Wedding Resources
Welcome to my Wedding Resources! On this page, you as my client will have full access to loads of resources you can use as references and inspiration for planning your wedding. I recommend you bookmark this page that way you can refer back to it whenever you need it. Also, don’t forget you can always reach out to me for questions or if you need help putting anything together for the wedding!
Table of Contents
Wedding Pipeline
The goal for me is to make things simple, streamlined, and allow for as much input on crafting the perfect soundtrack for your wedding. Below is the planning pipeline detailing what you’ll need to complete and what is due at certain time periods. Each step is further elaborated on below as well.
Initial Consultation
Agreement Signing
Deposit Payment
Wedding Profile
Timeline Drafting (4 weeks before wedding)
Wedding Timeline Checklist & Video Menu (3 weeks before wedding)
Playlists Due (2 weeks before wedding)
Final Payment (due 7 days before wedding)
Final Meeting (1-2 weeks before wedding)
Initial Consultation
The initial consultation is the first call you had with me to go over the key details for your wedding. This call is all about setting the stage for what to expect for the wedding planning.
Agreement Signing
The agreement’s purpose is to confirm the major event details and provide a more detailed description of my services. It is recommended that you read through it as it tends to answer a lot of Frequently Asked Questions. This agreement is done through my HoneyBook Portal which uses e-sign. To certify the signed agreement, it requires the client’s signature followed by a co-sign from myself.
Deposit Payment
A $200 deposit must be paid upfront to secure your booking. This deposit will be taken off of the total payment and the remaining payment is due no later than 7 days before the wedding. This deposit can be paid via debit/credit card through my HoneyBook portal.
Wedding Profile
The wedding profile is a questionnaire that asks for more personal information in addition to your other wedding vendors’ information. The purpose of this profile is to get to know you and your partner better and create a more personalized musical experience!
Timeline Drafting
It is recommended that you have your wedding timeline drafted up at least 3-4 weeks before the wedding. The details don’t have to final just yet but starting as soon as possible will help out with the planning process. I’m available to contact whenever you need me and I’m willing to help you draft your timeline if requested. If you have a designated wedding planner, I will work mostly with them on the timeline. Refer to Wedding Terminology for more information on events you can include in your wedding.
Wedding Timeline Checklist & Video Menu
The Wedding Timeline Checklist is a Google form where you will enter any songs you’d like for specific events during the wedding such as first dance, cake cutting, ceremony processional, etc. This will also be where you can enter in your timeline details (unless a designated wedding planner has already created the draft themselves). It is typically sent over 3 weeks before the wedding but if you'd like to access it sooner, click here and fill it out accordingly!
The Video Menu is another Google form where you can choose how you’d like your monogram to be customized. This will be displayed on my TV video booth. You also have the option to upload photos and/or videos for the DJ to make a custom slideshow that will be displayed during the ceremony and/or dinner! It is typically sent with the timeline checklist but if you’d like to access it sooner, click here and fill it out accordingly!
Playlists Due
The playlists you provide will be the basis of what I will tailor the music to for the whole wedding. It is recommended that you use Apple Music or Spotify to create 2 separate playlists: 1 for the dinner/reception portion & the other for the open dancing portion. The dinner/reception playlist is more suited for good background music (i.e. jazz, R&B, soft pop, country, etc.) and the dance playlist is for more hype songs (i.e. hip hop, pop, Latin, etc.). You can add as much as music as you'd like, but don’t feel obligated to come up with all the music in order to cover the whole wedding. The recommendation is to have at least a minimum of 30-50 songs on each playlist. The main objective is to get a good idea for what you want to hear, and I’ll fill in from my library to match the energy of the room and I’ll move around, add, or subtract songs for the set accordingly.
Final Payment
Just like the $200 deposit, the final payment can be paid via debit/credit card using the HoneyBook Portal. To reiterate, this final payment can be paid any time before the 7 days before the wedding but no later than that of course.
Final Meeting
In this final meeting, we’ll have a Zoom call to finalize the timeline, go over the songs you entered from the Timeline Checklist, and go over details such as must play songs, songs not to play, MC announcements, and other miscellaneous details. If there are any changes that still need to be made after this final meeting, it will be communicated via phone call, text, or email to gain confirmation.
Wedding Terminology
Below I’ve detailed some definitions for events that are typically included in wedding as well as some additional options for events you can add to your wedding. If you already have a designated wedding planner, please refer to them for building your timeline. This section is more intended for folks without a planner so you can have a better idea of all your options when putting your timeline together.
Ceremony
Prelude - Happens before the ceremony where guests arrive and take their seats.
Processional - The entrance for the bridal party. Typically, it begins with the officiant followed by the groom and the bridal party.
Bride’s Entrance -The entrance for the bride. Typically, the bride enters with their parent(s) but the bride can also enter solo.
Invocation - The welcome at the beginning of the ceremony, which is given by the officiant.
Readings - Selected passages, poems, or scriptures shared during the ceremony. Typically includes stories of the couple and their journey to marriage.
Unity Rituals (optional to include) - Symbolic acts representing the joining of two lives. Below are a few examples of rituals with video links to give you a visual example of them:
Sand Ceremony - The couple pours two colors of sand together. Symbolizes blending their lives into one.
Handfasting - Hands are tied with a ribbon or cord, representing unity & commitment.
Unity Candle - Two flames are used to light one central candle, showing two becoming one.
Foot Washing - The couple washes each other’s feet. It’s considered a gesture of humility, service, and love.
