Songs for Wedding Receptions and the First Dance
Weddings rely on music during the ceremony, cocktail reception, dinner hour, first dance and later in the reception. The challenge is, which music to play at what times? Well, gone are the days of old party standards. It's relevant to select wedding songs and music that reflect the tastes of the bride, groom and their guests. Popular songs include the following:
- Carbon Leaf: "Life Less Ordinary"
- Michael Buble: "Everything"
- Quincy Coleman: "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Check out this list of 30+ songs for wedding receptions and the first dance.
Photo: Courtesy of Chesapeake Bay Beach Club
December 2011 Calendar of Holidays and Events
Are you holding employee and customer holiday and Christmas parties sometime in December this year? If you're looking to save money, check out 10 ideas to save on holiday event expenses this year. And my top tips for anyone planning employee or client holiday parties.
December 2011 Holidays and Events
- December 20 (Tuesday), Hanukkah (begins at sundown the previous day)
- December 25 (Sunday), Christmas
- December 26 (Monday), Kwanzaa
- December 26 (Monday), Boxing Day (UK, Canada, Ireland)
- January 1, 2012 (Sunday), New Year's Day
Check out our 2011 Calendar of Holidays and Major Special Events.
And please send your suggestions about December holidays and events. What suggestions do you have that we should include in our 2012 calendar of holidays and events? Thanks.
Event Jobs: Sales Coordinator
Sales promotion coordinators assist with administering sales promotions in order to advertise a product and maximize the profits of the organization. This includes helping with researching , evaluating and recommending ideas that will enhance the market position of products and services. Sales coordinators typically require 2-4 years of experience and/or an associate's degree, according to Salary.com. Average salary tends to be between $41,000 - $59,000 (as of March 2011).
Learn more about event planning careers.
We highlight event planning jobs on the second Friday of each month. Feel free to share your comments about your event planning job search here. Thanks!
What You Should Know About Wedding Bubbles, Sparklers and More
Even though wedding rice has gone away as a tradition, that doesn't mean other ideas haven't taken its place. Ideas such as wedding bubbles, wedding confetti, wedding wands, wedding butterfly releases, wedding flower petals and wedding sparklers are certainly embraced today. They're used to create a memorable send off from the ceremony and/or reception with style.
Learn more about wedding bubbles, wands, sparklers, flower petals and more -- and where you can source them.
Photo: Sri Maiava Rusden / Getty Images
November 2011 Calendar of Holidays and Events
More than a decade ago I was in London on a personal trip during Remembrance Day, and wandered into the area where family members of Veterans who were marching in the parade gathered. I was asked if I belonged there, and nearly ushered into the group like Kramer on an old Seinfeld episode. Of course I was honest that I was simply passing through and that I was looking forward to the parade that day.
Seriously, each year in November, Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom remembers the men and women who gave their lives to the two world wars and subsequent conflicts. Concerts, church services and other events are held.
November 2011 Holidays and Events
- November 6 (Sunday), Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m.
- November 8 (Tuesday), Election Day (U.S.)
- November 11 (Friday), Veterans Day (U.S.)
- November 11 (Friday), Remembrance Day (UK, Canada)
- November 24 (Thursday), Thanksgiving (U.S.)
- November 27 (Sunday), 2010 Grey Cup (Vancouver, BC, Canada, game and week long festival)
Check out our 2011 Calendar of Holidays and Major Special Events.
And please send your suggestions about November holidays and events that could be added to the 2011 or 2012 calendars! Thanks.
Wedding Songs that Make an Entrance
If you're planning a wedding, wedding music will be very important at various times of the event: the ceremony, the first dance, the mother and son dance, the father and daughter dance, and other special situations.
Another important time is when the wedding couple is introduced to their guests for the first time as husband and wife. And the choice of that music should be perfect. This is the perfect time to "wow" your guests and have fun with some upbeat and energetic music. Jennifer Reitmeyer suggests the following songs:
- Black Eyed Peas: "I Gotta Feeling"
- AC/DC: "Back in Black"
Learn more about when it's the right time to choose these and other popular songs for a wedding entrance that will make a huge impression.
Photo: Javier Fernandez Del Corral / Getty Images
Bridal Shower Favors
When guests attend a wedding shower, they bring special gifts to celebrate the upcoming marriage. Why not treat them to a special wedding shower favor in return?
Jennifer Reitmeyer provides her tips on how to select a variety of fun, elegant, ladies-only bridal shower favors that will show your special friends and family members just how much you appreciate them. Learn more about wedding shower favors.
October 2011 Calendar of Holidays and Events
For meeting and event planners, October is a month of professional education. This big question to those in the industry is whether or IMEX America will be more successful. To be sure, both have similar but different audiences and focuses; however, both events attract many of the same destination exhibitors. And that's why we ask the questions: Will there be enough of a business justification to continue investing in both events? Will scaling back the amount of visibility and size of exhibits impact the financial benefits of attending both events? Should business and event destinations/hotels choose to support one over the other: IMEX America vs. the Motivation Show?
October 2011 Holidays and Events
- October 7 (Friday), Yom Kippur (begins at sundown the previous day)
- October 10 (Monday), Columbus Day
- October 10 (Monday), Thanksgiving (Canada)
- October 31 (Monday), Halloween
Check out our 2011 Calendar of Holidays and Major Special Events.
Please share your comments here about whether you prefer to attend IMEX America in Las Veags or the Motivation Show in Chicago.
And please send your suggestions about October holidays and events that could be added to the 2011 or 2012 calendars! Thanks.
How to Create a Wedding Candy Buffet
Wedding candy buffets are extremely trendy, high in style, low in price, and serve as a very unique wedding favors. They are setup as an elaborate display of candies with take-home containers, and your guests scoop up and select their favorite options. makes for a unique wedding favor that is high in style and low in price.
Personalize your own wedding candy buffet by choosing items that fit within your color scheme and theme. Not sure about what ideas fit best? Well, consider wedding candy buffet ideas in white, black, silver, gold, pink, purple, green, yellow, orange, red and brown. Or mix them all together to create a sweet ending to that special day.
Photo: Brand X Pictures / Getty Images
Wedding Songs for that First Dance
Part of a wedding planner's job is to help their clients infuse every aspect of the wedding with personality and style, according to Jennifer Reitmeyer. Many wedding couples probably already have an idea about what special song they may want. But wedding planners exist to help their clients make sure they are selecting the right ones. And if you or your clients don't have a specific song in mind, then it's time to get personal and choose wedding music that fits their relationships. These 5 tips for choosing a song for the first wedding dance are sure to help make that moment memorable.
Photo: Stockbyte / Getty Images