Our Favourite Wedding Processional Songs

Photo credit: Michele M Waite Photography

For any wedding there will always be a number of songs to be chosen.  Just to name a few, there is the first dance, the recessional and for during the signing of the register.  But if one was to be named the most important I would have to say it’s the processional.  This is the song that signals the beginning of the wedding and heralds the arrival of the bride and her maids.

I often say to my clients that this should be a moment where anticipation is built up to the grand reveal of the beautiful bride. You don’t want to rush this moment.  All the guests and most importantly the groom want to have time to take it all in.  Having the right music that suits both you and your wedding’s style will enhance this immensely.

There are so many songs out there that trying to find the right song can be an overwhelming task.  Here are a few tips to help you sort through the endless options.

Think of songs and artists you like. There may be one among them that could work for you.

Find a song that has the right tempo – not too fast or too slow. If you can easily imagine yourself walking down the aisle as it plays in the background, it could be the one.

Listen to the lyrics as well as the tune.  Sometimes couples chose songs with lyrics that aren’t quite right for a wedding. If this is the case either find another song or find an instrumental version.  Instrumentals can be a great option.

If you like a particular song but the tempo isn’t right, search for other artists who have covered the song. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

Lastly, with many songs lasting 4-5 minutes and most processionals only lasting 2-3 minutes, at the most, you are likely to only use part of the song.  This said, always listen to the whole song when you make your choice you may find that the middle or the end of the song is just perfect.

I hope that helps, but for those who would like a little more direction, here are our five current favourites. From the classic to the contemporary, I hope these inspire you.

© 2014 As You Wish Events Ltd.  Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz.  As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.

Our last article was on what is hot in décor for weddings this summer, but we felt it needed expanding to include what’s hot in bridal fashion.  So here is our update.

I’ve always been of the opinion that when it comes to the colours and styles worn by the bride and her maids that she should simply choose what she likes and what works for her and her attendants.  Having said that, there always seems to be few colours that jump out as the popular choices each season.  This summer the favourites are Lavender, Cadbury Purple, Spearmint Green, and Navy.

Styles for bridesmaids continue to vary – short, long, matching or mixed.  It all depends on your personal taste.

As seen on: Hello1fashion

As seen on: Tulle and Chantilly

As seen on: Bridesmaid.com

As seen on: Elizabeth Anne Design

For the bridal gown all-over lace is the number one popular choice.  Brides are also favouring dresses with little cap sleeves and detailed backs.  Here are a couple of our favourite dress from the range at Ballgowns, Bridal and Beyond in Henderson, Auckland.

That brings us to the end of our Bridal fashion update for Summer 2014-2015.  Just remember, whether you follow the trends or not, the most important thing is that you choose something that makes you look and feel fabulous.

With inspiration being seemingly endless for weddings around the globe, I got to wondering what trends are Kiwi brides really buying into.  So off I went to see some friends of mine in the wedding industry and together we discovered some common trends emerging for this summer.  Here are our observations of what is popular when it comes to overall style and design.

A couple of years ago we began to see the Vintage look rise in popularity with the use of fine china, cut glass, lace, pearls and pastel colours. Since then we have seen this style merge with Rustic elements typical of rural living.

As seen on: Rustic Wedding Chic

The Rustic theme with pastel colours continues to be a popular choice, yet for this summer we are starting to see another transition take place as elements of Boho Chic are taking the stage.  The Boho Chic style draws on a number of bohemian and hippie influences which translates into bolder colour choices, no tablecloths and a vibe that is more free and earthy.

As seen on: Chic Wedding Favours

Naturally the rustic/boho chic look isn’t going to work for everyone, and there will always be other themes to provide an alternative.  One of the alternatives that we are seeing a lot of is the Black & White monochrome look.  The black and white is often paired with diamantes and chandeliers creating an overall look of classic elegance.  And for the flowers, white with vibrant greens seem to be the popular choice.

As seen on: Karentran.com

Whatever your preferred style is for you wedding décor, remember to keep it cohesive.  Making sure that every element ties in with each other will truly make your wedding stand out for all the right reasons.

Many thanks to Cover Decorations Hire & Bethany Gardens Flowers for their insights.

© 2014 As You Wish Events Ltd.  Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz.  As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.

A guest book alternative for the faith based wedding.

I was recently out with a client looking at venues when I came across this idea.  The Bride and Groom-to-be simply set up a Bible for the guests to underline their favourite verse and then sign their name next to it for the couple to read at a later date.  The reason I like this idea so much is that this Bible could then go on to have further verses underlined or notes added to it by the couple, throughout their married life.  It could even becoming a family heirloom, or if you prefer a ‘Legacy Bible’,  that can then be handed down through the generations to come.

While this idea may not be everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ I think it offers a thoughtful alternative to the traditional wedding guest book.  I know I often struggle to think of something meaningful to write in the wedding guest book, so often I just resort to the good old “Congratulations and best wishes for the years ahead” comment – not particularly awe-inspiring.  Maybe that is why some couples decide not to have one at all.

So if you have a wedding coming up soon, even a milestone birthday or anniversary, and you are looking for a novel way to record the well-wishes from your guests this may just work for you.