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Incoming! It's Wedding Season!
#wedding #weddingplanning #soundscapes
Wedding Timeline
A HUGE shout out to Allison Davis from "A Practical Wedding" for her thorough article including a variety of common wedding-day timelines. We're going to be using an edited version of one of them.
Music Selection
The music you choose for your wedding day is one of the most important elements that you will use to express your style. Let's take a look at some example wedding soundscapes!
Beachy-Boho
You dream of a natural, light, and airy wedding on the beach, with the sand between your toes.
Proposed instrumentation: Solo Violin, with Backing Track Accompaniment post Ceremony
3:40 p.m.—Music begins
La Vie en Rose – Louis Armstrong
I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You – Elvis Presley
The Lover’s Waltz – American Folk Song
4:00 p.m.—Ceremony starts
Processional - Canon in D by Pachelbel
Grand Entrance - The Swan by Saint-Saëns
4:35 p.m.—Ceremony ends
Recessional - Waltz from Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky
4:40 p.m.—Cocktail hour starts
Jazz Standards Including:
Luck Be a Lady - Frank Sinatra
I've Got the World on a String - Frank Sinatra
Beyond the Sea - Bob Darin
Yes, Sir, That's My Baby - Eddie Cantor
At Last - Etta James
Dream a Little Dream of Me - Louis Armstrong
Summertime - Eva Cassidy
Come Fly with Me - Frank Sinatra
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli
5:45 p.m.—Move guests into dinner
6:00 p.m.—Buffet opens / Dinner served
Jazz Standards Including:
My Funny Valentine - Sarah Vaughn
Let's Fall in Love - Cole Porter
Easy Living - Billie Holiday
Sway - Peter Cincotti
Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitzgerald
I Love Paris - Peter Cincotti
Pennies from Heaven - Arthur Johnston
It Had to Be You – Tony Bennet
7:30 p.m.—First dance
Marry Me - Train
7:35 p.m.—General dancing music starts
Upbeat Folk and Pop Including:
Photograph - Ed Sheeran
Lucky - Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
I Do - Colbie Caillat
Valentine - Kira Grannis
L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
Blackbird - the Beatles
8:30 p.m.—Dessert (Cake Cutting)
Sugar – Maroon 5
9:45 p.m.—Last Call/Last Song
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
10:00 p.m.—Guests depart
Traditional-Elegant
You dream of a streamlined and grand affair, with finery and opulence everywhere you look.
Proposed Instrumentation: Violin-Piano Duet Ceremony and Cocktail Hour, and String Trio Dancing
3:40 p.m.—Music begins
Clair de Lune by Debussy
Romeo and Juliet Theme by Tchaikovsky
Gymnopédie No.1 by Satie
4:00 p.m.—Ceremony starts
Processional - Jupiter by Holst
Grand Entrance - Wedding March - Wagner
4:35 p.m.—Ceremony ends
Recessional - Wedding March - Mendelssohn
4:40 p.m.—Cocktail hour starts
Classical Standards Including:
Liebesfreud (Love's Joy) - Kreisler
Nocturne from Midsummer Night's Dream - Mendelssohn
Water Music (Air No.5) - Handel
El Dia Que Me Quieras - Gardel
Arabesque No.1 - Debussy
Romanze Op. 39 No. 4 - Dvořák
5:45 p.m.—Move guests into dinner
6:00 p.m.—Buffet opens / Dinner served
Classical Standards Including:
The Last Rose of Summer - Moore
Waltz from Serenade for Strings - Tchaikovsky
Flower Duet from Lakme - Delibes
Intermezzo from Carmen - Bizet
Humming Chorus from Madame Butterfly - Puccini
Clair De Lune - Debussy
On Wings of Song (Auf Flügeln des Gesanges) - Mendelssohn
7:30 p.m.—First dance
The Way You Look Tonight - Tony Bennet
7:35 p.m.—General dancing music starts
Upbeat Pop Including:
Castle on the Hill – Ed Sheeran
Whatever it Takes – Imagine Dragons
Stand by You - Rachel Patten
Viva la Vida – Coldplay
Happy - Pharrell Williams
Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
8:30 p.m.—Dessert (Cake Cutting)
Starving - Hailee Steinfield
9:45 p.m.—Last Call/Last Song
Firework – Katy Perry
10:00 p.m.—Guests depart
Glamorous-Bold
You dream of an affair that is fun and festive, full of life and color, that will get all of your guests dancing.
Proposed Instrumentation: Solo Violin with Backing Track Accompaniment Ceremony, String Trio Cocktail Hour and Dinner, and Violin-Piano with Backing Track Accompaniment for Dancing
3:40 p.m.—Music begins
Count on Me – Bruno Mars
Girls Like You - Maroon 5
Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgraves
4:00 p.m.—Ceremony starts
Processional - Perfect by Ed Sheeran
Grand Entrance - All of Me - John Legend
4:35 p.m.—Ceremony ends
Recessional - I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas
4:40 p.m.—Cocktail hour starts
Upbeat Pop Including:
Photograph - Ed Sheeran
Stand by You - Rachel Patten
Viva la Vida – Coldplay
Sweetest Thing - U2
Message in a Bottle - the Police
Blackbird - the Beatles 15
5:45 p.m.—Move guests into dinner
6:00 p.m.—Buffet opens / Dinner served
Jazz Standards Including:
Come Fly with Me - Frank Sinatra
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli
Let's Fall in Love - Cole Porter
Yes, Sir, That's My Baby - Eddie Cantor
At Last - Etta James
Dream a Little Dream of Me - Louis Armstrong
7:30 p.m.—First dance
You’re the One That I Want – Grease
7:35 p.m.—General dancing music starts
Upbeat Pop Including:
Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison
Shut up and Dance with Me - Walk the Moon
Footloose – Kenny Loggins
I’m a Believer – The Monkees
Girls Like You - Maroon 5
Safe and Sound – Capital Cities
8:30 p.m.—Dessert (Cake Cutting)
Beauty and the Beast - Disney
9:45 p.m.—Last Call/Last Song
Happy - Pharrell Williams
10:00 p.m.—Guests depart
Unlimited Options!
There's no limit to what you can achieve with live music! A few tips for you going forward:
First and foremost, the music should be chosen intentionally, to portray the mood that you envision.
Second, a huge benefit of utilizing professional musicians is their flexibility and ability to perform a variety of genres with mastery.
Finally, have fun! Your wedding is a reflection of you, and if you love it, your guests will love it too!
Christie Becker is a professional violinist and owner of Christie Becker Violin, where she specializes in creating her client's perfect memories through custom live music. For more information, or to work with Christie on your unique event, visit www.christiebeckerviolin.com.