Choosing A First Dance Song

Choosing the song that you’ll dance to for the first time as newlyweds can be really difficult for some couples. So here’s where we come in to offer a few suggestions to get the ball rolling. Think back to whether or not a song has personal significance to you as a couple. What was the first dance you danced to? Maybe you attended a concert together where you heard a special song? Or perhaps a song was playing when you got engaged?

Well, for those of you who don’t have “our song” no need to panic. Here is a list of songs some of our couples have used over the years. We thought it might be helpful to hear what real brides and grooms selected for their big day. Now sit back, relax and listen away!

Oldies But Goodies:

“The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra ’36

“Beyond the Sea” – Bobby Darren ’46

“Nothing Can Change this Love” – Sam Cooke ’62

“These Arms of Mine” – Otis Redding ’62

“Hallelujah I love Her So” – Ray Charles ’62

“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” – Frank Sinatra ’63

“As” – Stevie Wonder ’63

“Fly Me To The Moon” – Frank Sinatra ’64

* “That’s Where It’s At” – Sam Cooke ’64

*”That’s How Strong My Love Is” – Otis Redding ’65

“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” – Ottis Redding ’65

“L-O-V-E” – Nat King Cole ’65

“The Happy Song” – Otis Redding ’68

* “Sweet Thing” – Van Morrison ’68

“Carpenter” – Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash version ’70

“Into the Mystic” – Van Morrison ’70

“Wonderful Tonight“- Eric Clapton ’77

“Lovely Day” – Bill Withers ’77

“Here Come The Sun” – The Beatles ’77

Return To The 80’s & 90’s:

* “You Are” – Lionel Richie ’82

“This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” – Talking Heads ’83

“Adore” – Prince ’87

“All I Want Is You” -U2 ’88

“Real Love” – John Lennon ’88

“More than Words” – Extreme ’90

“It Had To Be You” – Harry Connick Jr. ’91

“The Promise” – Tracey Chapman ’95

“Finer Things” – Steve Winwood ’95

“This Years Love” – David Grey ’99

Current Goodies:

“The Luckiest” – Ben Folds ’01

“When the Stars Go Blue” – Ryan Adams ’01

“If I Ain’t Got You” – Alicia Keys ’04

“Making Memories of Us” – Keith Urban ’04

* “You Are” – Ray LaMontagne ’04

“A Message” – Coldplay ’05

“One That Loves You The Most” – Brett Dennen ’07

“The Way I Am” – Ingrid Michaelson ’07

“Lucky” – Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat ’08

“No Ones Going to Love You” – Band of Horses ’08

“Marry Me” – Train ’10

(*) Personal Favorites

We also love this line-up of first dance songs by The Human Jukebox over at The Flashdance. For those that are still stumped and looking for something a bit more unique you can head on over to Off The Beat Bride for more recommendations. In the end just remember to have fun with it and try not to take it too seriously. Your first dance will be amazing and think of it this way, you’ll be starting a new tradition for you and your hubby, by having “your song”.

{images via: Gia Canali, Joe Mikos, Sabine Scherer and Anna Kuperberg}

For the Boys- Part Deux [Wedding Accessories]

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Stacy McCain Event Planning

Last week, we talked about your groom’s attire for the big day. We had mentioned accessories, but then, we became kinda obsessed with all the fun options out there for the guys, so thought we’d do a special post about them, with tons of pictures and ideas. Enjoy!

{Happy Feet}

You finally found the perfect shoes to go with your dream wedding gown, so make sure your man’s shoes are up to par, and have fun with the socks too!

{Bow Ties & Neckties}

Whenever they’re not looking at you, guests will be looking at your groom’s handsome face, so why not add a bright pop of color or a fun pattern right below by adding a cool necktie or bow tie to the ensemble?

Did you catch the bow tie tutorial we featured last week?

A few of our favorite bow tie makers:

Ultra hip Etsy seller, Fox & Brie, make vintage-inspired bow ties, neckties, and pocket squares.

Forage Bow Ties have some super fun patterns and come in the most adorable packaging. This could be a great gift for your groomsmen, too!

And, of course, our friends over at Launderette.

{Suspenders}

What was initially used as the more practical part of an outfit is now making headway as the accessory du jour: suspenders.

{Cufflinks}

Now, here’s the part that’s “anything goes”. Cufflinks are those tiny little details where you have literally endless options.

You can get something special just for the wedding.

Go with your wedding color.

Have your own “something old” and wear a family heirloom.

Or have some fun with them and commemorate your favorite sports team.

We had so much fun putting together this post, but have to admit that it was pretty hard to choose our favorite images since we just kept finding so many awesome ideas. So, good luck, friends, and enjoy the hunt for those special little details!

{images via: Etsy, Style Me Pretty, Ruffled Blog, Style Me Pretty, Martha Stewart Weddings, QP Collections via Etsy, One Wed Blog, Forage Bow Ties, Launderette Blog, Loverly, Pinterest, Intimate Weddings, Waxwing Jewelry via Etsy, Martha Stewart Weddings, Stop the Clock via Etsy, Project Bride}

for the boys [wedding attire for the groom]

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Stacy McCain Event Planning

We’ve talked wedding gowns and THE dress, but what about the boys? We can’t leave them out!

Inspired by the dapper blog, Launderette, and their adorable bow-tying tutorial, we realized that there is not enough talk of what the groom will wear. You always hear, “I cannot wait to see your dress!”, but they should also be saying, “I can’t wait to see how handsome the groom will look!”

Just like when you were picking out your dress, your groom must look his best as well, while reflecting the style of your wedding, and of course being comfortable. So, start by thinking about your wedding day- is it going to be an evening or daytime event? Formal or informal? Will it take place on the beach? In a church? A gallery space? You also have to think about your groom. If he’s more casual, maybe a full-on tux is not the way to go. It’s his big day, too, so listen to what he has to say.

If your wedding is formal, he should go all out: tuxedo, vest, cufflinks tie or bowtie. To keep it a little less formal but still dapper, go with a good suit and tie. For a more hip look, he can wear nice slacks, a well-fitting button down, a vest, and tie or bowtie. Keeping the weather in mind is also really important. We think it’s a great idea to have a second “back-up” shirt for summer weddings. Having the option to change into a fresh shirt can make all the difference on those hot days.

No matter which way you go, we can’t stress this one point enough: FIT. Make sure the suit, pants, shirt, etc. all fit just right. You will appreciate this when looking back on your pictures! Note: Remember to set up a final fitting two weeks before your wedding day to ensure the best fit.

While we’re on the topic of fit, getting a custom suit made for your big day is a great idea, plus you know the fit will be impeccable since it’s cut especially for you. You probably had most of your dress customized to look exactly how you always imagined, so why shouldn’t your groom experience the same “tailor-made” treatment? In San Francisco, we like Al’s Attire, but also be sure to check out Astor & Black.

The perfect accessories pull the look together. Wear some special cufflinks, suspenders, a nice watch, a great pair of shoes, and socks that either match the shoes, or match the colors/style of the wedding. Have fun with these little details!