It’s officially 2011 – A new year with new beginnings. Each year gets more exciting and more interesting and new trends keep popping up. As society gradually changes, so do attitudes and styles. We see 2011 as a year filled with more personalization, uniqueness and inventiveness for brides, and that goes for wedding music choices as well! Here are some trends in wedding music that we see happening for 2011.
TREND #1:
Brides will be choosing entrance songs that are more original and unique to them.
These days, it seems that brides are looking for something fresh, something new. Yes, classic tunes for walking down the aisle are great and safe choices, but for some brides, the thought of using the same bride’s entrance song that everyone else uses, can be a bit repetitive and old. We see brides choosing more contemporary, unique songs that speak directly to them and why not? It’s YOUR wedding, play your song!
TREND #2:
DIY music for your wedding will be on the rise.
“When the budget gets tight, an iPod Touch feels right.” No, this is not a plug for Apple! BUT we know that times can be tough money-wise for a lot of couples planning to wed in the next year and there may be things on the checklist that will either be pushed to the side or sacrificed. We’re certainly not discouraging you from hiring a DJ or band for your wedding. In fact those are both logically-safe bets, plus you can’t beat the amazing sound quality they offer. What we do see as a trend is that more and more couples will be cutting costs by taking the DIY music route.
TREND #3:
The recessional will play more of a ‘grand’ statement role for your exit.
Just like a season finale for a TV show, your wedding ceremony exit will most likely leave your guests in awe and excitement. No cliffhanger here, but an upcoming trend we do see is couples choosing a more grand and unique recessional song. Just like the bride’s entrance song, we see the recessional song as a statement. This is the first song that you will be walking off to as Mr. and Mrs. for all your guests to see, so why not indulge in a little grandiosity!
TREND #4:
More weddings will be held outdoors.
It’s no secret that when the sun shines, it brings brightness into our lives. And when the grass is green here, there’s no need to go to the other side. Outdoor weddings have always been a favorite for couples and it’s no surprise too, that destination weddings in the Caribbean have been on the rise in recent years. Of course musically, it’s important to know what works and what doesn’t, when it comes to your outdoor wedding. This is a trend that we see growing more and more each year!
TREND #5:
Brides will be leaning towards personalization & customization.
As you can see, uniqueness in your wedding isn’t just a character anymore, it has become the director! A trend we see is more brides becoming a leader rather than a follower. A lot of brides are taking the initiative to turn something that is special to them (for example, the first dessert you shared with your hubby-to-be was a strawberry-banana crepe) into something to share with all your guests (hence, a “Crepe” station in the reception area). Little touches like these make your wedding so much more special and there’s nothing more romantic than an inside-joke with your love! Nothing is the norm anymore and it’s up to you to decide how amazing you’d like your wedding to be!
With 2011 already here, the possibilities are endless. Of course, these are all trends that we foresee in the upcoming year – check out some other “2011 Wedding Trends” articles that you might find helpful:
* (Bridal Tweet)
http://www.bridaltweet.com/profiles/blogs/the-best-wedding-trends-of
* (The Knot)
http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-themes/choosing-wedding-themes/articles/wedding-trends-2011.aspx
So, what are some trends YOU see popping up in 2011? Let us know by leaving a comment or hop onto our Facebook page and let us know there!
December is the month most engagements happen, so it’s no surprise that our three brides-to-be below were popped the BIG question over this past holiday weekend. So let’s see,
- Announcements have been made (followed by a celebration, of course!)
- Wedding date? (sometime next year)
- Bride’s entrance song (Hmmm….?)
Ok, so the bride’s entrance song might not be on the top of the list for these celebs, BUT it is usually at the top of brides’ minds. It’s what’s playing over and over again in our heads to the vision of us walking down the aisle to our one true love. It’s the song, the anthem, the main theme, that brings the dream to life! So, we were thinking….which song would Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon and Leann Rimes walk down the aisle to?
