top wedding songs

Wedding first dances are a very personal affair, and by no means are they compulsory, but they are a tradition that guests wait eagerly for, and there can always be the pressure as to what song to play. Do you go with something that'll please the guests, or something more personal to yourselves, or perhaps you'll find a happy medium that everybody's contented with. Hopefully, this article will be a help for those still choosing.

I present to you a compact selection of songs including a couple of contemporary pieces and a handful of classics for the Top 10 First Dance Wedding Songs of 2011.

Mariah Carey - I Want To Know What Love Is
Alicia Keys - Unthinkable
Corinne Bailey Rae - Closer
Etta James - At Last
The Stylistics - Betcha By Golly Wow
Chaka Khan - Sweet Thing
The Carpenters - We've Only Just Begun
Shania Twain - From This Moment On
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours

Mariah Carey - I Want To Know What Love Is
Originally sung by Foreigner, Mariah updated the 80s love song, and gave it an R&B and gospel twist. It's definitely as powerful as the original, and the words are refreshing and vulnerable.

Alicia Keys - Unthinkable
This song can take on several meanings. It's all about taking that next step, making a commitment, whether it's committing to a serious relationship or even going further and getting married. It's a sincere and beautiful song.

Corinne Bailey Rae - Closer
Corinne's lush voice over a sensual beat and a delicious bass-line makes this a serious contender for a first dance piece.

Etta James - At Last
At Last, famously sung by Etta James, was written almost 20 years before she released it, and covered by a couple dozen of other artists, like Miles Davis, Nat King Cole, Ben E King, Judy Garland, Doris Day, The Fatback Band, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera and Beyonce. So you have a choice of styles to go with if you love this song. It starts with, 'At last, my love has come along, my lonely days are over.' Simply beautiful.

The Stylistics - Betcha By Golly Wow
This song has been covered many times over the years, most notably by Prince, Dionne Warwick and Phyllis Hyman. The words are sweet and romantic. 'Never thought that fairy tales came true, But they come true when I'm near you', and 'If I could, I'd catch a falling star, To shine on you so I know where you are' stays in the mind.

Chaka Khan - Sweet Thing
Singer Chaka Khan co-wrote this song about her then husband with her Rufus bandmate Tony Maiden. In fact, in this song, Chaka Khan implores this man to be her sweet thing.

The Carpenters - We've Only Just Begun
A few songs by The Carpenters could have been included in this list. I'm sure I'll include another one for next year. According to wikipedia, it's a popular wedding song, most likely because the words are so fitting. The song signifies the start of a journey with your loved one, hence, it opens with, 'We've only just begun to live'.

Shania Twain - From This Moment On
Another Wikipedia fact: From This Moment On was written as a love song between Shania Twain and Robert Lange. "Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start," has to be one of the most memorable lyrics from this song.

Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
If you've never seen the movie, The Bodyguard, I'm sure you've the heard its penultimate song, 'I Will Always Love You' by Whitney Houston. It's not the original version, but a brilliant version nonetheless, most famous for its a cappella beginning, where there's nothing but her voice before the rest of the music starts.

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Last but not least is Jason Mraz' I'm Yours. With a laid back rhythm, almost reggae in nature, Jason Mraz sings to a special someone. You can imagine being on a beach, or in a garden, or even the middle of wondrous nature. His lyrics, 'I wont hesitate no more,' encapsulates his love and desire to be complete with somebody.

my fair wedding | my fair wedding pictures

my fair wedding pictures

If you love wedding shows like I do, you have probably seen "My Fair Wedding", the one where a famous wedding planner comes in and totally remakes weddings at the last second. The results are crystal clear: the "afters" are always way more fabulous, elegant, and chic than the "befores". Now, most brides are not going to get any last minute guidance from a celebrity wedding designer, but every bride can make her own wedding more beautiful with the right tools. Read this article to figure out if your wedding needs a makeover.

Your wedding might need a makeover if...fake flowers are the main form of decoration. In fact, this has been a common theme on the episodes of "My Fair Wedding" that I have seen: rather than investing in fresh flowers, brides hope to get by with the fake ones. Most of the fakes are not at all natural looking, either, generally coming in too-bright colors or not resembling the shape of genuine flowers at all.

