Groomasaurus — Groom Blog / Wedding Blog - wedding planning for grooms

Destination wedding planning – 4 things to keep in mind

by on March 4, 2010

There’s nothing like getting married on a beach or a mountaintop, but making that vision come true requires some special planning on your part to make sure everything goes smoothly. We got married in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (which is our favorite Mexican resort town – not nearly as Americanized as many Mexican resorts, plus lots of great restaurants and very friendly people), and I would do it again in a heartbeat. But here are a few things to keep in mind before you dive in.

1. Find a reliable, on-location partner – There’s really no way to plan a destination wedding abroad without having someone local who is running point on your behalf. It took us at least a month to track down the right combination of venue/planner who was on-location in Puerto Vallarta, spoke the language, had existing relationships with vendors, etc. I would highly recommend either hiring a planner here in the States who regularly plans destination weddings and can do everything for you, or find an all-inclusive venue at your destination who will pull everything together for you. Because, if you plan to go it alone, you better be patient; fluent in the destination language; and willing to arrive at least a week earlier to set everything up. (Hint: You could use a wedding website like this to keep track of all your guests and timelines, and then have an on-location venue/planner take care of everything else.)

2. Getting legally married here vs. abroad – Before you decide on this one, check into the legal policies of a legal marriage at your destination. I know Mexico requires you file for a legal marriage at least a few days before your ceremony, so you need to be in country at least a few days before your ceremony. My business partner got married in St. John (an American territory in the U.S. Virgin Islands) so their laws were pretty much the same as the mainland, but other countries may have different policies that make it tougher (or impossible) to legally get married in their country. We went the easy route and simply picked up a marriage license at our local courthouse (in Colorado, you simply need to file for a marriage license and sign it and you are legally married … so easy).

3. Size of wedding – Most destination wedding are smaller simply because of the demands made on guests (that is, it usually requires more money and time to attend a destination wedding than it does one locally). But you should consider the desires and means of your guests to attend a destination wedding before you move ahead with your plans, and ask around to see if your “gotta-be-there” guests are okay with taking more time off and spending more money. SECRET HINT: Attending a destination wedding usually has lots of extra expenses for everybody (like more expensive plane flights, hotel rooms, food, etc.). But the wedding itself is usually cheaper than holding a wedding the same size in the States. We spent around $7K for our wedding of around 25 people, and the same thing would have easily cost us $11K-$12K in the states.

4. Designate a “social coordinator” for your stay – We were in Mexico for a week for our wedding, and although we loved having our family and friends near us, there were lots of demands on our time and few opportunities to get moments alone. So I would recommend appointing someone in your family as social coordinator, who makes plans if people want to get together for dinner or see the sights and generally is the person who coordinates guests during your stay. This takes pressure off you and lets you relax and enjoy the week instead of being Julie McCoy (anyone who doesn’t remember the Love Boat can Google this).

BTW, the venue where we had our destination wedding was awesome. It’s called Vallarta Adventures, and you should ask for Nicole; she was our planner and was fantastic.

Groomasaurus Guy and Gal at our destination wedding

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Wedding Podcast Network and another great resource

by on March 1, 2010

You know how sometimes you speak to a person on the phone numerous times but never see their face and wonder what the heck that person looks like, or you read their words either here on the Web or in a book or magazine but would love to hear their voice to get a better sense of how they sound. Well, the Wedding Podcast Network is a great place to go to hear hundreds of experts in the wedding industry talk about the ins and outs of weddings … and as of this past weekend, you can hear me there, too.

They were kind enough to pick my brain for 45 mins or so and actually record and publish the session on their site for all the world to hear. The host Robert and I basically chatted about a groom’s place in planning a wedding and what we guys can help with, plus I shared some recent data on engaged couples that can help give grooms and brides a sense of what’s happening with other couples. Here’s the Groomasaurus podcast for grooms, and you can find lots of other great audio podcasts from true wedding celebrities on their Web site.

Also, if you’re a groom and are trying to come up with a unique way to make your half of the wedding attire come to life, there’s a site where you can actually design your own men’s custom dress shirts. It’s called Blank Label, and you should drop by and check it out … however, be careful, because you’ll find their online design tools addictive, and once your shirt is designed, you’ll definitely want at least one.

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Get plugged in at BridalTweet – Sponsored Post

by on February 26, 2010

With the sheer tonnage of wedding-related resources and sites on the Web, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and find yourself spinning in circles. When we were planning our wedding, it was my job to be “technology guru” and find all the possible techy wedding resources that could help us, and, believe me, there’s an ungodly amount of stuff (and lots of it not so helpful).

