Wedding Planning: Writing Your Music Program
Providing a program for both the ceremony and reception helps guests feel more at ease and comfortable; an invitation to participate in your special day. Sharing the programs with people like your music professionals allows things to go smoothly. In the program, you can indicate which songs you want to have performed for each part of the ceremony, and if you have an emcee or DJ hosting the reception they will know what you want announced at each portion of the ceremony.
These little things go a long way to making everything run perfectly, allowing you to enjoy this day you have worked so hard for.
Ceremony Music Program
When you begin to write the music program for your ceremony, you need to first decide which “portions” of the ceremony should be indicated by a certain song. Some of the common portions include:
*Prelude – The time which leads up to the processional, when guests are being seated; think about the amount of time the prelude music adds up to. Providing music for your guests while they wait for everything to begin sets a mood. You might want to include up to 30 minutes of music, just to be on the safe side.
*Pre-Processional
*Processional
*Bride’s Entrance
*Ceremony Song
*Unity Candle
*Reciting Vows
*Recessional
*Interlude – Think of this in the reverse of the Prelude. This is when guests are milling about, leaving the seating area.
Depending on the sequence of your own ceremony, you might use all of these portions and need more. Regardless of what portions your ceremony is split into, you can split it out just like I have above and continue.
Referencing your list of ceremony portions, create a worksheet with four columns. Column one should be headed by, “Part of the Ceremony”. Column two is dedicated to “Song”, and Column three to “Artist”. Column four is the “Cue” column. In this column, you will indicate when the music should begin playing for each part of the ceremony. Literally, a cue to begin a certain song.
When you’ve created your sketched-out program, try playing the songs that you have indicated, in order. Does everything flow together nicely? There shouldn’t be any abrupt changes of mood; just like your wedding day, you want one to flow seamlessly into the next. Once satisfied, type up this program and send it off the professionals (musicians, DJ’s, or emcees) who will be helping you on your big day.
Reception Music Program
In many ways, the reception can be even more “scripted” than the ceremony itself. There are many things that you might want to get done during the reception to create treasured wedding memories, and you also want to make sure that the party doesn’t feel like it’s disorganized. Having a program will help you make a smooth transition into the casual atmosphere outside the ceremony, and keep the guests participating right along with you.
Using the same four-column layout style that you used for the Ceremony Music Program, fill your Reception Music Program sketch in with the pieces of the Reception. Some of these portions might include:
*Cocktails
*Newlywed Entrance
*Dinner/Meal
*First Dance
*Father/Daughter Dance
*Mother/Son Dance
*Other Family Dance
*Cake Cutting
*Garter Toss
*Banquet Toss
*Money Dance
*Last Dance
*Other Dance
Once again, your own needs and traditions will affect the actual portions you use, and the sequence you follow. After creating the new sketch and placing the portions under the first column, “Part of the Reception”, you will want to create the “Song”, “Artist”, and “Cue” sections.
Because receptions tend to be much more casual than the ceremony, the types of music you choose to have played will probably change. It is just as important to go through your selection and get a feel for how the sounds work together to create an atmosphere as it was in the Ceremony Program.
Once again, type it up and get it to the appropriate people.
Help the Emcee Out
More and more, couples are choosing to hire an emcee or DJ to announce the portions of their wedding receptions. These professionals often bring a lot to the reception in the way of personality; their character will reinforce the atmosphere you have worked to create.
What the emcee or DJ cannot do, though, is read your mind. You will want to take a few moments and script out a few words for this important professional to read at key portions of the reception. If there is a particular quote you want to be read just before the First Dance, for instance, include it on the emcee’s script.
Some of the major portions of the wedding which you will likely want to help the emcee out with are:
*First Dance
*Father/Daughter Dance
*Mother/Son Dance
*Cake Cutting
*Garter Toss
*Bouquet Toss
*Last Dance
From funny to very serious, the only way the emcee knows just what you want is for you to let them know. Type up your script, leaving plenty of room for the professional to weave their own magic into your work, and take a big breath of relief. The music programs you’ve created will help your day run as smooth as any wedding day can.