Communion - A Christian ritual involving the couple eating a piece of bread and sip of wine in remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Vow Exchange - The couple declares their promises to one another.
Ring Exchange - The exchange of wedding rings, which are lasting symbols of love and commitment.
Pronouncement of Marriage - The announcement of marriage for the couple. Usually towards the end of the ceremony.
The Kiss (a.k.a. the fun part) - The couple sealing their marriage with a kiss.
Presentation of the Couple - The announcement of the newly married couple (ex. Mr. & Mrs. Last Name).
Recessional - The exit for the couple followed by their bridal party.
Cocktail Hour - The in-between portion before the reception where snacks, appetizers, and drinks are served. This is a transition period into the reception to allow for the couple to take pictures and allow for the reception area to be set up.
Couple/Family Photos - The time where the couple gets photos taken of themselves, with their bridal party, and other family members & friends. Typically takes place during the Cocktail Hour.
Reception
Receiving Line - A designated area where the couple is located where guests can line up and greet the couple. This one is a more traditional wedding event. Alternatively, you can do a couple mingle where you make your rounds to guests at their tables/around the reception area.
Guest/Dinner Seating - The time when guests find their seats/tables before dinner starts.
Grand Entrance - The entrance into the reception for the couple and their bridal party (if desired). This event is typically used as a formal start to the reception.
First Dance - The couple’s first dance as newlyweds.
Dinner - The time when dinner is served for the guests. Can be buffet style or served directly to guests by servers.
Parent Dances - Special dances with parents or chosen loved ones.
Mother/Son Dance - A dance between the groom and his mother.
Father/Daughter Dance - A dance between the bride and her father.
Toasts - Speeches given from the couple, family members, and friends selected by the couple. Typically happens during dinner.
Cake Cutting - The couple cuts their wedding cake together. Often leads into dessert.
Open Dancing - The time towards the end of the reception when the dance floor opens up for guests to dance and have fun.
Bouquet Toss - The bride tosses the bouquet to a group of single guests. Tradition says whoever catches it is next to marry!
Anniversary Dance - Couples join the dance floor where couple leave gradually till the longest-married couple is standing. Can be included with First Dance if desired!
Money Dance/Dollar Dance - Guests offer money to dance briefly with the couple.
Shoe Game - The couple answers questions, lifting up a shoe corresponding to each other if they relate to the question.
Special Performance - Any planned performance such as dances, singing, or other cultural rituals.
Private Last Dance - A private dance the couple shares after all the guests exit. Typically, it happens before the Send-Off.
Send-Off/Grand Exit - The end of the wedding when the couple leaves the event. It’s common for the guests to create an aisle with sparklers, bubbles, or other accessories. You can do a real send-off and leave right after or do a “fake sendoff” (which is usually done to get the pictures and give off the impression of leaving) where you leave for a bit and come back.
Sample Timelines
If you’re having trouble or need help with figuring out where you want events to go on your timeline, here’s a handful of wedding timelines used from some of my past weddings to give you an idea of what other couples have done!
3 Hour Reception Timeline Sample
6:30 Reception Starts
7:30 Cake Cutting
7:35 Mother/Son Dance
7:40 Father/Daughter Dance
7:45 First Dance
7:50 Open Dance Starts
8:00 Bouquet Toss
9:20 Open Dance Ends
9:30 Send Off
3.5 Hour Ceremony & Reception Timeline Sample
7:00 Ceremony Starts
7:20 Ceremony Ends
7:25 Cocktail Hour
8:00 Grand Entrance & Dinner
8:30 Toasts
8:40 Cake Cutting
8:45 First Dance
8:50 Open Dance Starts
9:30 Bouquet Toss
10:30 Open Dance Ends
5 Hour Ceremony & Reception Timeline Sample
4:00 Ceremony Starts
4:30 Ceremony Ends
4:45 Family Pictures
6:00 Grand Entrance
6:15 Dinner Starts
6:30 Toasts
6:40 Mother/Son Dance
6:45 Father/Daughter Dance
6:50 First Dance
6:55 Cake Cutting
7:00 Open Dance Starts
8:55 Open Dance Ends
9:00 Send Off
5 Hour Ceremony & Reception Timeline Sample
6:00 Ceremony Starts
6:30 Ceremony Ends
7:30 Grand Entrance & Dinner
8:00 Toasts
8:15 Cake Cutting
8:20 First Dance
8:25 Mother/Son Dance
8:30 Sister/Bride Dance
8:35 Father/Daughter Dance
8:40 Bouquet Toss & Open Dance Starts
10:30 Last Call for Bar
11:00 Send Off
Playlist Building
Helpful Tips
About 2 minutes on average of each song will be played throughout the day so it’s good to keep that in mind when thinking about how many songs are in your playlist (ex. 30 songs = 1 hour of music).
Consider adding at least 1-2 songs for older folks that will be there such as parents or grandparents. It’s important to cater a bit to your guests while making sure your playlist(s) still reflect your own personal taste.
Music Ideas
If you’d like some extra recommendations for music, here’s a handful of Spotify playlists from prior weddings that’ll give some ideas for what others have used for their formalities, dinner music, and dance music!
Formalities
Songs for Specific Events during the Ceremony and Reception
Processional Entrance
Recessional Exit
Grand Entrance
First Dance
Mother/Son Dance
Father/Daughter Dance
Cake Cutting
Bouquet Toss
Money Dance
Private Last Dance
Sendoff
Dinner & Dancing
Inspiration for your Dinner and Dancing Portions for the reception