What should your wedding smell like? Designers sometimes sell clients on setting the mood with scent. I remember a demonstration by a company that made diffusers giant enough to fill a sound stage with one of their pre-packaged concoctions: cotton candy for circus themed event, and – heaven help us- they even tried to recreate florals. The air at the premiere party of “The Last Samurai” was supposed to be tinged with a hint of cherry blossoms. Instead, guests kept asking “what’s that terrible smell?” The planner needed no coaxing to shut off the machine.
Long story short? Don’t let your details get so detailed they pull focus from the reason why everyone’s there. That’s to see you get married!
Q: Should I invite my ex-boyfriend to my wedding? I made a point of staying friends with all my exes through the years precisely so we could all “get along” at an event like this.
advice for the bride and groom (Photo credit: @heylovedc)
A: Here’s the thing. When it comes to post break-up relationships, there are two kinds of people:the Keep In Touchers and the Never See Againers. You are quite clearly a Keep In Toucher. So, the question becomes. Where does your man fall? I have a feeling he’s on Team Never See Again, otherwise you would not be writing, you’d be putting together the perfect “singles table” of all your exes. As a longtime player on Tean NSA, I advise that if that’s the case to let this one drop. Your man will be a hundred times happier on the big day, and that will show. After you get settled in to married life, have a barbeque for the old crowd. Lower the stakes over the steaks, get it?
Unless you are the crown princess of Moldavia, a 16 piece orchestra playing waltzes etc. just won’t get a wedding reception going these days. Brides puzzle over wedding playlists whether they choose the DIY Ipod option for wedding reception music or decide on an experienced wedding emcee/DJ. (We recommend the latter – more expensive, but worth not having to worry all night about everything crashing to a halt when you’re in full swing). Whoever is behind the mic, turntables,or iPod, they need some direction and a song list is helpful, or at least instructions that the Chicken Dance is 100% nixed!
Here are some pointers to keep in mind when working on your Playlist:
Go with the J. Lo School of Music Management – motto: ‘everybody on the dance floor.’ You’ve got a range of guests, usually 3 generations so think about a corresponding range of music designed to appeal to everyone. Pick a band who can swing, rock, and groove their way across music history, and make sure your DJ knows there’s more to life than Usher remixes. (We’re fond of Craig at A Musical Affair that handles all of the above)!
A hard core DJ – vinyl! awesome! (Photo credit: ideowl)
Playlists play well with others. There are different phases to your reception, so have multiple playlists. Maybe you want things quiet for dinner, and raucous for dancing, but then middle of the road for after cake cutting. Think about setting the mood you’re after and pick music accordingly.
Back up, back up, back up. Make sure you’ve covered your bases should something go wrong. always have hard CD copies of iPod playlists just in case, and/or a back up of the files on a flash drive. If the DJs equipment goes haywire, you’ve got options. Also make sure you have a paper copy (or two) of the song list you’ve given the band in case they show up without it.
So there you have it, a playlist play book. Go forth! In the wise words of Sly & The Family Stone, “Dance To The Music!”
Live well and love well.
-Dinah
My Little Flower Shop. A boutique florist in Palm Springs.
Long story short? Don’t let your details get so detailed they pull focus from the reason why everyone’s there. That’s to see you get married!
