Your Wedding From License to Last song by Will Huttunen
The Marriage License – The couple will go to the County Clerks Recorders’ Office within 90 days of your wedding for a fee of $50-82 for a public license. You can call the Sacramento office at (916) 874-6131 for further information or find other Clerks offices in your county.
Wedding Ceremony Time – Notify your guests to arrive 30 minute before the actual ceremony time. You can say something like ‘gathering time’ to allow guest time to acclimate (this is a time that being ‘on time’ would actually be late).
Seating – Traditionally the Bride’s family & guest sit on the left side & the Groom’s on the right. Though this is no hard & fast rule, you can seat the guest evenly if there is an imbalance. If you have ushers seating your guests, have them fill up the forward rows (except for the front row reserved for family). This will allow any late guests to sit in the back as to not disturb the ceremony.
Guest Arrival & Seating Music – (30-45 minutes or 8-13 songs) Usually soft classical music. If you would like to pick out your own music, we have a sample CD provided with numerous wonderful options for the entire ceremony.
Seating of Honor Music – A special song for guests of honor, grandparents & parents if they are part of the wedding party, or these guests can arrive with the wedding party’s music.
Wedding Party Music – Groomsmen & Bridesmaids can march separately with their own music, perhaps something masculine for the men & feminine for the ladies, or traditionally, escorted together side by side. The ring bearer & flower girl(s) can follow.
Processional Music – (“Here Comes The Bride…”) When the wedding party is stationary at the ceremony site, the processional music will start. This song should be the most moving of all the songs chosen; the volume should also be slightly louder.
“The Giveaway” – As the bride is escorted to ceremony site, she stops 6 feet from her groom where she will thank (hug/kiss) her escort(s). The groom will come up & also give appreciation to the escort(s) & bring the bride, face to face to the ceremony position.
The Ceremony! – Take a deep breath, (this is what I say) we’re going to enjoy this. THIS is the center piece of you wedding; it is why we are all here. Your Love is your Life. Feel free to take your time, shift your position, move, look at your guests, your minister, your Love & yes… breathe.
Love – I encourage your expression with how you feel. This ceremony is a part of your evolvement in your relationship to learn, grow & understand further our true meaning & Divinity. Your expression of Love is really the only ‘Real’ part of any wedding or the world for that matter.
Recessional Music – (Finally Music!) Have fun with this one, it’s a time of celebration. After being pronounced, face your guests & take a good look at them (say hi) as they get a chance to see both of you before you walk off.
Photos – Your professional pictures should be taken without guest present for this is not the time for congratulations. Guest can be asked to go into the reception or dinner area at this time.
Dinner Music – Set the mood of your reception dinner. Perhaps something well suited for digestion.
Making An Entrance – (Play a fun intro song!) The wedding party can be announced into the reception or dining area starting with the ring bearer, flower girl(s), bridesmaids & groomsmen, best man & maid/matron of honor & the ‘bride & groom.’ You can pick out individual intro song for your wedding party. As an added touch you can announce the wedding party & their relationship to you (description).
The Food – Announcements can be made to facilitate the ease of coordinating a ‘table by table’ buffet line or asking your guest to be seated for dinner. Guests will really appreciate being directed on the protocol of your party, it gives order & semblance to what can be a complicated social event.
The Toast – A watchful eye can anticipate when the toast can be announced. The MC can announce just as the last few people are completing their dinner that the toast will be coming up in about five minutes. This way we can retain guests from running off for this event. It also gives the staff time to serve the beverage to be toasted & time for photo & video personal to prepare.
It is up to you who you would like to make a toast… Best Man, Maid of Honor, Wedding Party, Parents, Family, Guest, Lastly the Bride & Groom. This a great time to give thanks & really ‘take in’ this moment & what it means to you.
Let’s Dance – Here are the traditional dance possibilities to start your party. Bride & Groom, Father Daughter, Mother Son, New (&/or existing) Step Mother/Father Dance, Parents Dance, Wedding Party Dance, Guest Dance. Allow the MC to announce who’s who to familiarize themselves with special & honored guests.
Party! – About 16 songs can be played in one hour. Pick your song carefully to accommodate the wide range of taste. A good DJ can ‘read’ the crowd accommodating varying tempos and music genres’.
Cake Cutting – (Choose a Song for this event) Traditionally, the cake cutting is a ceremony symbolizing the feeding or nurturing of each other with sweetness. There must have been an incident where someone accidentally misdirected their cake & hit their Loved one’s face. Well, this started an avalanche of video bloopers. Just remember, this is a ceremony.
Bouquet & Garter Toss – (Lots of great fun song to choose from for this event) Tradition has it that the recipients of the tossed bouquet & garter will be the next one married; it symbolizes the well wish of one wedding to another. Traditionally the garter is removed from the bride’s leg before being flung in to crowd. The MC will gather all the single ladies & gentlemen for these events.
Anniversary Tree Dance – In addition to or instead of the bouquet & garter toss, this dance honors the couple that is married the longest. All the married couples are invited to a slow dance & are eliminated by years married. The couple married the longest remains on the dance floor & is presented with a memento.
Tossing pedals, sparklers, blowing bubbles etc. – We have replaced the rice & bird seed to show our Love & farewell to the B&G. This can be done after the ceremony, during the introduction for the reception, or as a well wish as the B&G depart the reception.
You Are The Producer! – You can orchestrate your entire event just the way you please. Be as creative & expressive as you like to make your special event exactly what you want with the help from the people who really care!
Will Huttunen – Has been musically entertaining (DJ/MC) since 1979 & has been performing wedding ceremonies, counseling & memorials since 1990. With either service he has a vested interest as a professional that your event be comfortable, thoughtful, fun & memorable! For further questions for “The Big Day” call Will at (916) 600-6161.