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Music

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The bridal march is a classic, but sometimes you want to be different. Opting for a unique, contemporary song to act as the backtrack for your walk down the aisle makes for a more a memorable moment. To set the tone for the rest of your day, be sure to pick a song that fits you and your partner.

Here are some alternative options to the traditional ‘Here comes the bride”.

10 000 Hours – Dan and Shay

– Marry You – Bruno Mars

– Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer

– Songbird – Fleetwood Mac

– A Thousand Years – Christina Perry

– Lucky – Jason Mraz and Colbie Callait

– The First Time Ever I saw Your Face – Roberta Flack

– Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles

– Stuck on You – Lionel Richie

– Crazy Thing Called Love – Queen

– Love of My Life – Queen

– (They Long to Be) Close to You – The Carpenters

– My Girl – The Temptations

– Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

– Beyond – Leon Bridges

Feature image: Unsplash

 

 

World-famous Italian tenor is known for his beautiful vocals and distinctive voice, and recently collaborated with pop singer Ellie Goulding to sing a breathtaking song called Return to Love. He dedicated a Christmas version of this song to his wife, and it will leave you in tears.

Bocelli was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma after a football accident, and went completely blind at the age of 12. Since he first launched his career in 1982, he has recorded 15 solo albums, along with three greatest hit albums and nine complete operas.

Bocelli has said that his success would be nothing without the support of his beautiful wife Veronica. He arranged this beautiful surprise to thank her for all her love and support throughout the years, and blindfolded Veronica before leading her into their house. When her blindfold was removed, she discovered her husband at the piano, along with a gospel choir to serenade her.

See the stunning performance here:

Picture: E! Online

Every wedding needs a first-dance song. Music inspires and moves us every day, and your wedding should be no different.

Regardless of your wedding style, we’ve got some romantic melodies to get you in the mood for love. Here are 50 romantic first-dance songs, or just songs to add to your wedding playlist.

  • Your Song – Elton John
  • (Everything I Do) I Do For You – Bryan Adams
  • Best Part – Daniel Caesar

  • (They Long to be) Close to You – The Carpenters
  • Teen Heat – Kimbra
  • Dangerously in Love – Destiny’s Child
  • Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
  • You’re Still the One – Shania Twain
  • Come What May – Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge soundtrack)

  • Songbird – Eva Cassidy
  • Honey – Kehlani
  • Differences – Genuwine
  • Make You Feel My Love – Adele
  • How long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
  • While We’re Young – Jhené Aiko

  • You Give Me Something – James Morrison
  • You Make Me Feel Like Dancing – Leo Sayer
  • Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
  • I.F.L.Y – Bazzi
  • When We Were Young – Adele
  • Love on Top – Beyoncé
  • You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oats
  • Be my Baby – The Ronettes
  • If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
  • Adorn – Miguel

  • Have I Told You Lately – Van Morrison
  • Shut Up and Dance – Walk The Moon
  • Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
  • Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey
  • I’m Yours – Jason Mraz

  • When a Man Loves a Woman – Percy Sledge
  • Up Where We Belong – Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warner
  • Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
  • A Thousand Years – Christina Perry
  • Like I’m Gonna Lose You – Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend
  • All of Me – John Legend
  • Love Someone – Lukas Graham
  • Always Remember Us This Way – Lady Gaga

  • Ho Hey – The Lumineers
  • All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
  • Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer
  • I Like Me Better – Lauv
  • Beyond – Leon Bridges

  • Waiting for a Girl Like You – Foreigner
  • We Belong – Pat Benatar
  • Sucker – The Jonas Brothers
  • Stuck On You – Lionel Richie
  • I Don’t Care – Ed Sheeran feat. Justin Bieber
  • Speechless – Dan + Shay
  • Better – Khalid

Image: Pixabay

Wedding receptions are the time to celebrate and rejoice the new marriage. They usually consist of food, tearful speeches, fun and dancing. When it comes to the dance floor, everyone knows great music makes the party. Here are a few old school songs you need in your wedding playlist:

50s

Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra (1954)

70s

Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder (1976)

Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry (1976)

Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees (1977)

Y.M.C.A – Village People (1978)

What you won’t do for love – Bobby Caldwell (1978)

Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson (1979)

80s

Celebration – Kool & The Gang (1980)

Just The Two Of Us – Grover Washington Jr. (1981)

Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey (1981)

It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls (1982)

True – Spandau Ballet (1983)

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper (1983)

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham (1984)

Love song – The Cure (1989)

90s

End of the Road – Boyz II Men (1992)

Macarena – Los del Río (1993)

Wonderwall – Oasis (1995)

Gettin’ Jiggy With It – Will Smith (1998)

I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys (1999)

Feature image: Unsplash

After tying the knot, the reception usually follows, filled with celebration, fun and lots of dancing. However, planning a proper party requires a lot of thought. With all the details, make sure you don’t overlook your wedding playlist, because let’s face it, the music makes the party. Here’s how to plan your wedding playlist:

DJ or band or DIY

This one is pretty simple. Pick between hiring a DJ, a live band or creating your own playlist and just letting it play.

Plan

As with everything, planning is your best friend. Sorting out your playlist well in advance will not only put your mind at ease but also ensure that the end product is perfect.

