Sound familiar? I get asked all the time what song would be appropriate for signing the register,  bouquet / garter or even just suggestions for couples first dance or walking down the aisle. Music is such an important role in your wedding day. Not only does it help create memories and experiences, but it relives any potential awkwardness or tension.

In short, if you'd like to download a free word document that gives suggestions for each key moment of your special day, click below to receive an extensive list of ideas to help give you ideas and start planning your wedding playlist. Below I've included 11 key moments you might need certain songs played throughout your day as well as providing examples and what kind of energy or vibe would work best in order of your wedding proceedings.

Sometimes used as a separate song for your bridal party to walk down to, a song to signal that the ceremony is about to commence or just something to make your partner laugh; this is used just to create ambience for your guests while they take a seat or mingle before you arrive or even when your bridal party wishes to walk down the aisle before yourself. Easy listening songs from acoustic artists work well for this section.

Key songs that can appear in this section are from artists like Ed Sheeran, John Legend, Sam Smith or even some of the older classics from U2, Bryan Adams or Frank Sinatra.

Probably one of the most important and memorable songs for your day which is commonly known as 'The Song you got married to'. This is a very personal choice and can range from just about anything. My only advice is to take your time and enjoy every step towards your partner down the aisle as a typical song is 3 and a half minutes and your walk can take sometimes only 20 seconds to a full minute. Songs chosen are typically slow and romantic.

Some popular examples for walking down the aisle song choices are:

• A thousand Years - Christina Perry
• Stand by Me - Ben E. King
• Perfect - Ed Sheeran
• Marry Me - Train

Allow 2 song choices to play during this time while you, your partner and 2 witnesses sign your marriage certificate.  These can range to just about any easy listening vibe from the likes of Jack Johnson, Michael Bublé or even The Beatles.

Some examples are:

• Better Together - Jack Johnson
• Everything - Michael Bublé
• Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

It's now finally official and it's time to celebrate! Usually an upbeat, fun and happy song is great to help get your guests to cheer and celebrate with you as you walk back up the aisle as a married couple.

Some examples are:

• ​Marry You - Bruno Mars
• You Make My Dreams - Daryl Hall & John Oats
• You're My Best Friend - Queen
• Happy - Pharrell Williams

So you're about to enter reception after spending an hour or so getting photos in great locations or with family members. To help announce and celebrate that the bridal party have returned, an upbeat and fun song is used to bring the couples in. This can vary between having different songs per couple of just a single song for everyone including the newlyweds!

​Some examples are:

• I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
• Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars
• Beautiful Day - U2

Usually an easy listening song is used while the cake cutting commences.

Some popular examples are:

• I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
  
• Is This Love - Bob Marley
  
• How Long Will I Love You - Ellie Goulding
  
• Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley
  
  

The second of the two most important songs of your wedding day. This is again a very personal choice that you and your partner perform your first dance to. This can range between slow bridal waltz dances to dance choreographed high paced mashups or mixes. Depending on if you've co-ordinated a first dance or just wish to have a romantic waltz with your partner the possibilities are endless.

Some popular examples are:

• Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
• You & Me - Lifehouse
• When you Say Nothing at All - Ronan Keating
• All of Me - John Legend

Another opportunity to have a slow paced moment to dance with your father, mother, extended family or friends. These can range to just about anything and are an optional part of the night.

Some examples are:

• Butterfly Kisses - Bobby Carlisle 
• My Girl - The Temptations
• Your Song - Elton John
• I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith

A fun, happy upbeat song to get the girlfriends on the floor for the bouquet toss.

Some hot examples are:

• Single Ladies - Beyoncé
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
• Man! I Feel Like A Woman - Shania Twain
• Dear Future Husband - Meghan Trainor

Can range from a few different options to make it funny or even sexy.

Some popular  examples are:

• Pony - Ginuwine
• Hot in Herre - Nelly
• Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
• You Can Leave Your Hat On - Joe Cocker

Songs to help conclude the night with a farewell circle, a sparkler send off, a human tunnel archway exit or even just one last song to sing with friends and family. These can be just about anything.

Some examples of farewell songs are:

• Good Riddance (Time of your life) - Green Day
• Closing Time - Semisonic
• I've had the time of my Life - Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes
• Feel so Close - Calvin Harris

If you found this content helpful, please like and share. If you have any examples that you had at your wedding day that you'd like to share as well, please leave a comment!

