A Great Wedding Planning Tool: Wedding Songs Timeline Planner!

♥ "What are some of the best wedding dance songs for 2010?"

♥ "I can't afford a coordinator so how in the world do I plan my ceremony & music? What order do the events go in?"

♥ "I need some original ideas, please, for the reception music-- songs that aren't overplayed--REAL suggestions that actually work!!!"

♥ "What do I do if NO ONE at my wedding is DANCING?!?!" (I give you this FREE BONUS TIP in the WHAT YOU GET section)

These are just a few of MANY wedding planning questions answered with

The Wedding Songs Timeline Planner

(As featured in "Planning the Perfect Wedding!" at SimplyWed Magazine)

It's exactly what it says it is: A planning program that will take away your fear and anxiety and give you TONS of song ideas for EVERY wedding event!

"I am really impressed with the planning tips given in this program. Even I learned some secrets! Planners cost thousands of dollars, but this program does it all for practically nothing!"
-C.M. Williams, Wedding Coordinator, APCWC

Based on over 20 years of planning the most successful weddings & receptions, these ideas get people up dancing and help keep people there all night. I want your wedding to be a success! You get one chance to do it right--If it's just mediocre or even bad, you can't say, "Well, that didn't work. Let's try it again next weekend!" Here's how to do it right! Download The Wedding Songs Timeline Planner INSTANTLY right now and start planning in MINUTES!

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6. Wedding Songs for your Unity Candle/Event

Choosing the wedding songs for the unity candle, which is a ceremonial activity symbolizing the union of two people becoming one, is a very simple task. I'll get to how to pick this music in a moment. First, I want to go over the various types of unity candle/events available for you to choose from.

With the standard unity candle, the bride and groom each take a lit tapered candle and touch the flame to the wick of the center candle. Then these candles are placed back in their holders. Some wedding planners suggest blowing out the individual tapers, but I prefer to leave them lit, since they represent the bride and groom's individuality (you're still a unique person even though you're getting married, right?). Also, if you are a christian, the three lit candles are a nice representation of the Trinity.

One of the main questions that comes up is, how do the individual tapers get lit? You know, the actual candles that the bride and groom pick up and light the center candle with? I usually suggest these get lit by the mother of the groom and the mother of the bride. Right before the start of the ceremony processionals, the mothers can walk up together and light the individual tapers. It's best not to use a click lighter either! Tacky! Instead, have a smaller candle already lit nearby, and the mothers can light the tapers off of that candle. Nice, huh?

Here are some other unity events to consider.

The Unity Sand: similar to the candle idea, there are two small glass vases filled with two different colored sands. At the appropriate time, the bride and groom pour the sand from these small glass vases into a larger vase, creating a unique sand piece for their fireplace mantle. the sands can represent whatever they want; the minutes in their lives, now poured together as one, etc.

The Unity Tree: For you botanists, tree-huggers, or avid outdoors types, this event involves having a potted plant or tree somewhere near the altar. The bride and groom each take a nice spade and scoop up some loose earth (obviously from another container) and they pour the earth over the roots of the tree. This tree is then planted at their home and becomes their wedding tree.

The Unity Wine: One of my favorites. Take two different wines and have the bottles up at the altar. the bride and groom pour a little wine from each bottle into a glass, thereby creating a completely new and unique vintage. They each take a sip from this glass and thereby begins the party! Just kidding. This new wine is now uniquely theirs, just as their marriage will be.

So, there you have the unity events. But, what about wedding songs, you ask? Simple. Any love song or ballad will work well with these events. Feel free to research love songs that might pair up with wine, trees, or fire.

This is also a great opportunity to have someone perform the song live. I suggest this because these events usually take anywhere from one to two minutes at most, so much of the song is cut off anyway. Having a performer brings the entire event to life and gives you a reason to hear the whole song, in it's entirety.

Good luck in choosing your wedding songs for your unity event, whatever it may be!

2. Wedding Songs For Your First Processional

Choosing the right wedding songs for your processional should be a simple process. The problem is most people don't have any idea what songs fit in this particular ceremony event. I’ll first review what the processional is and how to plan it then go over music ideas for you. I will include a list of traditional (and non-traditional) First Processionals at the end of this article.