However, amidst all the noise, I did find a great wedding forum site that’s really focused on helping out both brides/grooms as well as wedding vendors (including consultants, venues, caterers, florists, DJs, officiants, etc.) It’s called BridalTweet, and I think it stands head-and-shoulders above any of the forums you will find on bigger sites because it’s community of brides/grooms and vendors is really tight-knit and willing to go above and beyond to help each other out. Oh, and it’s free to sign up and use (a big plus).

Any brides or grooms who sign up on the site can immediately find lots of contests and giveaways; local vendors; free wedding advice via the forums; and really useful wedding ideas and inspiration. And for vendors, there’s free ways to promote your services; networking with other vendors; helpful business advice for vendors; and discussion forums where you can get great advice and share ideas with other vendors. Plus you can create or join topical groups, create your own blog and much more.

I encourage you to stop by BridalTweet today and discover a place where you can learn from other couples and vendors and join an online community that really cares.

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Honey gets you further than vinegar – Lesson Learned #5

by on February 22, 2010

We’re deep in the throes of winter here in Colorado, and because it’s been an unseasonably cold and snowy winter here and everywhere else in the US, people are a bit more tense and … okay, I’ll say it … bitchy and crabby as the long winter draws on (damn groundhog saw his shadow this year to boot, which means 6 more weeks of winter).

I grew up in Ohio, so by the end of February we were always at each other’s throats. Lack of sunlight and ability to spend time in the warm outdoors ends up saddling with even the sunniest disposition with a big pair of grumpy pants, and this year the pants seem to be about 2 sizes larger than usual for most of us. And why do I bring this up … because now is when many couples begin planning their weddings, and as I have discovered, your mood can determine to some extent the relationship you have with your vendors and others involved with your wedding (this goes for both grooms and brides-to-be).

Unfortunately, some people believe that the best way to negotiate with a vendor or get them to perform their responsibilities properly is to scream at them whenever necessary and throw the occasional fit. I bring this up because I’ve heard a few stories lately about a few histrionic brides and grooms-to-be going completely overboard over the most minute of details. Although sometimes such venting might make the ventor feel better temporarily, this behavior usually ends up hurting these people in the end, partially because a vendor is less inclined to be helpful or accommodating to a person who is berating them and partially because some vendors will partake in what is secretly called “punitive billing” (charging a client more for being a pain in the ass … you laugh, but it’s a fact of life in practically any service-based industry).

Most people don’t fall into that category, but we all can still get really irritated by a vendor or other party who isn’t following through on what you asked them (and paid for them) to do, and I’m just as guilty of this as the next person. And really, no relationship with a wedding consultant or vendor goes perfectly. There’s always bumps in the road and things that don’t go quite right. But when it comes to trying to get someone to step up to the plate and follow through or fix a mistake, it’s always better to take the high road with politeness and kindness and treat them like a sentient adult rather than a misbehaving child (even when they might not deserve such kind treatment).

There were a couple of instances when I wanted to let someone have it with both barrels when we were planning our wedding, but instead of unloading I took a step back, waited a day or so to respond, and when I did respond I did it politely but firmly. 99% of vendors and consultants will bend over backwards to fix an issue anyways, and when you point out a problem and ask them nicely to fix it, usually they are so embarrassed that you had to ask they get to it right away.

Of course there’s always that 1% of vendors who are oblivious to your desires and are just in it for the money, and in that case you should just withhold any additional payments until they decide to follow through (and, if that’s not enough incentive for them, you can always go to the BBB and then to small claims court to get reimbursed). Hopefully it never comes to any of that, but you’ll always get further with a little bit of honey than with a gallon of piss-and-vinegar.

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A destination wedding … in Colorado

by on February 9, 2010

I’ve written quite a bit about destination weddings in the past, mainly because Groomasaurus Gal and I had one in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. But a friend of mine brought up a good point the other day in that you don’t have to travel outside the U.S. to have a destination wedding. We’ve got lots of wonderful destinations right here in the good ol’ US of A, and plus with the economy still in pretty poor shape, I’m sure U.S. vendors would appreciate the business.