Just don't do it! It is far better to create smaller floral displays using gorgeous real flowers than massive centerpieces and bouquets made from the not-so-fabulous fakes. One very chic idea that actually requires a minimal number of flowers is to create submerged flower centerpieces. One or two long stems of an orchid or berries are placed into tall clear vessels filled to the top with water. Submerged flower centerpieces will give you maximum style and effect with a minimal flower budget. Another option is to decorate the wedding reception tables with fresh fruit like limes, green apples, or oranges displayed in pretty footed vases. Surround with a few votive candles, and you will have table arrangements that are fresh, modern, and affordable. Definitely a wedding "do"!

Your wedding might need a makeover if...you spend most of your waking hours with a hot glue gun in hand. While there are certainly any number of lovely diy wedding projects which a crafty bride can undertake, it is also all too easy to go way over the top with the homemade decorations. Here is the key: if your efforts look like you made them at home with a hot glue gun, they are not elegant enough for a wedding. One of the worst examples I saw of this on television was a bride who hot glued fake flowers (two strikes!) to everything in sight, including the bridal hair jewelry for her bridesmaids. Flowers can be a pretty theme for bridal jewelry to wear in the hair, but only if they are delicately handcrafted - never humongous and stuck to a stretchy headband. Remember that your bridesmaids are supposed to be your closest friends and relations. If they all cringe or hide their faces in embarrassment every time that they put on their bridesmaid dresses and accessories, it is probably time to rethink that selection!

Your wedding might need a makeover if...you do not have a good plan for the flow of the reception, including the cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing. Is it ever okay to rent a tent which will accommodate only some of your guests for dinner and ask the rest to picnic on the ground outside of the main tent? Uh, no - think about how insulting that could be to those who did not make the cut to get a seat at a table for dinner. You also want to make sure that you have a good way to separate the cocktail and dinner areas, especially if the ceremony seating will be removed and changed over into the dinner table arrangement.

A wedding should always feel magical, which means that your guests never see the behind-the-scenes stuff taking place. The good news is that it is never too late to make the small changes which will yield big improvements in the style and beauty of your wedding day. From decorations, to attire, to the reception, you have the power to make everything absolutely gorgeous so that you will be able to enjoy the dream wedding you deserve.

royal wedding party

You've found your Prince Charming! While you may not be celebrating your nuptials at Westminster Abbey like Prince William and Kate Middleton, there's no reason your Arizona wedding can't have all the pomp, circumstance and flair of the royal one, right?

If you've dreamed of your perfect wedding since you were a child, and what bride hasn't, there are many ways to incorporate a royal theme into your wedding day. There are many things to take into consideration when planning a royal wedding theme, but why not start with the location for the wedding and the reception. Is there a castle that you can book to host the ceremony and/or reception? If not, book the most upscale hotel that you have access to.

We request your presence...
Your guests will know they are in for a treat when they receive engraved wedding invitations. Go all out and use hand-made paper and hand-calligraphy for the address. If you can hand deliver some of the invitations, why not use a wax seal to close the envelope. Include wedding programs scrolls as part of the decorations. Your programs will list your and your husband's names, the parents' names, information on the wedding party and other pertinent information. Tie the scrolls in a color to match your wedding theme and leave them at the guest's place settings.

Grand entrance
Making a dramatic entrance is part and parcel of a royal wedding. See if some of the groomsmen can be pressed into service as footmen or trumpeters to herald your arrival and precede you down the aisle. Arrive at your reception in a horse drawn carriage. Upon your arrival, your new husband can "hand you down" from the carriage and escort you to the reception hall.

Your gown should be traditional and made of heavy silk or brocade. The train can be carried by a miniature "bride and groom" if you have younger children who want to be part of the ceremony. What bridal gown would be complete without a royal tiara? Your jewelry - other than the tiara - should be understated and opulent. Your bridesmaid's attire should also be of rich fabrics such as velvet or satin. They should wear elbow length satin gloves. Ask your groom-to-be whether he and his groomsmen would be willing to wear top hats and carry canes.