Congratulations on your engagement and I hope this content helps you live the wedding of your dreams!
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Working in the industry for over 6 years, you can definitely pick up on things that could have gone better. I'm not a wedding planner by any means, but here are some things that I think should be considered so you can SAVE money, have your night run more smoothly, or fit in more dance time!

By all means, consulting wedding planners and talking to your venue wedding co-ordinators is a great start to have the wedding of your dreams. Here's 7 things I think you should keep on the radar.

I have found two main ways to run your wedding night. A) "Let's get the formalities done so we can party" or B) "Let's take our time and enjoy every moment"

​Option A is literally

• Enter Reception
• Cut cake
• First dance
• Start speeches     (all back to back!)

THEN

• serve entree's / mains / dessert and when guests are ready, get the party started.

This is great if you can put the first hour or so of your reception aside to get this done, provided speeches don't drag on too long. All the hard bit is done and you can relax and put on your dancing shoes!

Option B can vary depending on kitchen operations or your personal preference

• Enter Reception
• Serve Entreé
• Serve Main
• Speeches
• Dessert
• Cut Cake
• First dance
• Party time!

Depending on your guests, your caterers and also your personal preference, I find that these two main formats are good to work from or at least discuss as possibilities with clients.

If you want to dance, don't dilly dally. If anything runs late (usually they do) the thing that's affected is the end of the night - which is the dancing time. An average wedding can generally get one and a half hours of dance time. A good wedding allows two. Sometimes, a really great wedding has three!

​If dancing and partying is your preference, start planning the formalities around it and make your party time a priority. Sometimes option A in your timeline works well.

This IS an important note!

Choosing your suppliers is such an important task. Each supplier will work together as an entire team for your wedding day. Keeping to the run sheet, touching base with you and your guests, liaising with the venue.

This is a choice that you make for one of the most important days of your life. Go with your gut instincts. Arrange face to face meetings with your potential suitors! If you aren't getting clear answers, exact prices or if they haven't got good reviews, then consider other professional suppliers.

Check Facebook reviews, ask Facebook wedding groups for opinions from other brides or client's interactions, search their business on google even check their business on ABN Lookup to see if they are even a registered trading business or if they are just a casual part-timer.

The age old saying of you get what you pay for. Well, it's true.

Pricing can be a good indication on someones level of professionalism. It doesn't always work but it can obviously point out something to pay attention to.

"If something seems too good to be true, it probably is".

Always ask friends, facebook groups, check out ABIA, Easy weddings, google reviews.

Websites such as the Australian Bridal Industry Academy and Easy Weddings allow clients to see honest reviews, and see if business have won awards or have been accredited for their honest business dealings with brides. The ABIA database is huge with all kinds of wedding suppliers across the state and even the whole of Australia. 

Easy Weddings provide a massive online planning experience for brides and grooms to pick and choose their suppliers, read their reviews, and also email a bunch of tips and tricks. They also have massive giveaways and prizes too!

In that period between the ceremony, the start of reception and when you go off for photos, you are going to be REALLY HUNGRY!

Organise some canapés, snacks and even drinks before you get to reception for your bridal party and yourselves. There will come a time when you are just going to want to hurry up and eat something. A typical wedding day can start with 7am makeup session, 3pm ceremony and 11pm last drinks being called so plan some nibbles.

After cake cutting, what happens?

Cakes are NOT cheap! Rather than paying extra per head for a dessert, consider having the caterer's cut up and platter or even serve your cake as dessert so it gets eaten.  Make sure you run this idea past them as some caterers are only booked until a certain time. I have even had some clients arrange takeaway containers to the cake can be taken home for guests! This is also a great idea!

Other alternatives are to organise a smaller one tier cake for the cake cutting and having cupcakes or muffins for guests for dessert. It allows a small convenient serve for guests to walk around with.
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However in SOME cases, venues can allow dessert courses to be served for just an extra $3-8 per person which is worth considering if your cake isn't huge.

By all means, talk to your suppliers, ask questions and liaise with your venue or private wedding coordinator. The only silly questions are the ones that are not asked!

Congratulations on your engagement and if you found this content helpful, please share for others!