Time to face the music

So, I feel like we’ve talked about pretty much everything *but* our ceremony lately, and that makes me sad. I remember that our officiant was one of the very first vendors we booked. And when e met with her, I told her that my main priority was to create a meaningful and personal ceremony. And the ceremony was at the forefront of my priorities because it alone is the reason for the entire day. And I meant it. And I still do.

So I want to start a series of posts about how we’re making the ceremony portion of our day as special as we can. And the start of that is the music.

Mr. Lox and I are having a DJ for both the ceremony and the reception. We wanted a string quartet…. I mean, right up until we priced out a string quartet. I have to tell you, that is too rich for this budget bride’s pocketbook. So I reasoned with myself, a DJ is the next best thing. I mean, we were largely after string arrangements of contemporary music. And DJs have access to a whole host of things fitting that description. Plus the DJ was an incredibly reasonable rate for the entire day. Reasonable you say? What’s reasonable to you Miss Lox? Fair question. Reasonable to me was $700 for the entire day. He fit my budget and won my heart. And that was that.

But what is he playing? This is where Mr. Lox and I decided to have some fun.

As our guests arrive, our DJ will be playing traditional classical music. Very low key, very unassuming. Nothing unexpected. And that will continue until the last song in our prelude. Which should come right about at our start time. And will, hopefully unexpectedly, be this…

That ought to wake them up. From there we’re right into the processional. First it will be our officiant, then Mr. Lox, then Momma Lox, and finally MIL Lox. They will all come down the aisle to this…

Then hopefully we’ll have a lovely dramatic pause to go with our change of music, before I head down the aisle (yes, still alone) to this…

Why that song for my trip down the aisle? I’m so glad you asked. See even though I don’t remind you all often, this will be  my third marriage and Mr. Lox’s second. And to do it, for the (second or) third freakin’ time, you really can’t stop believing. Consider it our nod to who we are and the fact that we believe you should never give up hope. 🙂

How did you pick your own processional music? Was it personal significance or religious/venue requirement? Or both?

Music Part 2 – We need professional help

Oh yes, yes we do. Now whether that help comes in the form of a DJ or straightjackets and padded rooms is debatable. But here’s how last night went down.

First of all, I was already at my wit’s end. We had been pricing out string trios and quartets for our ceremony and cocktail hour. They all turned out to be a complete budget buster. But in my determination to take care of this music stuff, I soldiered on. (This is not a problem, world peace is a problem!) And I found a DJ who is on our venue’s preferred list and also costs less for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception than any string quartet did for just an hour and a half. So far so good.

So Mr. Lox and I went to meet with the DJ. He was all laid back and cool, and to be quite honest I think he was put off by my obsessive need to plan this. I mean, I arrived with a planning guide from his website and a list of questions. He spent the next 30 minutes trying to get me to calm down. The thing is, I was calm. I just really have a vision of the vibe I want this day to have and I need to make sure I’m going to get it.

Things were going quite well (aside from his face of horror each time I micromanaged another tiny detail) when it happened. We reached a point in the interview where I shared a secret desire for my wedding. I have searched high and low for the lady who gave me this idea, but I’m at a loss. I know it was one of the bloggers from Weddingbee. (I mean, I think. I cannot seem to find any evidence of the blog post that sparked my interest anymore.) Anyhow, I have become absolutely obsessed with having this song in my wedding ceremony.

I have searched high and low for this MP3 and I cannot find it. I was giving up hope. Nevermind the fact that Mr. Lox thought I was slightly daffy for wanting this in the first place and perhaps certifiable for being so fixated on it. Still, he mentioned it to the DJ. And what to my wondering ears should…. ummm… appear? HE HAS IT. Yes, it was exciting enough for all caps. I believe I squealed in the middle of a Starbucks. Loudly.

And so it is that Mr. Lox and I have decided to hire this DJ. And Mr. Lox has gracefully given in to me and has allowed the above song to be the very last song in our prelude, right before the processionals start. This is why I love this man. Muppets.

Did you ever fixate on one tiny detail of your wedding day? Or am I the only highly irrational and fixated bride out there? Commiserate with me!

DJ Dumb and Dumber

Dearest hive, I cannot even be coy about this. I am sitting at my desk at work (Hi there boss!) looking at a planning sheet from a perspective DJ. We are meeting with him  and it has come to my attention that Mr. Lox and I are woefully unprepared. And that we really have no idea how to hire a DJ.

I’ve nailed down the first dance song, and that’s about it. There are spots here for cake cutting, last dance, dinner music… I am aghast. Somehow, I had no idea I was going to have to pick so much. There is also a question on here about how long after dinner we’d like the cake to be cut. I didn’t know there were options? Can I just ask him what works best?

This is my confused face. Please to be ignoring my cubicle toys in the background.

Picture courtesy of moi.

To boot, the very little ceremony music we have decided on is all stuff he doesn’t have. Can I expect him to get it? I mean, is that kosher? Or is it all Bridezilla to want him to go fetch my songs?

All I can say is that I am apparently DJ-stupid and I am figuring this out far too late. Let’s hope I’m better at faking it with him than I am with all of you!

Did you have a hard time with one of your vendors? Tell me about it, so I can stop feeling like the dumbest bride on earth! 😉

Music Part 1 – Dance with me

So, let’s talk about music. When I started wedding planning, I didn’t really think about this. In the past I’ve gone traditional, and I’ve gone non-existent. But it was never something I thought about a great deal. For some reason this time, it seems more important.

With our first venue, the owner said we could have a jazz band and we were so excited about everything else that we accepted that without thinking. Live music! Fun! That was the extent of our consideration. But after we got home and before I started panicking about the venue, I started to have doubts. Would a jazz band be able to make people dance the night away? Would they play the ceremony too? If not, who would? And what about MC duties… would the band do that too? Or would I have to make other arrangements? And what if they didn’t know our first dance song?

Since the first dance song was the only thing I knew was decided, I fixated and started to panic. Mr. Lox tried to calm me down. He tried to tell me we’d figure it out. But my Type-A self was not comforted. And the thing about the first dance song is that the version was extremely important to me. It had to be one exact song, and I wasn’t letting go.

Now, my obsession with the music is too great to contain in one post. But since I know our first dance song, I can share that here. This is what we (meaning I, from the moment I first heard it years ago) have always wanted.

The words speak to me. It is exactly what I’ve always wanted my future spouse to feel for me, and it’s what I have felt for Mr. Lox for a long time. I truly truly love this song. I cry alone in my car whenever it comes on my iPod! Yes, I’m a sap.

Did you always know what your first dance song would be? Or was it something you two had to figure out together? How did you decide?