Set the mood
Your reception hall should be draped with rich fabrics in your Arizona wedding colors. Table decorations should be opulent and should consist of floating candles, ice sculptures or even glass slippers! To carry your royal theme even further, consider using silver candelabra at each reception table.

The chairs at the reception should be covered in rich fabrics as well. String quartets or a pianist can set the mood during the meal - which should consist of at least five courses. Rather than sending waiters around to fill guests' champagne glasses, consider having a bucket with champagne at each table. Between meal courses, waiters can circulate and offer hors d'oeuvres to cleanse the palate for the next course.

Your wedding cake should make an opulent statement. Your cake top should be understated and elegant and made of crystal. If you want a Cinderella feel to the cake, use a horse-drawn carriage or emulate the wax seal you used for your wedding invitations as the cake topper. Slice your cake with silver cake servers; consider using a monogrammed one adorned with the same ribbons you used to tie your programs with.

The royal dance
You and your fiancé should take some ballroom dance lessons so when the first dance rolls around, you and he can twirl around the dance floor to the string quartets' playing a waltz.

Grand departure
Once the wedding and reception have wound down and you and your husband ride off into the moonlight to begin your lives together, he can hand you back into your horse drawn carriage and off you go into your new lives together!

mexican wedding cookies

Recipe for Mexican Wedding Cookies

What You Need

½ cup confectioner's sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
¼ teaspoon salt
2 cups flour

How to Make It

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Add 1 cup butter, ½ cup confectioner's sugar, salt, and vanilla to large mixing bowl and cream until light and fluffy. Gradually add the 2 cups flour while continually stirring until mixture is well blended.

Place this mixture in the refrigerator to chill for approximately 30 minutes or until the dough is firm. Begin by making small round bite-size balls of dough and then place them on an un-greased cookie sheet.

Next, you will bake the cookies in the preheated oven for approximately 11 to 12 minutes, or until done at a light golden brown color.

After allowing the baked cookies to cool enough to touch, roll them in the some confectioner's sugar a time or two before the cookies are completely cold.

This is of course, just a simple and basic recipe for these types of easy to make cookies. For instance, you might like to add different types of ingredients, herbs, spices, and flavorings to your wedding cookies. Using a simple basic recipe, you can add edible flowers and nuts such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts. However, there are many others you may be interested in learning about.

When you are planning a festive wedding theme or any type of party Mexican food is a wonderful choice. There are many different types of easy Mexican recipes that you can use for your wedding and reception as well as every day.

wedding forum

Where can you get some help for planning a wedding? Even though there are literally thousands of websites and people offering wedding planning help, some of them are better than others.

For example, if you are looking into hiring a wedding planner, the websites of the wedding planners might not be the best place to find the most valuable information. Wedding planners are "merchants" interested in selling their services to you. There is a big chance that instead of locating unbiased information on their websites, you will get a "filtered" and "sweetened" version - only the best photographs, only the most positive feedbacks, and so on.

So, where can you find some unbiased first-hand information about wedding planning? The best place is wedding chats and forums. If you visit any large wedding forum, you will be able to find hundreds of feedbacks on wedding service providers, including good and bad ones. The same is true for locating any particular wedding services or product providers, including the providers of wedding dresses, rings, accessories, hairstylists, florists, and so on.

Wedding chats and forums will also help you find the most affordable services. Some of the product and service providers have hidden fees, and looking through some feedbacks on a large wedding forum will help you avoid having to pay extra for the products and services.

Another extremely helpful tool offering considerable wedding planning help are wedding planning software applications. There are free and paid applications, and any of them would be of tremendous help for your wedding planning. The best part about these tools is that they have preset lists of all the details and the things to do for wedding planning. Furthermore, any such application features automatic updates for upcoming events and things to do that would be sent to your email.

Furthermore, you can also turn to a professional or an amateur wedding planner for help. A professional planner would naturally be more skilled and more costly, while an amateur planner would be less skilled and cheaper. In fact, you can find a beginning wedding planner who would help you with planning your wedding for a very small fee or even free of charge, because they would need your reference for their future business.