Theme

Ask yourself: What is the vibe going to be like at your wedding? This will help determine what music and genres you should or shouldn’t play.

The happy couple’s big day

You and your partner should make a list of songs that you definitely want played at your reception. The ‘must-haves’, even if they only please you and your partner.

 

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A time and a place

Plan your playlist according to the happenings of your reception. For example, you wouldn’t play hype or dance music when the speeches are happening. Customise the playlist to your reception schedule.

 

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Go with the flow

This tip is similar to the above. Make sure your music flows. You don’t want your guests jamming on the dance floor, getting all pumped and then a sad, sappy song comes on.

 

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Mix it up 

Even though it’s your big day, it’s important to cater for everyone. A great idea is to play something for everyone. Mix in some old and new school, as well as some classics.

Special requests

If you really want to make your guests happy, you can ask them to make suggestions beforehand then incorporate it into the playlist where appropriate.

Review

Listen to your hard work! As you listen to all your songs, picture your reception. Run through the order of the evening and imagine what it’s going to look and sound like.

Image: Unsplash

Weddings are all about celebration and coming together. But most of all, weddings are about love. Finding all of these elements in one song that you and your partner both enjoy is no easy feat, which is why we tend to fall back on old wedding classics (or every single Ed Sheeran song). While there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, it’s important to remember the tune you pick will hold memories that last a lifetime, and to hear your wedding song blasted on the radio for months on end can be a bit – well – annoying.

If you really want to opt for a wedding classic for your song, consider using a cover or having someone perform the track on the day for a more personal experience. But for those who prefer something out of the ordinary, see our top 10 picks of wedding songs for the alternative couple.

1. Issues – Julia Michaels

2. Magic – Coldplay

3. Home – Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

4. I Will Follow You Into The Dark – Death Cab For Cutie

5. Mango Tree by Angus & Julia Stone

6. I Would Do Anything For You – Foster The People

7. How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding

8. Video Games – Lana Del Rey

9. Make You Feel My Love – Adele

10. Better Together – Jack Johnson

Picture: Pixabay

In the market for something a little less ordinary for your wedding entertainment? Read on…

1. BELLY DANCER

Q. How can I make sure the belly dancer I hire will put on an age-appropriate performance, keeping in mind there will be grandparents and children in attendance?
A. Do your research before booking anyone. Look at their website for photos to make sure you approve of their costumes, and if you have access to any videos of their performances, watch those for an idea of what to expect.

Q. Will I pay more for a group performance?
A. The cost of a performance depends entirely on the company, but don’t expect a discount rate for group bookings.

Q. Is it better to hire more than one dancer?
A. For a wedding, especially a large celebration, you’ll make more impact hiring a group of belly dancers. More dancers mean more interaction with guests, as they can spread out and encourage audience participation.

Q. How long is a belly dancing show?
A. You can expect a belly dancer to perform for around 20–30 minutes.

2. FIRE JUGGLER

Q. Can I request a specially choreographed show for my wedding?
A. Every company is different, but most will offer you the choice of booking a group performance or a solo act, with the option of tailoring the show to suit your event.

Q. Do companies take care of insurance in the event something goes wrong or is it my responsibility?
A. Most companies should have insurance, but always check when booking, as you don’t want to have to pay for any damage to a venue should the unexpected happen.

Q. Do I need to get clearance from my wedding venue to hire a fire juggler?
A. It is advisable to check if the venue is happy to accommodate fire performers and if there are any restrictions on where they can perform

Q. Should I book the performance for the end of the night or during cocktail hour?
A. A fire show is a great way to end an evening, finishing the night’s celebrations with a bang. Keep in mind where the performance will take place, though. If you need more space or are required by the venue to be outdoors for the show, you may prefer to do it during the pre-reception drinks, rather than asking guests to leave the reception hall to watch the performance. 

3. CARICATURIST

Q. How many guests can a caricature artist draw in an hour?
A. An experienced caricaturist may be able to draw as many as 20 guests in an hour.

Q. Where is the best place for the artist to work?
A. Most caricaturists are accustomed to drawing almost anywhere, but keep in mind that they will need good lighting. Seat them somewhere quiet so they can concentrate better.

Q. Do I need to provide the supplies?
A. Caricaturists will bring their own supplies, which will be included in their costing. For a little extra, you can ask them to personalise the paper.

Q. Can the caricature artist draw groups too?
A. Absolutely! In fact, it may be more fun drawing groups of people than individuals, plus it’s a nice way for guests to mingle with each other.

PHOTO BOOTH

Q. Do I provide the props?
A. Props are normally included in the price of the photo booth, but you can always bring a few of your own if you have something unique in mind.

Q. Do I pay by the hour or for the number of photos taken?
A. Most companies will offer different packages, and the price is often based on both the number of hours and the number of photos printed.

Q. Will there be dedicated staff manning the booth or do I need to provide someone?
A. There should be a staff member managing the photo booth, so you don’t have to worry about props going missing or packing up at the end of the evening.

Q. Do photo booths require electricity?
A. Yes, they do, so discuss with your venue prior to the wedding and arrange an appropriate position to set it up.