So I’m making a shameless pitch for having a wedding right here in my home state, Colorado. I live in Denver, and it truly is the best of both worlds. We have a great and thriving city (which also has a surprisingly number of excellent restaurants … only a notch below SF or NY, in my opinion, and those are world-class dining cities) and we are merely footsteps away from America’s playground … the Rocky Mountains. The sky is blue here over 300 days a year (and for a transplanted Midwesterner, that’s a better drug than you can get in any pharmacy or on any streetcorner) and the people are amazingly friendly. You see, Denver is a city of transplants and everyone who is here knows what it’s like to be new. So we’re always willing to bring new friends into our circle and reach out to new arrivals to make them feel welcome.

Anyways, there are so many places in Colorado to get married that I don’t know where to start. And you can either have a ski-slope wintertime wedding or a warm and sunny summer mountain wedding (I actually prefer Colorado in the summer, where there are so many things to do … hike, bike, camp, etc.). The ski towns like Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, Vail and Crested Butte in the summer are great places for a wedding, as they have the venues and services to accommodate lots of guests and dining. And there are many quieter but just as beautiful towns like Salida or Glenwood Springs (which has a huge historic hot springs and a few classic hotels) that would serve you very well for a wedding. And then there’s destination hotels like the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, which is an entire little city unto itself.

But enough of my talking … here are some photos taken by my friend (and excellent wedding photographer) Katie Girtman from Studio Kiva of some breathtaking Colorado weddings. Katie shoots both wedding as well as commercially (I run a marketing/branding firm, and she’s done several shoots for us, all with great results). She’s the consummate professional, and if you’re looking for a wedding photographer who knows her stuff and will go above and beyond for you, she’s the one to hire. If you want more information on getting married in the mountains here, you should contact Katie or our friends over at Petal & Bean, who are both wedding planners and florists (I don’t see how they do it all, but everything they touch looks magical and ends up wonderful).

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All photography courtesy of Katie Girtman of Studio Kiva.

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A few new wedding sites to check out…

by on January 26, 2010

I’ve been busy browsing around the Web these days, and here are some great wedding sites I happened upon recenly:

OmniBride.com – You’ve tried Google and Bing in your searches for cool wedding stuff, so now try OmniBride. It’s a search portal specifically for wedding-related sites, and it’s a great way to find lots of sites in every category – from bridal shopping sites to wedding information sites to cool wedding planning tools.

The Wedding Chat Blog – A great new blog created especially for the chic bride. Lots of great topics and ideas, so put it on your blogroll and visit back often.

Beach Wedding Planning – If you are considering a sunny-beach wedding (and take it from one who had a beach wedding … it is totally worth it, and often destination weddings are cheaper than the ones you have in your hometown), this web site is a must to check out. It has helpful article on everything you should consider when planning your beach destination wedding as well as a place to check out all the possible beach wedding locations available in this hemisphere.

God Awful Wedding Crap – This blog is howl-out-loud-funny with posts on all the weird, wacky and sometimes scary wedding stuff and trends out there (for example, today’s post has a bride who commissioned a wedding cake that looks like her … can you say “narcissist”).

If you have any great sites to add to this list, just let me know…

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Choosing Your Wedding Wines – GroomPower.com Guest Blogger

by on January 18, 2010

Today’s guest blogger is Benjamin Parker of GroomPower.com, and he will be sharing some great advice on how to choose wines for your reception. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to picking wines, I know just enough to be dangerous, so any tidbits of advice and guidance are always helpful. Oh, and you should stop by his site if you want more info on groom-related topics or more tips on wedding drinks, including pre-dinner drinks, calculating wine quantities, etc.

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Many couples find it difficult to choose the wines to serve at their wedding reception. Of course, it’s difficult to make choices that will please all of your guests, and it’s made harder still if you’re working to a budget. But if you follow a few simple tips, choosing your wine can be a pleasure rather than a chore.

If you are serving a meal at your wedding reception, then it’s best to choose the food before you choose the wine. There is endless and detailed advice available on which wines match which foods: for example, that grilled fish should be served with a Chardonnay, or that game is best paired with a Shiraz. It is safe to ignore most of this advice. Common sense will tell you whether or not a particular wine will clash with a particular food. If you are planning to serve a very delicate white fish dish to your guests, it would obviously be best to avoid a very heavy red wine. Likewise, a very light and young white wine is probably not going to go well with a rich, meaty dish. Have your food choice in mind when picking wine, but don’t let it dominate your choice.

You should also bear in mind the time of year your wedding will take place. A full bodied ten year old red might not go down particularly well in the middle of summer, regardless of what you serve it with. And in the depths of winter, your sparkling white, served at just above refrigerator temperature, might not be a great choice either.

