Wedding Fridays | Music Makes Me Happy
However, picking a DJ to play music at our ceremony and reception really doesn’t tickle my fancy. When my bridesmaids and I went to the bridal show we meet oodles of DJs and a very cute band called The Shakedown Band. As much as my two single sisters wanted the band to play at our wedding, our budget would not allow for a $2,000 band or any band for that matter. I like the idea of having a band a lot but unfortunately $2,000 is about average for a multiple people band and we just couldn’t make it work. Craig and I pretty much knew from the get go that we would be hiring a DJ to play music at the ceremony and reception and are pretty okay with it. Hey, we are easy people to please. ;) When it came to which DJ to hire, I was clueless and overwhelmed with the choices. We narrowed it down to four DJs solely based on price because even for a DJ our budget is on the smaller side. What can I say we splurged on the photographer, yummy catering + venue and sure to be stunning paper goods (I may be a bit bias) therefore we need to be savvy when it comes to the remaining wedding vendors. Don’t get me wrong, we aren’t on an iPod and cousin Jimmy size budget for music either.
After narrowing our search down to four I handed the reins over to my sexier half… Craig. This is one decision I just didn’t care to handle and trusted that Craig would take care of business despite his tendency to ask for 2Pac to be the only thing played at our ceremony. He did good and we have yet another vendor booked! Craig booked Anything Music to play music at our ceremony and reception. You can watch their cheesy video on their website and get a better feel for the company. I spoke with one of the owners at the bridal show and really got a great vibe from him and the company so I am very happy with Craig’s decision. Now to decide what songs to have them play for each moment of the evening and if we want lighting or a slide show provided by them. Did you have lighting at your wedding? I am not sure if we need the disco ball and colorful beat matching lights. Thoughts? Also, song suggestions!??
image credits: Nice Day Designs | Parada Creations
Our dj came with the location we chose. All we did was chose the songs we wanted at the individual moments, They provided lights on the dance floor (pink) that was enhanced for the slower, more romantic songs. I do wish we would have done some ‘can’ lighting in the reception area. I think it would have been nice. I liked the candle light look that we had though.
Songs. . . I let Jason pick our song. He said he always saw himself dancing to Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic.” I tried so hard to get him to change his mind, nothing. He would not budge. As we were dancing to our first song. . . Jason said, “I wish we would have picked a different song.” You think it will be this amazing time, but all eyes are on you and it is an awkward feeling. The longer the song (ours was almost 4 minutes), the longer the awkward situation goes on. In a nut shell. . . try and find a song that isn’t too long.
I really love the song “Give me your forever,” by; Ben Harper. So romantic and in my mind modern, to the point, romantic, and just a nice song that says exactly what you are feeling at that moment. Love Love Love it.
When Craig was born our theme song for him was “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”. Don’t know if anyone in your generation will recognize it. Hope you have a slide show of your baby/childhood pictures. We can offer some really cute ones of Craig. He was such a beautiful baby and cute boy. It’s really cool to try to put dates on them so that you can imagine what you two were doing at the same age and how your life journey led to your eventually geting married!
Been hearing this new song on the radio, ‘Marry Me’- Train. Love it! Thought of you guys.