Pick your songs WISELY

There are some songs that us Officiates get EXTREMELY tired of. Some songs are played over and over again by couples as THEIR song. But we Officiates have heard it so often that not only can we sing along with it, we have already made up our own words to it. (You should hear my rendition of "From this Moment" by Shania Twain)

But it is YOUR wedding and you pick the song that is meaningful to YOU. Don't worry about us officiates when you pick it. But let me give you some friendly advise about the song selection.

First: watch the length of the song. I have had 5 minutes songs played and it doesn't matter how great that song is because 5 minutes is a long time for you to be staring at each other. Here's the test: Play the song with you and your fiance holding hands and looking at each other. If you can hold hands, face each other and NOT LAUGH for the length of the song then it is okay. If you are bored or start laughing after the first verse then shorten it or pick a different song.

Second: DO SOMETHING while the music is playing. Music is great for the processional and recessional but in the middle it can be distracting. So if you have music IN your wedding do it during the Candle lighting ceremony or Sand ceremony or as you pass flowers to the moms and grandmothers but to just play it without action will get boring quickly and chances are one of you groomsmen will act up - YOU know the one...

Third: LIVE music is much better than recorded music. Having a friend play or sing is SO MUCH better. Then you can stand and look at your friend and the audience will appreciate it even more. Whether they sing or play an instrument it is much better live.

Fourth: Save the fun songs for the end NOT the beginning. Most of your family and friends expect and appreciate a reverence for the ceremony at the beginning but when it is done then it is party time. Save your fun song for the end and do your meaningful ones at the beginning. My daughter played "If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife ..." at the end of her wedding and it was fun and all enjoyed the joke but to play that at the beginning would not have gone over with the family well.

Fifth: Pick a song that MEANS something. I have listened to a lot of songs that are great songs but I and the audience are left scratching our heads as to why you picked that song. Pink's "This is my Vietnam" might be a great song but probably not appropriate for a wedding.

Pick your music wisely!