Wedding Songs: From Aisle to First Dance

Choosing a song for the first dance at your wedding might be the simplest thing you do out of the whole wedding planning process. You may already have a song that is special to you and your fiancé that you wish to use as your first dance. But there are many other songs that need choosing for the day aside from the first dance, which is where it can get harder to think of songs that are both special to you and suitable for the occasion.

Here we will take you through the stages of your wedding day that may require a song, and give you suggestions of what could work for each moment.

The song that will accompany you down the aisle towards your husband-to-be requires a lot of thought. This song is probably the second most important one of the day – second only to the first dance of course.

This song, or piece of music, will be what you and your fiancé hear when you first lay eyes on each other on your wedding day, and this is also the first time guests see you in your wedding gown. It is a momentous and emotional occasion that you will remember for the rest of your days together.

If you are marrying in a church you may want a beautiful piece of orchestral music. Pachelbel Canon in D is probably one of the most widely used pieces of music for a wedding entrance and there is good reason for it. Soft and romantic, yet uplifting and happy at the same time, it is definitely worth a listen to. It can also translate from organ to harp or almost any instrument you desire.

If you are having an outdoor wedding you may want to choose a special song that is sentimental to yourself and your partner. If you are having trouble thinking of one, At Last by Etta James is a popular choice as is Into My Arms by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Fairytale by Enya is a moving and dreamy tune as well.

Any of these pieces of music or songs listed above can also be used for the signing of the registry as well.

Next up is the entrance to the reception. This is the first time you will walk into a room and be announced as ‘Mr & Mrs’. It is a cheerful moment as the official part of the day is over and it is time to relax and celebrate. A lot of people choose an upbeat song as it can really set the mood for the rest of the reception. Again, choose something that is special to you if you can. Perhaps a shared song that has always made you and your partner happy or one that never fails to get you both on the dance floor. If you are stuck for ideas, consider Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars or I’m Yours by Jason Mraz.

Cutting of the cake is a fun part of your wedding day. You will find yourself standing around as guests take photos, but this doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it! Do a little jig with your partner, attempt to feed each other a piece of cake or cheers from behind the layers of cake. Often a fun song is used at this stage and it can be something that is a play on the words ‘sweet’ or ‘sugar’. A nice choice is Ice Cream by Sarah McLachlan or How Sweet It Is by James Taylor. The actual cutting of the cake will probably be over before the length of a full song, so try not to choose something with too long an intro or you may not reach the chorus by the time you are sitting back down.

Now the first dance, the most important song you will play at your wedding. This is when you and your partner will take to the floor in front of all your guests and dance for the first time as husband and wife. It can be a very moving moment, or it can be a very happy and light-hearted one. Some couples will move slowly in each other’s arms and some will step out a pre-choreographed number.

You may know immediately which song you want to dance to, something that has always been special to the two of you. But if not, these ones are nice for romance: Heaven by DJ Sammy, Amazed by Lone Star, A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme) or for a slightly faster beat you can’t go wrong with Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.

Lastly, if there are any other songs that you had wanted to include in your wedding day but couldn’t find the right place to fit it in, you can get away with almost anything as your leaving song. This is where you make your last exit and farewell your guests, so either cheerful or sentimental can work well here.

Are you taking forever to decide on your wedding invites? Are you plagued with a variety of questions from what colour or theme you should use? What type of stationery you should go for? Should you get a printing supplier or just DIY? And how about the wording? These are just some of the questions you tend to fuss over when deciding on your wedding invitation.

If this sounds like you, here are a few tips on what makes a good wedding invitation!

First, sincerity

It’s your wedding so you’re not supposed to be forced to invite people you hardly know. With that in mind, you will breeze through writing a sincere and personalised invitation. Who says you need big fancy words! Sometimes the colour or paper type don’t matter that much either – what’s important is how you deliver your genuine interest in inviting your guests.

A Good First Impression

Wedding invites or even those casual save-the-date-cards can powerfully reflect the mood of your upcoming wedding. Sticking to your theme is key. Sending wedding invitations creates a first impression to your big day. You don’t need to impress them with lavishness or wit. You just have to be true to your wedding’s personality.

What to Include

Now let’s get down to business. A good wedding invitation will not leave guests clueless on how to get to your reception venue. If needed, print a map. Some couples even specify the number of seats reserved for their guests, and even their table number. Include the dress code requirement also if you must! It is important to consider what may confuse your guests, so include this information and leave them asking no questions!

Final Tip: Relax and enjoy the process

Save yourself from going crazy over wedding invitation decisions. Just relax and enjoy the whole routine of researching trends, samples of designs, stationery, font types, wording  etc. This is a special event in your life – so keep those memories (and invites) lovely.

What Makes a Good Wedding Invitation

Being put in charge of a hen party can be a daunting task. Not only are you in charge of making sure the bride-to-be has a great night, but you are also in charge of herding the group of hens that are there to help celebrate!

One way to keep everything running smoothly on the night is to have as much planned and prepared in advance. This means have venues picked, menus chosen and any themes or games set.

Choosing a theme should be one of the first things you do because once you have decided on a theme for the night you will be surprised at how easily all the other choices fall into place. Even the venue can be worked around the theme. Have you chosen a Western Style theme? Then look for travelling rodeos, country music nights at the local pub or even travel to a small town that is putting on a barndance.

Alternatively you might already know what your hen wants to do for the night so choosing a theme to suit the activity can sometimes be easier. For example, if she wants to have a pole dancing lesson you might want to make the theme ‘Showgirls’ and really ham up the feather boas and fishnet stockings!

If you are looking for an affordable way to theme the night, try visiting a $2 shop or the Base Warehouse. Browse the dress-up aisles and see what they have for a decent price. You will be amazed at the selection of hats, wigs and party costumes available.

Another way to decide on a theme is to think about what the husband-to-be does for a living and create a fun night based around that. A friend of mine was getting married to a pilot, so her bridesmaids dressed her and themselves as Sexy Air Hostesses for a funny night out.

Still stuck for ideas? Consider some of these options:

Cowgirls & Indians – think big cowgirl hats and flannel shirts, or feathers stuck in the hair and tassels.

Sailors – the perfect theme for an afternoon on a boat. Some guests can choose to dress up as pirates if they prefer!

Cops & Robbers – Tell half the guests the theme is cops and the other half it is robbers. Laugh at everyone’s surprise when they turn up! Plan some group games with cops as one team and robbers as the other and see if good or bad win the night.

Saints and Sinners – Another good option if you are planning to go pole dancing or taking a ride on one of the male dancer boats. Tell your guests to dress in what they are comfortable in, or to be cheeky, tell everyone to come as a saint and dress the hen as a sinner!

We hope we have helped make your planning easier. Enjoy!