What’s on your do not play list for your wedding reception?  Hopefully, your DJ has already given you a list of DO NOT PLAY songs or asked you to start one.  Your list should include songs you think are inappropriate, cheddar cheesy, or songs that you absolutely hate.  Here’s a short selection of songs to jump start your own list:

• Chicken Dance
• Macarena
• Baby Got Back
• Achy Breaky Heart
• Ice Ice Baby

First of all, I love this processional.  The wedding party has such personality and is full of life!  What’s even better is that the bride is from my alma mater - UC Irvine - ZOT ZOT!

This is a total show stopper!

1.  Keep it short and sweet - 30 seconds to 3 minutes.

2.  Keep it clean.  Stay away from stories involving partying, getting it on, or embarrassing moments.  No dirty or crude jokes.

3.  Speak from your heart.  Tell an endearing story of the couple’s courtship.  Avoid long winded stories about childhood.

4.  The couple’s personality, family, and ceremony set the tone.  Keep in mind how conservative and/or religious the couple and their families are.  If the ceremony and reception is very formal, leave the jokes at home.  When writing your toast, keep these three items in the back of your mind.

5.  Relax.  It can be nerve racking to be the center of attention and make a meaningful speech in a room of virtual strangers.  Stand up, speak in a clear, even tone, avoid "um(s)" and using the word "like" repeatedly, hold the microphone at your chin, annunciate your words, and make eye contact with different guests across the room and the happy couple.

Good luck!

Instead of something blue, be different, and try something GREEN.  Raise the eco-awareness of your guests by having a simple and elegantly GREEN wedding.

• For your favors, make a donation in your guests’ names to companies that invest in renewable energy.
• Choose a venue or location that practices green initiatives like recycling, water conservation, or solar panels.  www.greenhotels.com
• Use organically grown flowers
• Print your invitations on recycled paper with soy ink
• Ask your caterer to use local, organic foods and donate all leftovers to local shelters
• For decor, use natural, local elements that are free such as pinecones, seashells, and stones
• Replace regular candles with soy-based candles that are clean-burning
• In your engagement ring and wedding bands, use conflict free diamonds
• Register for energy efficient appliances and organic sheets

1. Will you be the photographer shooting our wedding?  If not, can we meet the person who will be?
2. Will you bring a second shooter?  Can we meet them as well?
3. How many times have you specifically worked as a wedding photographer?
4. Will we receive a CD of all the digital images?
5. Have you ever shot a wedding at our venue or location?
6. How would you describe your style?  Traditional or photojournalistic?
7. Do you shoot digitally or with film?
8. What kind of equipment will you bring with you?
9. How many pictures will you take?
10. Do you charge by the hour or offer packages of unlimited coverage of the entire day, including the pre-wedding preparations?
11. Are you familiar with our style of wedding?
12. What kind of input can we have on the direction of the shots?  Can we provide you with a shot list?

The basics of a wedding are all the same, no matter who the couple is.  Here’s a list of opportunities to put your personal mark on your wedding.

1.  Ask your caterer to prepare you or your finance’s favorite dish or your grandma’s holiday pie that’s a family tradition.

2.  Design a personal logo as an element of decor throughout your wedding - invitations, menu/place cards, lighting, favors, and cake toppers

3.  Instead of the tried and true wedding march, have your ceremony musicans play a song that’s special to the both of you.

4.  Design your own wine.  At the reception or cocktail hour, service wine that you’ve made yourselves.  Try Crushpad in San Francisco.  If you’re in an area without wineries, create your own wine lables.  Try www.bottleyourbrand.com

I had the pleasure of coordinating Tuyet and Danny’s wedding on Thanksgiving weekend this past year.  It was a multicultural Vietnamese/Chinese affair with a Catholic ceremony - East meets West.  The bride’s day started at 6am and ended after midnight..  The marathon wedding included a Vietnamese Ceremony, Tea Ceremony, Catholic Ceremony, and Wedding reception with over 250 people.

The bride and groom were rock stars the whole day.  The happy couple were bright and energetic for the entire 18 hours.  The bride looked amazing the whole day - her makeup was flawless and not a single hair was out of place.  FABULOUS!