Keeping The Beat:Wedding Reception Music

The wedding reception is a time to celebrate! The right music choices are very important if you want guests of all ages to relax and have a wonderful time. While it may be tempting to just create a playlist using your own iPod’s lists, don’t. You must consider your audience and welcome them into your fabulous fete by playing music they recognize and love.

One recent trend is to allow guests to request one favorite dance song on their reply cards. This is an easy way to figure out what might get your crowd moving (or at least keep them in a good mood).

Another option is to select key songs for your reception and just trust your band or DJ to make the rest of the selections. If you hired an experienced, trained professional, this should absolutely not be a problem!

If you needed to cut corners and perhaps hired a friend or other non-professional to DJ, however, you need to have a bit more control of your playlist.

Here are some of the key reception moments for which you will need to select special songs.

I have listed a few of my personal suggestions, but, of course, you should personalize these choices to suit your specific tastes!

First dance: The bride and groom’s first public dance.
You can’t go wrong with: “Always and Forever” by Luther Vandross.

Cake cutting: Everyone loves dessert; set the tone with a fun song.
You can’t go wrong with: “Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def Leppard or “Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani.

Mother/son dance: The groom dances with his mother. Obviously this one should be based upon her taste in music.
You can’t go wrong with: “A Song For Mama” by Boys II Men.

Father/daughter dance: The bride dances with her father. This selection should also be based upon musical tastes or message.
You can’t go wrong with: “My Girl” by The Temptations.

Anniversary dance: It is trendy now to invite married couples to enjoy a dance that celebrates their long-lasting union.
You can’t go wrong with: “Grow Old With You” by Adam Sandler.

Bouquet toss: A fun song is needed here to encourage the unmarried female guests to participate in this fun tradition.
You can’t go wrong with: “Single Ladies” by Beyonce.

Garter toss: The song needed here needs to be one that will inspire the single men to join in the garter catching festivities.
You can’t go wrong with: “Whatta Man” by Salt n Pepa.

Last dance: You could take this one in many different directions. One option is a final, emotional slow song to send guests on their way. Another idea is to be playful and select a song that brings closure to the festivities by indicating that it is time to go.
You can’t go wrong with: “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day.

Choosing Your Wedding Ceremony Music

Choosing the right music for your wedding ceremony may seem like an easy task, but many brides lose sight of just how many selections are actually necessary!

The first step is to consider your wedding ceremony venue. In some instances, church ceremonies cannot include non-traditional or non-religious music selections. Check with your officiant to be sure you actually know and understand your musical parameters.

The second step is to, of course, speak to your musicians. Whether you are hiring a church’s organist or a string quartet, you definitely want to find out what pieces they are most comfortable playing.

Once you have gathered all of this data, it is time to consider your actual selections for each part of the ceremony.

Here is a breakdown of the selections you will need to think about. These are just ideas! Be creative and select music that will set the perfect tone and express your personality as a couple!

Prelude: this is music that would be played as guests arrive and find their seats.

Traditional choice: Ave Maria by Franz Schubert

Fun choice: Until The End of Time by Justin Timberlake

Processional: music played as the wedding party enters and takes their positions for the ceremony.

Traditional choice: Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel

Fun choice: Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins

Bridal Entrance: music played as the bride enters.

Traditional choice: Ode to Joy by Beethoven

Fun choice: Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey

Unity Candle: meaningful music to mark the importance of the couple joining together as a new family.

Traditional choice: You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban

Fun choice: Always by Atlantic Starr

Interlude: music that captures emotion during an important point in ceremony.

Traditional choice: Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba by Handel

Fun choice: All My Life by K-Ci and JoJo

Recessional: music played after the ceremony is over and wedding party and newly married couple exit.

Traditional choice: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, Allegro by Johann S. Bach

Fun choice: I’m Yours by Jason Mraz

Postlude: music played as guests exit the ceremony venue.

Traditional choice: Autumn by Vivaldi

Fun choice: Beautiful Day by U2

For all of your wedding planning questions or event services, The Bliss Collection is your source for Northern Virginia’s finest wedding professionals.

Chatting With Aimee Hardenbergh of True Wedding Events

I recently chatted with Bliss Collection member Aimee Hardenbergh of  True Wedding Events.

Aimee is a Professional Bridal Consultant based in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC area.

So far, Aimee’s summer has been quite busy and filled with memorable wedding moments. She shared a funny story which happened recently when she assisted with a local wedding.

“We had decorated a wagon for the adorable tiny ring bearer to ride in and be pulled down the aisle by the flower girl. He was just barely able to sit up on his own so we had placed a seat for him in the wagon to prop him up and keep him upright. He fell fast asleep right before it was time to go down the aisle and his head fell forward. We had to remove the seat and lay him flat down with the ring pillow on top of his little stomach. He looked dead. All of the guests just laughed as he was pulled down the aisle and he slept through the entire ceremony!”

