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As a bride-to-be in a pre-iPod era, I found choosing and coordinating my wedding music overwhelming. To make matters worse, my musically versatile fiance wanted a scat band that no one, and I mean NO ONE, would be able to dance to.

I would have been well served by a wedding music primer of the “for Dummies” variety, so here is a quick rundown of the main musical moments to help you. Nail these down for your wedding day music, and you can send out your wedding reception cards with excitement!

Ceremony Music

You won’t need to include all your musical selections in your wedding ceremony programs, but you’ll want to note the main pieces for each element:

1. Prelude music – Play thoughtful, peaceful music for the thirty minutes preceding your ceremony, as background music to calm guests arriving and getting seated.
2. The Processional – Choose three to six tunes that switch up as parents and wedding party arrive. This music should most dramatically change in tempo to signify the bride’s walk down the aisle. Traditional choices include Pachelbel’s “Canon in D,” Purcell’s “Trumpet Tune,” and of course, Lohengrin’s “Bridal Chorus,” better known as “Here Comes the Bride.”
3. Interlude music – this is optional music for moments between the main ceremony events, such as lighting of a unity candle, or to follow readings or prayers.
4. The Recessional – this is typically an upbeat tune and can be a much more personal choice that departs from tradition.
5. Postlude music – this music keeps playing as guests leave and should be joyous but still in the background.

Reception Music

The central music decision you’ll need to make is whether to hire a band or a deejay, a matter of personal preference these days. Deejays can cover during band breaks, as well as play original renditions of your favorites. Nothing beats the wonderful sound of a live band, however, but know the right size and sound needs for your venue.

The other musical homework you’ll need to do is your Do-Not-Play-List. This list should include songs that irritate you, songs that aren’t appropriate, or songs that just don’t jibe with your tastes or style of event. Most bands and deejays will ask you for this.

Major reception highlights to consider musical selections for include:

• Your reception entrance as man and wife (tell your band or deejay how you want to be introduced, as Mr. and Mrs. or by first names)
• Wedding party entrance
• First dance
• Father-daughter dance
• Mother-son dance
• Wedding party dance
• Cutting of the cake
• Bouquet and garter toss
• Final dance

You can now confidently finish up the details for your wedding ceremony programs and get your wedding invitations and reception cards into the mail. You’ll find beautiful, original designs for all your custom wedding invitation components at www.looklovesend.com.