Wedding Song Advice

One of the very last details I left to organise was most of our song choices. I really struggled to find the perfect music for each event during the day and night of our wedding day. I primarily had trouble with the fact that it was so time consuming and my plate was rather full of all of the other duties that come with wedding planning.Where to start for the special songs such as walking down the aisle, father daughter dance etc.I started by researching blog posts (similar to this) and clicking link after link on YouTube about 3 months before the wedding. I have to say this was very time consuming and very frustrating. You might re-discover 1 song you like after watching about 50 or more. And don’t even get started on those YouTube ads that I had to wait through just to reminisce over a song! But the light at the end of the tunnel shone through and I was able to find some perfect songs through this method.You have to consider the feel you want of yourself and your guests at this point.Do I want to make everyone cry?Do I want to cry?Do I just want to be happy?Do I want to be excited?What do I want to feel?What do I want my guests to feel?How do I feel when I hear this music?Will it be likely that guests will know this track?Does it matter if they aren’t familiar with the song?Every wedding for sure, is emotional but the music makes everyone feel whatever you desire – it has such power!I went with emotional but not teary. (apart from one song ok!)Another research method is to look through the years you have grown up and see what music was popular for you growing up. One for me was Mariah Carey. I know when I was young, I loved the song Hero and always wanted it to be my wedding song. Of course being an adult and listening to the song, I realised how much it did not suit a wedding because it’s more about finding yourself than finding your one true love! So with the Mariah Carey theme I went to YouTube. It was here I was clicking away with one of my bridesmaids one night and found it – THE song. MY song. Mariah Carey & Luther Vandross – Endless Love. The lyrics and feel of the song were just what I was after which made it perfect to walk down the aisle to. Every time I listen to this song I fall in love.One song that I have always loved since I heard it for the very first time was Landon Austin – Once in a Lifetime. My beautiful Bridesmaids walked down the aisle to this song. I just loved the feeling and meaning behind this song and felt it was perfectly suited. While I felt that this was a song that not everyone (hardly anyone to be exact) was familiar with or had even hear – I know how much I enjoyed listening to it when I first heard it. It was so easy-going and just lovely.After the ceremony had concluded and we would walk back down the aisle ad husband and wife I chose Jessica Simpson – With You, which is another old favourite of mine. This song just makes me smile and feel happy about being in love and being with someone who loves you for you.A trend is to pick separate songs for each couple to enter the reception which is such a fabulous idea!We (I) chose just one song for us all walking in which was Carrie Underwood – Some Hearts. This song takes me back to when I first started listening to Carrie, one of my favourite female artists. I just had moved away from home to the city of Adelaide and had found so much independence and was loving life. I’ve always loved this song and how uplifting it is.While cutting the cake Kelly Clarkson – A Moment Like This was playing in the background. This song holds a special place in my heart – Kelly Clarkson’s first single.The last two songs I probably wish I could have changed and only because people weren’t familiar with them. Although they hold a special place in my heart I imagine other’s wouldn’t understand or feel the feeling I get when I hear those songs.Our first dance was a song that I think I cried when listening it to the first time because it was just US! Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran – Everything Has Changed. Dean and I took dance lessons and had a whole routine for this dance which was just beautiful. Again, no tears, just happiness. The father-daughter / Mother-Son dance. At first I just went with what he DJ suggested (I can’t even remember what it was!) but I went and did some research for this song and came across the most perfect song. Celine Dion – Because You Loved Me. Try and listen to that song without getting emotional! I worshipped Celine as a child (along with Mariah) and it was so fitting. Let me tell you – there were waterworks during this song. While I was dancing with my father, who it had already been emotional day for him – he was bawling and so was I. Dean’s mother was also in tears but it was just a beautiful moment. I remember hearing our MC asking people to join us on the dance floor and no one actually did because they could tell the moment was so special for us. Of course the song for throwing the bouquet was Beyonce -Single Ladies.Reception DJ or Band?Dean and I always agreed on having a DJ over a band at our wedding reception and we secured the booking of one in our local area roughly 9 months before the big day and made a deposit. I found him through a visit to one of our local Wedding Expo’s and seeing as he specialised in weddings we figured he would know his stuff.From our own experiences, we enjoy events that have DJ’s over bands – it comes down to personal preference for that. I know I rarely get up and dance to a band but I can dance all night if a DJ plays the right songs. The main thing we liked about having a DJ was that the songs played would be exactly how everyone already knew them – the guests would be familiar with the beat and know all of the words. Sometimes as soon as you hear the start of a song your legs are already taking you to the dance floor before you know it.Looking back, I wish I did put a little more effort and time into the song selection but I was still happy with what we chose. You have to weigh up the time it takes as well to find just the perfect song (unless you already have a list!) I probably would have planned the start of the reception better but it didn't negatively impact the day at all. The place still had a lovely "in love" vibe which was what was most important!I hope this post gives you some inspiration for finding the perfect music for your special day. I was lucky enough Dean trusted me to choose pretty much everything but you need to agree on it all and be happy with the choices. Good luck brides to be!oxo Crystal