Finally, you need to spare a thought for the tastes of your guests. You might be relatively experienced with wine and appreciate some of the more unusual varieties on offer. But be careful in choosing a “left field” wine, as your guests might not share your passion for it. Some wines really are an acquired taste. In this bracket you can put wines such as Moscatel (a sweet and fragrant wine from Spain), Gewürztraminer (another aromatic wine which is grown across Europe, particularly in Alsace) and sparkling reds (popular in Australia). This isn’t to say these wines aren’t good – many of them are excellent – or that you shouldn’t choose them for your wedding, just use care with wines such as these.

With all that in mind, we can now look at a couple of popular wedding wines that work well in most circumstances. For a white wine, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is a very versatile option. Most wines of this type are relatively light – it’s best to avoid the complex, oaky flavours of heavier white wines when you’re choosing a wine to appeal to a large number of people. They are also widely available, which is important: you might choose a wine now but decide not buy it in bulk for another six months.

For a red wine, it’s fairly easy to find a Rioja that will suit the season, the food, and everyone’s taste. Rioja is grown in Spain and comes in several varieties: Crianza (which must be aged at least two years before being released, one of which must be in an oak barrel), Reserva (which must be aged for three years, with one in oak) and Gran Reserva (five years aging, including two in oak). If a wine is simply labeled“Rioja” then it has spent less than the required aging time to be a “Crianza”. Generally, a Crianza is a good choice for a wedding wine: not too heavy and not too light.

Overall, choosing the wine for your wedding should be a pleasure and not a chore. It’s actually a great way to make others feel involved in your wedding: buy a few bottles and invite the family round, then choose your favorites.

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The Groom’s Wedding Duties – Guest blogger from Planning Elegance

by on January 15, 2010

We continue to feature guest bloggers this month, and today’s guest is Amy Patel from Planning Elegance, a California-based wedding coordination company. I would like to thank Amy and her team for their valued advice for any groomasaurus-to-be. And make sure to stop by their wedding advice blog for more great tips and guidance on everything wedding related.

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Everyone involved in the planning process tends to act like the wedding is all about the bride and sometimes, we may forget about the groom. Often times we, as wedding planners, may not even meet the groom until the wedding day! Here are wedding duties that the MAN in the relationship, the soon-to-be-hubby: THE GROOM – this is what you should be handling throughout the wedding planning process.

The Bar and Beverages
The bar is the most common thing that brides will put their beaus in charge of for the wedding. Generally, the groom handles how much of their budget can handle the bar, what types of alcohol should be available, and how the bar payments will be handled. Hey guys, here’s some bar advice on how to handle this responsibility for your wedding reception. Don’t forget to have fun doing this – if there’s a theme to your wedding, maybe you can have some signature drinks. If you’re a tequila man, then see if your venue can offer a tequila bar, this will definitely add some heat to the reception. There’s also the option of a separate beer and wine station, or a full whiskey bar!

If you are having a non-alcoholic wedding – you can play around with what we call “Mocktails”. Your guests don’t have to stick to just plain old Sprite, Coke, and water – they can have apple cider, virgin cocktails/”mocktails”, smoothies, tropical juices, rootbeer floats…be creative! Guests enjoy creative and tasteful drinks and there are vendors that you can even hire for a fresh fruit smoothie bar or to create ice cream and beverage concoctions.

You can also make the the drinking options more interesting with an ice bar, martini luge, tray-passed drinks by servers, or different colored drinks for different tables. Colors are the best and most affordable way to play around with wedding beverages and create a cool and classy atmosphere for your wedding reception. Spruce up the look by using interesting glasses, cute little umbrellas, fresh garnishes like oranges and cherries, even colored ice!

The Gift Registry
Okay, so you got dragged along with your beautiful fiancee through Bed, Bath, and Beyond or Crate & Barrel registering for kitchen and living room items – you just don’t care if you go with eggshell white or ivory colored sheets for your bedroom! So now it’s your turn! There are some great registries for the groom out there and you should register at more than one store to provide your guests with options. Best Buy is a great place for your wedding registry if you’re into electronics, music, movies, home theater, or video games. An original idea would be to add on your wedding website what your favorite sports team is, then your friends can all pitch in to try to get season tickets for you and your beau – best wedding gift ever for sports fans everywhere. Then there’s the all-too-popular The Man Registry! This site has all types of great gifts that men will love and things that are classy enough to give as wedding presents. Have fun with this because your wedding gifts are a great enjoyment after a long wedding day and night – look forward to opening up that George Forman Grill, that plasma screen TV, or the autographed baseball you’ve been dying for!