First, here’s a brief description of the processional. This is where the parents and any other special people (aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, etc.) are honored by having them walk down the isle. They can be escorted by an usher or groomsman or they can process as a couple. The groom’s parents, for instance, could walk down as a couple if still married. Don't go too crazy and include everybody in the processional (like your 3rd cousin, twice removed). It should be reserved for the most important people in your life. I’ll go over the entrance order in reverse. The last person down the isle would be the bride’s mom. Before her, would be the groom’s mom. And before her would be the bride’s grandparents, then the groom’s grandparents. Any other special people would come before the grandparents. Notice how the most important, the more special the person is, the later they walk down the isle? I know, it seems backward, but it’s like a movie. The most important stuff happens at the end! Start with your close special people, then the groom’s grandparents, then the bride’s grandparents, then the groom’s parent’s, then, finally, the bride’s mom finishes the first processional. She won’t be escorted by the bride’s father, as he will be walking the bride down the isle. The bride’s mom can be escorted by her son (I know, you can say “awwww!) or any other person she’d prefer. This is the First Processional, or the Processional for the Parents. What follows is the Second Processional, or the Processional for the Bridesmaids. Finally, the Third Processional, or the Bride's Processional follows next. We'll cover those processionals next time.

The wedding song you choose for your parent’s processional can range from classical to contemporary and should reflect your style and/or your parent's sensibilities. Some traditional songs are Air On A G String by Bach, Greensleeves, and of course, the ever-popular, much overused Canon in D Major by Pachelbel. Now, if you've always pictured your family walking down to an over-played wedding song, that's fine. There are so many different versions of these songs available, you can always find one that has a new, unique feel to it. I currently have 16 different versions of Canon in D in my music library! Another way to go is using contemporary songs, such as Con Ti Partiro by Andrea Bocelli (or by anyone else, for that matter) or even a Josh Groban song. If you’d prefer no vocals, many times you can find instrumental versions of these songs that will work well. I’ve even had some clients have tons of fun with this, the very start of their wedding day, by playing a fun, over-the-top song like Chapel of Love by the Dixie Cups.

Whatever wedding song you choose for your First Processional, make sure the bride loves it and the bride’s mom loves it. The groom and everyone else can simply “like” it and you should be fine! Now, as promised here’s a list of wedding songs and music ideas for your First Processional!

Adagio – Mozart

Air – Handel

Air on a G String – Bach

Ave Maria – Pavarotti

Canon In D Major – Pachelbel

Con Ti Partiro (the Bellagio song) – Bocelli

Flower Duet – Traditional

Greensleeves – Traditional

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Bach

Minuet – Mozart

My Heart Will Go On (Piano) – Christopher Peacock

Ode To Joy – Beethoven

Prelude No. 1 In C Major – Bach

Sheep May Safely Graze – Bach

Siciliano – Bach

The Wedding Song – Petula Clark

Also, search for these song titles and leave the artist blank and you’ll find a wide variety of versions. Oh, and don't forget another great source--movie soundtracks! Good luck and thanks for stopping by Wedding Songs and Music Ideas!

1. Wedding Songs For Your Ceremony Background Music

When guests arrive for your wedding ceremony, they should be greeted by a beautiful setting, a comfortable atmosphere, and appropriate wedding background music. These songs are heard before the official start of the ceremony, which is usually keyed by the first processional, or the parents processional (which will be covered later here at Wedding Songs and Music Ideas). Of course, Metallica and the Black Eyed Peas are probably not what you want to play here, but that doesn't mean you have to use music that will put your guests to sleep!

A lot of people will go the classical route, playing string quartet or trio music from artists such as Bach, Brahams, and the like. Another typical route would be piano, guitar, or some other solo instrument playing the same. If this is what you have always dreamed of hearing before the start of your wedding, then go for it. Many couples use classical for their ceremony music or have that solo instrument playing classical. These are fine, but in today's wedding arena, people are spreading their wings and branching out!

I recently had a string quartet playing love song arrangements from the Beatles, Journey, and Dave Matthews. of course, they needed to get the sheet music for these songs, but they did so for free, as an investment for their group. There's also modern pianists, like Steve Siu, who recently put out his versions of contemporary songs from Toni Braxton, Josh Groban, and even Coldplay! There is an electric harpist named Hillary Stagg that has some great pre-ceremony music on CD or on iTunes. Another popular artist is Enya. I know, seems a little too early 90's but she's always putting out new stuff that works great for before the ceremony.

Finally, picking love songs, old or new, works well if kept at the appropriate level. Just about every artist on the planet has recorded a love song so it shouldn't be too hard to find the 5 to 10 artists that work for you. Give your list of 20 songs to your DJ or put them on a disc and you're ready to go.

The wedding songs you pick for before the ceremony should reflect your music ideas, style and taste. Don't be afraid to express yourself. It is, after all your wedding. Choose your wedding songs. Your music ideas. Be yourself and your guests will love you for that!