Chatting With Marti Wright About Summer 2012 Bridal Beauty

Bliss Collection member Marti Wright of Tica Beauty and Cosmetics is having a fabulous summer wedding season! Her business specializes in bridal makeup, makeup lessons, and cosmetics sales and consultations.

Marti’s biggest challenge so far this summer was the Saturday after the big “derecho” storm.

Her bride was an hour late due to having no electricity and the timeline for getting ready had to stay the same. Luckily, only three ladies needed to have their makeup done for this event!

“Fall is really my favorite season for weddings. Brides seem to not worry as much about the weather and their makeup lasting all day,” added Marti.

Marti’s funniest situation while getting a bride ready for her big day was memorable. “I had a bride that was having ‘her moment’ with the hair stylist and I was doing her makeup when the chair slipped from under me! The photographer got the picture as I was falling (I did not get hurt). We all got a good laugh and the bride forgot about her hair issues for a moment,” Marti explained.

In terms of wedding day beauty, Marti says that the new trend for brides is “Lashes, lashes, lashes!”

Which Train Length Is For You?

Shopping for wedding gowns can be stressful, and selecting a train length is just one more decision that a bride will need to make.  Brides can, however, breathe a sigh of relief. This decision is all about common sense and personal preference!

Obviously, a longer, more regal train length equals a super-formal look. If that is truly the style of your wedding, go for a long train! Just be sure to have a plan regarding what to do with the long train later in the day (for instance, when you want to dance)! In most cases, a seamstress can add hooks to the gown to allow the train to be bustled, or lifted off the floor. There are a few different bustle styles, and an experienced seamstress should be able to guide you through the process of selecting the right one for your wedding gown.

If your wedding is on the other end of the formality spectrum, for instance a beach wedding or a casual backyard wedding, you may forgo a train completely, or wear a dress with a very short train.

If your event falls somewhere in the middle of the formality spectrum, the train length is truly just a matter of preference.

Here are some of the most common train lengths available:

Brush or Sweep: reaches just to the floor beneath your dress hem, “brushing” the floor as you walk. Perfect for beach, outdoor, or casual weddings. This train length is easiest to move in.

Court: a short train that attaches at waist and extends only one to two feet behind gown.

Chapel: formal to semi-formal style, attaches at waist and extends three to four feet behind gown.

Cathedral: attached at waist, extends dramatically for six to eight feet behind the gown. Often chosen for ultra-formal weddings.

Castillion: a French-inspired very long train of at least ten feet.

Royal: also sometimes called a “Monarch” train, since this look is popular in royal weddings. This train extends 10 or more feet from its attachment position at the waist.

Panel: this type of train isn’t part of the dress, but rather a separate panel of fabric about a foot wide that trails behind the dress. Usually detachable, panel trains can be made into any length desired. Some brides who buy their dress and later decide they want a train can have a professional create a customized panel train for them.

Watteau: worn from the shoulders and draping down to the bottom hem of the dress, the Watteau train dramatically alters a bride’s silhouette and can lend an almost Grecian feel to the dress. This unconventional choice is a good alternative to a veil for brides who don’t want to cover up their hairstyle but still have the look of a long, flowing veil. Bridesmaids’ dresses with Watteau trains are also very pretty.

For all your wedding planning questions or event services, The Bliss Collection is your source for Northern Virginia’s finest wedding professionals.

Is This Dress The One?

If you are addicted to reality wedding TV shows like I am, you probably think that it is obvious when you put on the “right” wedding gown. Some think it is a special hunch, while others claim the bride will most definitely shed tears when she sees herself in the correct dress.

Some brides just do not experience this moment of clarity and never really feel one-hundred percent confident. Why?

Well, for starters, many brides simply over-shop. They feel they they cannot allow themselves to relax and feel confident in a dress (no matter how perfect it truly looks) until literally EVERY dress option has been seen. This attitude often leads to marathon shopping sessions to multiple boutiques.

This accomplishes very little because each visit to a new boutique starts the entire process from the very beginning, and consultants are trained to have each bride try on a variety of styles. By visiting 20 boutiques, the bride is actually wasting time and failing to narrow her choices at all.

Another reason that some brides cannot relax and commit to a dress is that they are relying upon the opinions of too many people. No dress is going to please everyone, but it is next to impossible to follow your instinct and wear what YOU love when your aunt is complaining that your dress has too much beading or your maid of honor wants you to show more skin. Too many shopping buddies lead to a bride being totally distracted!