The Wedding Band
So maybe you’re not so keen on the jewelry and even though you may not want to wear a ring, at least you can pick your own style out. There are many different styles and metals of wedding bands that you can choose from. Generally, these rings aren’t too showy and have the same pattern all the way around the band. It can have one or two indented lines, grooves, have a hammered pattern, or be plain. Different metals have different colors and properties. There is yellow or white gold, which are both great quality and can be made to fit any size finger.

Platinum is great because it’s heavy weight can make you feel like a man, but it’s a bit on the expensive end. Sterling silver is nice and affordable, however it is for a man that likes a shiny ring. Titanium and palladium are popular choices because of their colors and they are very light weight. While tungsten is great because it has a very dark, unique color. Any types of diamonds or gems are also available in wedding bands, discuss with you jeweler the qualities your want in a wedding band. If you are thinking about having a diamond, make sure you learn about how to select the right diamond for you so that you don’t break your budget. Decide on a budget or at least a price range – depending on the style, metal, stones, and design that you are looking for, you may even be able to custom-design your ring for an affordable price.

The Honeymoon
You can plan the honeymoon. While your beau is planning the wedding details and forgetting about the honeymoon, you can book the flight(s), accommodations, food, and activities. This is a great thing for the groom today because he can enjoy searching through websites for great deals and places to go. You shouldn’t plan the entire honeymoon without inquiring with your wife-to-be, get some tips on planning the honeymoon and ask your bride-to-be’s advice on where she wants to go and what she wants to do. You can book and plan all the details, which most women will find very romantic.

To all the grooms out there that think they have been forgotten: there are things for you to do and ways to contribute that you can enjoy. Signature drink taste testing, running around Best Buy with the registry gun, choosing metals for your wedding band, and looking up places to go snorkling and sky diving for your honeymoon can be your contributions to make your wedding unique and memorable. Congratulations – you are officially a groomasaurus!!

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Wedding flowers … where to start?

by on January 10, 2010

When Groomasaurus Gal first asked me my opinion of some pictures she had clipped out of magazines of wedding floral arrangements, I looked at her earnestly and uttered this profound statement: “Uh, I dunno.”

I would imagine that most guys have the same reaction to floral arrangements. Nothing in life has prepared most of us to have an opinion on floral arrangements: what is fitting, what to look for, what they should cost. Many of us have bought flowers for women on more than a few occasions, but on those occasions usually we just stop by a local florist and ask them something like, “So I’m in the doghouse and I need to get out before I freeze from all the icy stares I’m getting from my girlfriend/fiancee/wife. Do you have a floral arrangement that can help with something like this?” To which the florist smiles and then shows us a fabulous arrangement that helps turn the tide (as well as a litany of apologies) and put us in our significant other’s good graces.

With that said, here are a few tips I learned when shopping for flowers for your wedding:

1. Have your wedding colors already picked out – It helps to know what colors your wedding part attire (such as bridesmaids’ dresses and groom’s and groomsmen’s attire) and decor (including table runners and skirts, favors, etc.) will be so that your florist can match those items.

2. Browse around the Internet for ideas – There are tons and tons of wedding flower pictures on all sorts of wedding-related sites and blogs, and these are great places to start to get an idea of what is possible (for example, here’s a great place to get ideas for bridal bouquets).

3. Decide what kind of arrangements you want – Traditionally, the bride has a bouquet and the groom has a boutonniere, but you can also add bridesmaid bouquets; groomsmen boutonnieres; corsages for mothers, grandmothers and other women of importance; boutonnieres for fathers, grandfathers and other men of importance; ceremony arrangements; and finally reception arrangements and centerpieces. You need to decide how much you want and what role flowers will play in your decor.

4. Consider your favorite types of flowers – Some people have certain types of flowers that they just love, or they have certain flowers that they associate with points in their relationships (like you gave your fiancee a rose on your first date), and you may want to consider adding these special flower species to your mix. Remember that some types of flowers may not be in season when your wedding occurs and that out-of-season flowers are often more expensive.

5. Visit a few local florists – Once you have a good idea of your colors, styles and types of arrangements, you should pay a visit to some local florists and have them show you their sample books. This will give you a good idea of their capabilities as well as the choices you have.