Natalie Portman & Benjamin Millepied
Apparently this year’s black swan will be next year’s white swan! We see Natalie Portman as a magnificently beautiful bride and what better song to capture her natural essence than the lush, contemporary instrumental version of, “Con Te Partiro”
Listen to a sample of “Con Te Partiro
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Read Natalie’s wedding horoscope for Gemini
Reese Witherspoon & Jim Toth
Our favorite girl next door is officially off the market! We see Reese as a breathtaking bride-to-be with a little pop in her walk and an extra stride in her step! We see her walking down the aisle in a floating, passionate manner to, “When She Walks”
Listen to a sample of “When She Walks”
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Read Reese’s wedding horoscope for Aries
Leann Rimes & Eddie Cibrian
No one has quite captured our hearts since Patsy Kline like Leann Rimes has! The ever-so-adorable singer makes a dazzling bride and what better bride’s entrance song to show off her luminous glow and grand entrance than, “Here She Comes”
Listen to a sample of “Here She Comes”
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Read Leann’s wedding horoscope for Virgo
Congratulations to all the bride-to-be’s that got engaged this year! We wish you all the best in your wedding preparations as we end the year and we look forward to an exciting 2011!
Happy New Year!
Barbara and Gloria
xoxo
It’s that time of year again! Tis’ the season to soak in the pine-infused scent of a fresh picked Christmas tree, feel the comfortable warmth of a fireplace and lighting up the room with decorations. The holiday season is about sharing all of these moments with family and friends together. There’s nothing more heart-warming than exchanging a lovely smile or emotionally-bonding in a conversation with a friend. These are the times when we forget about our 50-hour work weeks and our marriage to smart phones!
And what else says “the holidays” like gifts! It’s known that the best gifts are “the gifts that keep on giving.” But what gifts actually do ‘keep on giving?’ If my niece gets a Wii for Christmas, does that mean she “might” give it to me a year later when she’s bored playing with it?! Not. The gift that keeps on giving is usually not a tangible item, but rather a feeling – a warm and fuzzy feeling of love, appreciation and consideration that a person would want to “give” to another person.
This holiday season, take the time out to express your feelings of appreciation and love towards family and friends, with the gift of song – the gift that keeps on loving!
To end 2010 with a bang, we’re offering an EXCLUSIVE 25% OFF, on our personalized gift CDs for the rest of year! (See below for *discount details)
* Friends Are Quiet Angels (The Friendship Song)
A moving personal tribute to friendship and a wonderful way to let friends know they have a unique and special place in your heart, that your friendship is forever!
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* Every Mother’s Dream (Mother to Daughter)
This is one of those rare mother daughter songs that captures what every mother would like her daughter to know!
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* You’re My Hero (Daughter to Father)
How meaningful and touching it will be for your father when you tell him your feelings in this song!
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* To Be A Woman (Daughter to Mother)
One of the most unique songs written as a mutual celebration of your mother daughter relationship and a great tribute to your mother. What better way to honor her!
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*Discount Details: To receive your holiday discount, simply enter coupon code “HAPPYHOLIDAYS“ in the ‘Discount Coupon‘ box upon checking out. We can substitute, “On Your Wedding Day” with “On This Special Day,” “On This Christmas,” or “On This New Year’s.” If you would like to include a more personalized phrase, simply enter your phrase in the ‘comments field‘ upon checkout.
(Note)**We recommend choosing Priority Shipping for your orders (approx. 3-4 business days), but since it it the holiday season, we cannot guarantee a specific arrival time.
Let us know which gift you’ll be giving by sharing a comment on our Facebook wall! We wish the best to you and yours this holiday season!
Whose family is it anyway?
When you really think about it, you’re marrying more than just your husband or wife – you’re marrying the whole family. As delightful and heart-warming the wedding may be, everybody in your “new” family may not know each other that well. But have no fear, because family dances are meant to break the ice. This is the perfect time for informality and sharing the positive energy that’s all around!
The wonderful thing about wedding dances is that they bring family & friends together to create more memories and more good times. Think about it: how often do you get to “boogie down” with your little cousin, mom, mother-in-law AND grandma, all on the same dance floor!? Not often. What’s great about weddings is that the fun and excitement just flows naturally through all generations to celebrate your big day!
