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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5. Wedding Songs For Your Ceremony

We've covered getting you and all of your wedding party up to the altar. Later, we will look at wedding songs to get you AWAY from the altar (the Recessional). But, for now we're going to look at what the actual ceremony is and how wedding songs and music can be a part of it. the ceremony is where the Pastor, Minister, Priest, Rabbi, Officiant, Elder (does this list ever end?!?) performs all of the ceremonial avocations which includes various uses of verbiage and symbolism. At the end of this article, I will list a standard ceremony outline. And if you got a copy of my Wedding Music Timeline Planner audiobook, you'll get samples of verbiage for each ceremony event.

Fitting music in during the ceremony (besides the upcoming Unity Candle/Event and the Live Music Performances) isn't necessary or terribly important. Usually, the Minister will be speaking the entire time and there is no need to "fill" empty space with song. But, if you simply LOVE music and want to squeeze in as much as you can, there are ways to add wedding songs during your ceremony.

One way to add music is to play a prerecorded song that is special to you, the soon-to-be-married couple! It may be the first song you ever listened to together or one that has lyrics that uncanningly speaks of your relationship. Another way is to have light (very light) background instrumental music played while the Minister is performing the ceremony. I would suggest not playing music the entire length of the ceremony, as this could become overbearing to the point of irritation for you and your wedding guests. You can bring up some beautiful music as you repeat your vows to each other or as you exchange roses or as you give a rose to each of the mothers and/or grandmothers. Just be sure to inform your Minister that this will be happening so he isn't surprised. It will show!

My suggestion here is to let the ceremony speak for itself, only highlighting special sections with light background instrumental music. The best ways to add wedding songs to the ceremony section, would be through the Unity Candle/Event and the Live Song Performance, which we'll review in our next post. Here's a standard ceremony outline:

1. Opening Remarks - "The Call to Worship"

2. The Opening Prayer

3. Congregation is Seated

4. Giving Away of the Bride

5. Worship Song, Hymn or Solo

6. The Charge to Brd and Grm

7. The Pledge

8. Wedding Vows

9. Exchanging of the Rings

10. Lighting of the Unity Candle/Unity Ceremony

11. The Pronouncement

12. Communion

13. The Closing Prayer

14. The Kiss

15. Presentation of the Couple

Thanks again for reading and learning here at Wedding Songs and Music Ideas!

3. Wedding Songs For The Second Processional

Now we're going to focus on the wedding song for your Second Processional. By now you've chosen your First Processional, or your parent's processional. Now, you have a few choices to make. Do you want the minister, groom, and groomsmen to walk to the altar/ceremony gazebo, etc. together (usually not down the isle, but from the audiences right side) or would you prefer the minister, groom, and best man come in first (also entering from the right side) and have the bridesmaids escorted down the center isle by the remaining groomsmen? Your decision here will impact the next song selection, because you will either have both guys and gals walking down the isle, or just the gals. If it is just the bridesmaids, you can feel free to get a little "girly" with your wedding song choice if you want! Now, let's move on.

Your Second Processional, or bridesmaid's processional is very similar to your first processional. It's usually a classical or contemporary piece, but with a twist. Since you're dealing with younger people, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, they are typically less offended. This opens up the door to have a little fun, if you so choose! Many of the suggestions made earlier also apply to this song, but going with a contemporary or new song would work even better here. Songs like Amazed by Lonestar, Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Isreal Kamakawiwo'ole, and Fairy Tales by Enya have been used by some of my clients. Notice these are still slow and romantic, but, this is your wedding so do whatever you want! For instance, if you want to really go crazy, you're bridesmaids can walk down to Chapel of Love, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, or even Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)!

Finally all of this may be a moot point, and here's why: If you only have a few parents walking down to the First Processional, you might not need a different wedding song for your Second Processional. You may only need 20 seconds of music for your parents to make it down the isle, and it would seem quite odd to cut off that first song! this may make your life easier, because now you'd be able to combine your First and Second Processionals into one. Choosing one song may be your only option here.

Again, to find different versions of the same song performed by different artists, do a search for songs you like and leave the artist blank. And again, don't forget movie soundtracks!

For those of you who purchased my Wedding Timeline Planner, you'll have an easier time by going through the Song Suggestions List and searching those on iTunes or Amazon.

Good luck and thanks for stopping by Wedding Songs and Music Ideas!

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!