6. Narrow your florist list and ask for quotes – Revisit those florists who seem to be a good fit and who you think can meet your needs and ask them for a quote. Remember to include any special requests (such as special delivery needs as well as any floral preservation services you would like).

7. Follow up regularly with your chosen florist – A few weeks prior to your wedding, you should follow up with your florist to confirm your order as well as delivery times, etc.

8. Consider a way to “recycle” your flowers – When your wedding is over, what will you do with your flowers? Many couples have their bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere dried and preserved, but what will you do with the rest of your flowers. One option is to give them all away to your guests by telling them to take home the floral centerpieces. Another is to donate them to a local church. Whatever you decide, try to think about finding a better place for your beautiful wedding flowers than a dumpster.

Those are some good initial tips, and another great place to start researching your wedding flowers and finding great local floral vendors is the Flower Shop Network. This site not only has great advice for researching and buying flowers (for example, there’s a page that provides wedding flower tips for the budget-minded bride), but it also offers a wide number of profiles for florists in your local area. The same people also have a site called Wedding & Party Network that offers great insights into wedding flowers as well as many other wedding areas, and it is another excellent place to check out for wedding ideas, inspiration and vendors.

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Groom’s Guide for What Not To Play at a Wedding Reception

by on January 8, 2010

Today we have another great guest blog post … this one from Matt Campbell over at Wedding Museum … thanks, Matt.

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Grooms selecting music for their wedding reception sounds easy. Play the music the bride and groom like. If it were only that simple. We encourage bridal couples to select music that means something to them for their special dances. However, we still have a few guidelines to follow when selecting songs for a wedding reception.

Do not play music with explicit lyrics. Don’t assume this is the case. Verify music entertainers have all radio edit versions of songs to be played at your wedding receptions that contain explicit lyrics in their original releases.

Do not play songs that reference death. My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion. Who will not think of the lives lost on the Titanic when this song is played? Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton. This song was written by Eric in memory of his son.

Do not play songs that reference suicide. Examples include Don’t Close Your Eyes by Kix and Jumper by Third Eye Blind.

Grooms, be sure you discuss with your bride-to-be about the type of music to be played as background/dinner music. Options for background music include jazz, classical and pop. The music entertainer needs to know so they can prepare the correct style of background music. Classical music would not be appropriate for a country theme reception.

Do not play music that is suggestive or offensive. Songs that may be considered offensive that are mainstream include My Humps by the Black Eyed Peas, Wild Thing by Tone-Loc and I Touch Myself by the Divinyls.

Songs to add to a do not play list at a wedding reception may include songs that refer to the stressful wedding planning process. Stressful wedding planning songs include I’m In a Hurry by Alabama and Rush Rush by Paula Abdul.

Please add stalking songs to your do not play list. Stalking songs include Every Breath You Take by the Police and Somebody’s Watching Me by Rockwell.

You must decide if both of you would like group dances to be played at your reception. Some people do not like such dances as they consider them goofy and/or well overplayed at wedding receptions. Group songs include the Macarena by the Los Del Rio, Y.M.C.A. by the Village People and Hokey Pokey by Ray Anthony.

Many people feel the money/dollar dance is inappropriate at a wedding reception. The reasoning is because guests are expected to bring a present and to ask for more money in the dollar dance is greedy. However, others feel it is a great way to have multiple one on one conversions with many guests.

You must consider if you would like songs played that have an extended playing time. The standard song is about three minutes. The following songs are in excess of seven minutes each. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, Paradise by the Dashboard Lights by Meatloaf and American Pie by Don McLean.

Finally, please consider adding songs to your do not play list that are just plain in bad taste. Song titles considered to be in bad taste include Love Stinks – J. Geils Band, You Give Love a Bad Name – Bon Jovi, My Best Friend’s Girl – The Cars, Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield, Should I Stay or Should I Go – The Clash, Mother-In-Law – Ernie K-Doe, Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley, To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before – Julio Iglesias, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2, She Hates Me – Puddle of Mudd, Everything About You – Ugly Kid Joe. For a complete list of all of our suggested songs not to play at weddings, please follow the previous link.

About the Author – Matt Campbell is the owner of WeddingMuseum.com. WeddingMuseum.com offers online wedding planning and wedding website museum. One of the most helpful features of WeddingMuseum.com is our song suggestions and advice for a wedding ceremonies and receptions.

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