Whether it’s your romantic or ‘choreographed’ first dance, Uncle Ron’s attempt to dance to ‘YMCA,’ or an all-out Miami ‘club scene’ on the dance floor, these special moments make for a warm family celebration that no one will ever forget.
After your first dance it’s great to have a ‘family dance.’ Here’s the perfect opportunity for your mother to dance with your father-in-law, and your father to dance with your mother-in-law. Sisters and brothers-in-law can then be invited to dance with each other. Playing some of their personal musical favorites is a great way to celebrate the joining of your two families.
Depending on your family situation, you can also dance with a godparent, a stepparent, or even your mother, sister or brother. Have your bandleader or DJ invite family members to the dance floor in any combination that’s comfortable for you and your family. While the music is still playing, your emcee will invite all your guests to the dance floor and encourage even the most reluctant dancers to join in!
For a way to include everybody (even non-dancers), there’s nothing like following up the family dance with ethnic dances such as a Greek circle dance, or the Hebrew Horah. Whatever the ethnic background of your families, these group or line dances lets everyone experience the closeness and fun!
Before you finally settle on your wedding location, you’ll probably spend a lot of time shopping for just the right one. From that extravagant medieval castle to a gorgeous beach on the coast, every location has its advantages and disadvantages. The key is to be aware of them so you can spot and overcome all the potential ‘pitfalls’.
We’d like to point out the simple, practical things that too many couples overlook. Finding out about these critical factors before your wedding can save you heartbreak on the day of your wedding.
Here’s a great word to guide you: When you think of your wedding location, think of the word “A-R-E-A,” which stands for:
A- ACOUSTICS
R- RULES & REGULATIONS
E- ELECTRICITY & EQUIPMENT
A- ACCESS
This will most definitely help guide you in your wedding location decision-making and hey, it’s easy to remember. Location / Area.
ACOUSTICS
There’s nothing worse than planning a perfectly beautiful wedding music program only to have it fall flat because no one can hear the music. Or even worse, blasting everyone’s ears out in a small room with the horns of a 7 piece band all night – wedding music disaster!
The sound quality that you’ll get with acoustics is dependent on where you are – it’s different for outdoor gardens compared to the beach, large churches or hotel ballrooms, etc. The sound of a live guitar or harp is fine if your ceremony is in a small outdoor garden or indoor setting, but if you’re at the beach, or in a large cathedral type church, it can be drowned out or lost.
To avoid acoustic problems, always test out your music at your location, test your sound system and speakers and make sure you know how your DJ or Bandleader is handling the problem.
RULES and REGULATIONS
It’s only fair to play by the rules. Yes it’s true, and with religious locations, keep in mind that many churches and synagogues have strict rules about the type of music and/or instruments they’ll allow. Some houses of worship will insist that you use their musicians, or they’ll ask you not to use CD/MP3 players.
Do yourself a favor and check early on with your church, synagogue, or other location to see what’s allowed and what’s not. Also, if your wedding is going to be held at a private home or public area, check local regulations for city restrictions, etc.
EQUIPMENT and ELECTRICITY
Ah, there was that one wedding. It was held at an elegant old hotel where the DJ plugged in his amp, and blew out the lights and all the power in the kitchen. Probably, ‘Yikes!’ would be an understatement of the reaction! Obviously it was too late for the DJ to find out about the electrical problems in time to adjust his equipment.
To prevent things like this from happening, make sure your Band/DJ knows all about your location. If they haven’t played there, have them agree to visit the location to scope out the scene at least a couple of weeks before the wedding. They should also work together with the coordinator at your location to prevent problems that could possibly arise. Write these agreements into your contract before you sign or make any deposits.
ACCESS
Who said stairs aren’t expensive?! Musicians charge big fees for having to cart their equipment up flights of stairs or to remote, hard-to-get-to areas. If your location is tucked away in a secluded quiet spot in the mountains or in the wilderness, be prepared to keep it simple. Getting equipment and electricity to these areas might be too costly, or even impossible.
