to participate in bridal shows because they figure that most brides already have their gowns by the time they get around to attending shows. In addition, they do not want to pull their staff and sample gowns away from the store on a Saturday. So if you are looking for a place to purchase a gown, a bridal show is not going to be all that helpful.

However, there are great reasons to attend the bridal shows. The vendors that are going to come out in full force are those who do not have a large storefront. So it can be a terrific chance to meet independent wedding professionals who can give your wedding unique and personalized attention. Bridal shows are a great place to find photographers, bakers, limos, entertainment bookers, calligraphers, and others.

You will also see small craftspeople showing products that they make. Artisans who create things such as candles, soaps, chocolates and other favors will often gather at bridal shows. You may also find people who make handmade wedding jewelry for gifts (although many brides prefer to search for their wedding jewelry gifts online for a greater variety). If you have been looking for some original touches for your wedding, you may find a bridal show to be helpful.