Those that know me will understand why it's fitting for my first real wedding blog post to be about music. The O'Jays said it best--I love music.
I may not have always known what my wedding colors would be, or what type of venue I wanted my reception to be at, or hell, even who my groom would be. But I always knew that the music at my wedding would be ON POINT. Some jazz and neo-soul to start the night off with a mellow, romantic vibe. Throw in some 80s and 90s slow jams and bangers. Some 2000s hip-hop and R&B. Some acid jazz. Other stuff that doesn't fit into a genre that I can identify. And now to pay homage to my new city, some house music and other classic Chi-Town tracks. It will be a mash of well-known, some slightly familiar, and some "I don't know what this is, but I LIKE!"
So with all that pressure, it's no wonder that I had trouble falling asleep on Friday night. I had a lot on my mind. I kept thinking about music. So instead of trying to clear my mind, I decided to hop on Spotify and create a wedding playlist. At around 11:00 p.m. I figured I would just spend "a few minutes" throwing some songs into a playlist. Next thing I knew, it was almost 3:00 a.m. and I had 2 different playlists.
During those 4 hours of insomnia, I created 2 playlists -- one with mellow tracks to set the mood either before the ceremony starts or during a cocktail hour (because whose wedding starts on time?). The second playlist (which turned out to be over 70 songs) consisted of "suggestions" for the DJ to play either during dinner or for when it's time to party. Eventually, I will separate this playlist into 2 playlists--one as background dinner music, and one for dancing/party music. Ya'll. I'll just warn you now. Musically, I'm trying to go where the average wedding reception doesn't go! When my eyes were finally heavy enough for me to try and fall asleep, I went to bed feeling satisfied that I had just created the ultimate wedding playlists. A freakin' masterpiece.
As you would expect, the delirium took it's toll on my sensibility.
When I woke up the next morning, I washed my hair and then excitedly put on my playlists so they could entertain me while I detangled and twisted my hair for the next 3 hours. I expected some nice seamless transitions. Something that made sense. Something you'd hear at a wedding (even at a wedding like mine). That, my friends, was not what I heard. No sir. I heard songs of heartbreak, lost love, and scandal. Sexy songs that would make my momma blush. Sure, they had some funky beats, but I can't say everything on there was "wedding appropriate."
It's tough when you have so many good songs you want to share with the world. You know this may be your only opportunity to dazzle them with your eclectic musical taste. But unfortunately, you can't share it all. I had to remind myself to "stick with the theme of the party" (that theme being a wedding).
So I went in and removed several songs from the playlists. Added others. Moved some from one playlist to another. The playlists are still a work in progress. But I'm feeling much better about the direction I'm going in musically.
I can't wait to find my DJ. It's mandatory that he or she "gets" me and my whacky taste. I have a guy in mind and I'll probably be reaching out to him within the next month or so. If things don't work out with him, I'm open for suggestions and referrals. Cool people only, please.
I may not have always known what my wedding colors would be, or what type of venue I wanted my reception to be at, or hell, even who my groom would be. But I always knew that the music at my wedding would be ON POINT. Some jazz and neo-soul to start the night off with a mellow, romantic vibe. Throw in some 80s and 90s slow jams and bangers. Some 2000s hip-hop and R&B. Some acid jazz. Other stuff that doesn't fit into a genre that I can identify. And now to pay homage to my new city, some house music and other classic Chi-Town tracks. It will be a mash of well-known, some slightly familiar, and some "I don't know what this is, but I LIKE!"
So with all that pressure, it's no wonder that I had trouble falling asleep on Friday night. I had a lot on my mind. I kept thinking about music. So instead of trying to clear my mind, I decided to hop on Spotify and create a wedding playlist. At around 11:00 p.m. I figured I would just spend "a few minutes" throwing some songs into a playlist. Next thing I knew, it was almost 3:00 a.m. and I had 2 different playlists.
During those 4 hours of insomnia, I created 2 playlists -- one with mellow tracks to set the mood either before the ceremony starts or during a cocktail hour (because whose wedding starts on time?). The second playlist (which turned out to be over 70 songs) consisted of "suggestions" for the DJ to play either during dinner or for when it's time to party. Eventually, I will separate this playlist into 2 playlists--one as background dinner music, and one for dancing/party music. Ya'll. I'll just warn you now. Musically, I'm trying to go where the average wedding reception doesn't go! When my eyes were finally heavy enough for me to try and fall asleep, I went to bed feeling satisfied that I had just created the ultimate wedding playlists. A freakin' masterpiece.
As you would expect, the delirium took it's toll on my sensibility.
When I woke up the next morning, I washed my hair and then excitedly put on my playlists so they could entertain me while I detangled and twisted my hair for the next 3 hours. I expected some nice seamless transitions. Something that made sense. Something you'd hear at a wedding (even at a wedding like mine). That, my friends, was not what I heard. No sir. I heard songs of heartbreak, lost love, and scandal. Sexy songs that would make my momma blush. Sure, they had some funky beats, but I can't say everything on there was "wedding appropriate."
It's tough when you have so many good songs you want to share with the world. You know this may be your only opportunity to dazzle them with your eclectic musical taste. But unfortunately, you can't share it all. I had to remind myself to "stick with the theme of the party" (that theme being a wedding).
So I went in and removed several songs from the playlists. Added others. Moved some from one playlist to another. The playlists are still a work in progress. But I'm feeling much better about the direction I'm going in musically.
I can't wait to find my DJ. It's mandatory that he or she "gets" me and my whacky taste. I have a guy in mind and I'll probably be reaching out to him within the next month or so. If things don't work out with him, I'm open for suggestions and referrals. Cool people only, please.
Of course this is only part 1...
ReplyDeleteMaybe for the last one you can share your wedding playlist, because in all honesty, it's gonna be BOMB - hopefully it wont be like the playlist we made for getting ready for the club lol