June 2, 2011. Bill Szydlowski
credit: *L*u*z*A*Planning your ceremony is not too difficult of a challenge. There are only so many music components to this event, such as the processionals, the recessional, and any live performances or background music for particulars, such as a candle lighting ceremony. The minister or officiant is the one person who will help you plan the middle section of the ceremony, which will consist of all the verbiage like your vows, the ring exchange, and the ceremony proper. The parts you can do some planning on your own is with the music.
To start, you will need to select your wedding ceremony entrance songs, which usually include a processional for the parents and grandparents, along with any other immediate family members you want to honor. I would avoid adding more than just immediate family as you will run into issues with people feeling slighted and so on. The second processional is usually for the bridesmaids, whether they are walking in by themselves or are being escorted by the groomsmen. Usually the ring bearer and flower girl enter to this song, too. Finally the bride comes down to her own processional song.
Any music played during any events should be cut down in length. Most activities, like a sand ceremony, communion, etc. are completed in a minute or two, so instead of standing and staring at each other for a few minutes, just fade these songs out. The last song you will need is your recessional, which gets played after the minister announces you as the new Mr. and Mrs.
It would be wise to get professional advice on all of these song selections. Hiring a professional disc jockey who specializes in weddings would be a smart decision as they have vast knowledge of this music. If you go with a cheap wedding DJ, you should check out their best bridal prices reviews to make sure you are not getting a poor DJ just to save a few hundred bucks.
Updated June 2, 2011. Published June 1, 2011. Bill Szydlowski
