Wedding Music Take 1

I've been building a playlist in iTunes with some essentials for both the wedding ceremony and the reception. Music is such a huge part of Nick and my relationship, and certain phases and years seem set to a soundtrack. For instance, our first months of dating and "study" sessions (haha, like the quotes?) were almost always to the smooth reggae of some guy whose name I can't even remember. But, I do remember almost every word of his songs. So, that's good. Coldplay eased us into dating, we had a Beach Boys few months, a She & Him phase, A Guns and Roses 3 1/2 years...

So far, this is what I've got:

Bridesmaids and dudes: More Than Words - guitar version, Sungha Jung. Get a load of this small child playing his guitar. It will blow your mind:

Bride's Procession: Hallelujah - probably an instrumental version

Recession: November Rain - instrumental version

But, if you haven't seen the music video to the original, do yourself a favor (and say hello to the crazy wedding dress, the insane suit that only Axl Rose could get away with, and a shirtless Slash playing his heart out...):

Meaningful lyrics: "So if you want to love me then darlin' don't refrain..."

Dinner Music: She & Him and probably some other softer stuff

Father/Daughter Dance: Father and Daughter - Paul Simon

Meaningful lyrics: "I'm going to watch you shine, gonna watch you grow, gonna paint a sign so you'll always know, as long as 1 and 1 is two, there could never be a father loves his daughter as much as I love you..."

First Dance: ????????

Yeah, I have a lot of work to do. To be continued...

And, because it is Monday, and we all know that means few extra expresso shots in the coffee, here is something lovely to make you smile:

{via Green Wedding Shoes}

DJ, check!

One of our friends recently asked if we will have a dance floor at the reception. Next to saying our vows in front of our friends and family, that is the most important part, right? I mean, our friends need lots of those awkward dancing pictures taken with their phones to post on Facebook. We owe this to them.

So, since the music and the party are so important to Nick and I, picking a DJ was a little daunting. During my initial search, I read a story from someone's wedding where the DJ not only insulted the bride but played all country music (horrors! mainly the country music...). Apparently, it's pretty bad out there. Thankfully Robyn at the Winfield Inn and Mike Reed both recommended Joel Giorgio at Greenbelt DJ Productions.

Joel responded to my inquiry in 10 minutes and has been as responsive to every other email I have sent him. He gets rave reviews from all the couples who use him, and we were told that he knows how to get people dancing. SCORE!

We also get to pick a lot of the songs he will play, which is awesome, and somehow easier said than done. I have a much better conceptual idea of a good party than I have the actual ingredients to produce it. Thankfully, I have a year and a very musically savvy fiance to help me. 

We are also using Joel for our ceremony music, which was the second thing I started scrawling in my notebook after the wedding madness set in. We aren't traditionalists, and we want the music that we walk down the aisle to to reflect who we are. So, that means there will be a variation of November Rain playing at some crucial point.

Are there any other unique and beautiful songs (with words or preferably without) to consider?