So, what is the ultimate test to figure out if your dress is “the one”? Try it on, then join your bridal consultant at the mirror. Close your eyes and envision your wedding venue. Where will you be standing at the exact moment your dress is revealed? Now open your eyes. Is this who you want your guests to see? If the answer is “yes”, you have found your dress!

Another obvious clue: if you are in no hurry to change out of your dress and want to test it out by sitting in it, dancing in it, posing in it, or even just standing around in it, you may have found your dress!

For all your wedding planning questions or event services, The Bliss Collection is your source for Northern Virginia’s finest wedding professionals.

Consulting With The Style Experts

Wedding gown consultations are a bit different from everyday shopping at the mall. It is important for a bride to be prepared for the task of trying on and assessing formal dresses. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1.  Actually call the bridal boutique and make an appointment. Many boutiques do not have a huge staff and you need to be sure that you will receive proper attention.

2. Arrive on time without a giant posse of friends. Your appointment is your time to work with a trained style professional and allow her to get to know your personality, body concerns, and dreams. Allowing too many friends to interfere with this process will lead to an unproductive consultation.

3. Be polite to your consultant. She knows wedding gowns and styles and she knows what will flatter any shape. Do not feel like she is being nosy when she asks you lots of questions! This is a technique for learning about you and your wedding.

4. Wear an outfit that reflects your true style to the appointment. This often offers the consultant a major style clue about you! If she knows your are preppy, she may select tailored gowns; if you are more flowery and girly, she will look for details to reflect that style.

5. Bring proper undergarments to your appointment. If you know full well that you like to wear shaping garments on special occasions, bring them! If you have a strapless bra, bring that as well. Remember- in a full service bridal boutique, it is the consultant’s job to help you into the dresses. Wear undergarments that you will not be embarrassed for her to see!

6. Do not freak out about the consultant helping you to get dressed. It is next to impossible to get into a wedding gown all by yourself. She is not judging you or your body! She seriously does this all day and is simply there to assist you.

7. Wear minimal makeup (getting smudges on the dresses is a no-no) and bring a few hair bands or barrettes. Sometimes the option of putting your hair up makes a difference in how you perceive yourself in the dress.

8. Let the consultant offer accessory suggestions. This is a great time to try different veil lengths, hair accessories, jewelry, etc.

9. If you want to bring magazine pictures, just bring a few. Show them to the consultant at the beginning of the appointment. Make notes on each picture about why you like each dress.

10. If your consultant urges you to try on a variety of dress styles, listen to her. Eliminating choices and styles is an important part of your journey to finding the correct dress.

11. Do not be shocked if you are not allowed to take pictures of yourself in each dress. Many designers and boutiques frown upon this practice for a variety of reasons.

For all your wedding planning questions or event services, The Bliss Collection is your source for Northern Virginia’s finest wedding professionals.

Understanding Wedding Gown Alterations

When selecting a wedding gown, it is important to accept the fact that in most cases, alterations will be an absolute requirement!

Many brides become frustrated because they believe that because they are measured for a gown, it will be cut to their exact body proportions. This is not the case at all. A bridal consultant is simply gathering data (bust measurement, waist measurement, hip measurement, height) to determine which standard size will fit the bride best.

An experienced consultant will explain this process and will point out in advance where adjustments will be needed. For example, perhaps a bride’s hip measurement requires her to order a size 8 in her wedding gown, but her bust measurement falls into the size 6 range, the consultant should mention to the bride that side/bust alterations will be required if the size 8 is ordered.

Note that in most cases, it is wise to select the size which corresponds to your largest measurement.

Some of the most common alterations include:

Bustle-adding hooks so that a long train may be bustled at the reception for ease of movement.

Sides/bust-taking in the sides of the dress so that it fits closer to the body; this fit is important in strapless dresses!

Hem-most brides need a bit of an adjustment in length.

Straps-many times, these are cut a bit large and need to be tailored so they stay in place.

It is critical that both brides and bridesmaids factor alterations into their budgets if they wish to look their best in their dresses!

Oh, and one more tip- it is WAY less expensive to have alterations to adjust a dress to a smaller size than to a larger one. Don’t let your ego convince you to order a smaller size than the bridal consultant recommends…it could be a costly mistake!

For all your wedding planning questions or event services, The Bliss Collection is your source for Northern Virginia’s finest wedding professionals.

Bliss Hosts Ice Cream Social

Northern Virginia Wedding Vendors – please join the Bliss Collection for some open networking, a putting contest, and an ice cream sundae bar. We would love to meet you, talk a bit about Bliss, and discuss wedding season.
July 11th

Westfields Golf Club
13940 Balmoral Greens Avenue
Clifton, VA 20124
Party starts at 5:00PM
Putting Contest at 6:00PM
Ice Cream Bar Finale

If interested, please RSVP to the evite! Or send an email to jessica at jessicapi.com.

Hope to see you there!