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Wedding Songs
You're planning your wedding, and you need a list of traditions during the reception with suggestions for wedding songs. This is one of the most fun parts of your wedding planning, the music that will create atmosphere at your ceremony and reception!
Bridal Dance: This is the first dance of the reception. How you do this depends upon when and how you arrive at the reception. Some couples like to be part of the receiving line to greet their guests. In this case, the bridal dance takes place after the guests have been seated. Other couples attend to photographs after the wedding, and they arrive at the reception with a grand entrance. In that case, have the DJ or bandleader primed to announce your entrance and begin playing your chosen song. Click Here for First Dance Song Ideas.
Bride and her Father Dance: The dance between the bride and her father is the second musical landmark of the evening. In a situation with a biological father as well as a stepfather, the bride usually dances with her biological father. However, if she feels very close to her stepfather, she and her father can dance through half the song and then her father can escort her to her stepfather, with the DJ or bandleader simply announcing the stepfather's name at the switch. Or, the DJ or bandleader can segue from one song to another as the bride switches from father to stepfather. Choose from one of these Father and Daughter dance songs.
Groom and Mother Dance: The groom escorts his mother onto the dance floor next. Stepmother dances can be handled the same way as described for stepfathers. Popular songs for the Mother and Son Dance can be found here.
Parents. The newlyweds parents dance next. These days, it is common to have several sets of parents. Guests who need to understand the relationships already do, so the DJ or bandleader only needs to announce the parents of the bride or groom and then give the couples names. Optional: you can also honor grandparents, or any other couples who have been married for a long time.
Some couples have a dollar dance, and others forgo this old tradition. Guests line up and dance with either the bride or groom, and they pay a dollar. The money goes toward the honeymoon. Sometimes the best man hands out shots of a beverage to the guests in exchange for their money.
If you have a favorite group, have the band/DJ put together a medley of their songs. Examples would be Beatles songs, or a series of show tunes. Avoid something too fast as some older guests will want to participate but don't feel confident about fast dancing.
You should also pick out songs to cut the cake, throw the bouquet, and throw the garter.
You can download the wedding songs you've chosen for these special moments and burn CDs for your guests to take home as wedding favors. That way your reception will remain a special memory for them as well as for the two of you!
More even more Wedding Song Ideas make sure you grab a copy of The Wedding Reception Kit which includes the Ultimate Wedding Songs list on the internet. Click Here to find out more!