This is an issue that just calls for being aware. Find out the cost of getting the equipment you’ll need before you sign on the dotted line for the location. If you’ve already signed up for a more remote location, remember, there’s always a way. CD/MP3 players today may look small but they can be mighty powerful along with some good speakers! Plus, they can go almost anywhere. Just don’t forget the batteries!
We know that on your wedding day, you’ll be happy you found out about A-R-E-A before the wedding. To read more about your wedding music planning, check out our Wedding Music Planning 101 section!
Wishing you the best of wedding music plans and a fabulous wedding,
Gloria & Barbara
Ah, your recessional. Essentially seen as your “entrance exit,” (yes, it’s an oxymoron), the recessional music is important because your guests’ eyes and ears will be focused on you as Mr. and Mrs. for the first time! The dream of a lifetime has come true and you’re officially married. NOW it’s time to celebrate! You and your family & friends have just gone through an enormous range of emotions- from excitement, anticipation and nervousness, maybe even a little sadness, to happiness and love.
You’re all ready to release the joyous energy that’s been bottled up inside and of course, you’ll want your music to reflect this! Upbeat recessionals tend to add to the mood of happiness. You can make a splash with your wedding recessional by selecting a song that’s especially significant to you. Or one you just love. A few years ago, we went to a wedding where the recessional was the theme from a popular TV show – Curb Your Enthusiasm. The bride and groom loved this quirky up beat theme and so did everyone else. It was a fun moment.
Another way to ‘make a splash’ is by honoring your family heritages. Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Spanish and other cultures are known to have marvelous traditional classics or weddings songs that can add a fun, personal touch to your ceremony. One of our relatives chose “The Irish Washwoman”, a famous jig, for her recessional in honor of her Irish background. It was a great choice!
And if you have a favorite contemporary song or a special song that captures the story of your love, consider it as a recessional possibility – it will only add to your own unique style!
Classical wedding music favorites are always ‘in’, especially when they’re more up tempo like the standard “Wedding March”. But whatever you choose, think of the recessional as your ‘other’ official marriage anthem (aside from your own bride’s entrance song) and have fun deciding how to ‘make a splash!’
Here are some samples of popular recessionals:
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“Trumpet Voluntary“ (used as Princess Diana’s recessional)
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What will you be using as your recessional? Something contemporary, something traditional? Leave a comment and let us know! Also, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday! (nom nom!)
Welcome to the Wedding Music Central Blog! We’re Multiple Emmy-winner GLORIA SKLEROV and co-writer and partner BARBARA ROTHSTEIN, creators of Wedding Music Central.
As professional songwriters who set romance to music for movies and TV shows, we’ve had to master the art of ‘marrying’ the right music to each ’scene’ …including lots of wedding scenes…to enhance and capture the emotion of each special moment. With our wedding music expertise, our mission is to create that same magic and emotion for your wedding.
If you’re looking for that special song – or as we like to say – “The perfect song for the perfect moment,” listen to our “original and unique” new wedding songs and contemporary arrangements of classical wedding ceremony music. Interested in finding the perfect song for your wedding?
Visit our website at http://www.weddingmusiccentral.com or E-mail us at info@weddingmusiccentral.com
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VALENTINE’S DAY – not just for your BF, but for your BFF’s too! (Special Promotion)
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner (literally!) and as a last minute special, we’re running a promotion for 50% OFF ALL product options for our friendship song, “FRIENDS ARE QUIET ANGELS!” This song has a special meaning for us and expresses the feelings and emotions that we all experience toward our friends.
As a Valentine’s Day gift for your best friend, a gift for your bridesmaid or maid of honor, a birthday gift, or just because – let someone special know that “friends are quiet angels, who fill your life with grace.”
So, how can you receive 50% off? Simply go to our Facebook fan page (http://www.facebook.com/weddingmusiccentral) and “like” us – yes, that is it! After you “like” us, you will see a promo code that you would enter into our “Discount Coupon” box upon checking out on our website. As the saying goes, “With a true friend, even the water you drink together is sweet.”
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Barbara and Gloria ♥