Step by Step: Cut a Cake and Dance a Dance

Even though we were able to sneak in a see the ballroom before the reception, it was SO exciting to come back in to a room full of guests! It was so fun to be introduced as the new "Mr. and Mrs. Stiletto"!


Because we nixed our head table at the last minute in favor of having everyone sit a different round tables, I had a momentary freak out about where the wedding party would go once entering the ballroom. We were all sitting close to the door we'd enter through, so it would be a rather lackluster grand entrance if people went straight to their seats!

Mr. S had the best idea - everyone lined up behind the cake and waited for us to arrive. Genius!


Note to future brides: your wedding cake may seem very intimidating when you go to cut it. Have your wedding coordinator or someone from catering give you a quick lesson. Even with that, we struggled to get through this sucker. It was too pretty to cut!


Nope, no cake smashing for us! I don't think we would have regardless (I get majorly weirded out about having food on my face in public!), but with a fondant-covered cake, there's no messy frosting to smush.




We played the song "All I Want is You" by Barry Louis Polisar during the cake cutting. It was Mr. S's pick and I wasn't sure how well it would work for this, but it was PERFECT. We had the most fun cake cutting and thanks to Mrs. Taffy, you can check out the fun!



Straight from cake, it was time to dance! Mr. S and I have always liked the weddings where immediately on entering the reception, the bride and groom cut the cake and dance their first dance. Getting it all done off the bat let us get two of those "must do's" checked off the list right away.

We danced to "Right Red Ankle" by The Decemberists. After many song debates between the two of us on out here in the blogosphere, this was definitely the right choice. But, as sweet as it was, 3 1/2 minutes seemed like a lifetime! I struggle having all eyes on me, and I felt like we were SO front and center during the song.


So, while I enjoyed our first dance, I was relieved when the song ended and all eyes could be on someone else for a minute!


*Please note: All photos from Laurie Peacock Photography

Next Up - some toasts and more dancing!

Previously in our wedding recaps:
Step by Step: Girls Get Ready
Step by Step: Guys Get Ready
Step by Step: First Look
Step by Step: Gettin’ Ready to Walk
Step by Step: We Get Hitched
Step by Step: Strike a Pose in the Park
Step by Step: Urban Love in Oak Park
Step by Step: Lookin' Sharp - Reception Details

Read more...

A Musical Nutshell

Whew! The Stilettos finally have their act together - we've chosen all of our special songs for the day, from ceremony to reception. I have to say, it wasn't an easy task choosing some of these songs - Mr. S and I went back and forth quite a bit.

Bridal Party Entrance

"Just Like Heaven," Vitamin String Quartet



Processional (MY song!)

"Sound of Settling," Vitamin String Quartet

I couldn't find this pesky song on YouTube, so you'll just have to settle for a link to the Amazon page. Even though the original version of this song, by Deathcab for Cutie, doesn't exactly scream wedding, it's gorgeous. Once I heard it, I knew I couldn't have any other song!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Sound-Of-Settling/dp/B000S3LU3A

Lighting of the Unity Candle

"Alphabet City," Clare & the Reasons

I love me some Clare...



Recessional

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours," Stevie Wonder

We finally decided to do something more upbeat than what we were orginally going to do, and I'm SO glad. This is a celebration....we're finally getting marrrrrrriiiiied!!



Entrance to Reception

"Wouldn't It Be Nice," The Beach Boys



Cake Cutting

"All I Want Is You," Barry Louis Polisar

Mr. S chose this one...



First Dance

"Right Red Ankle," The Decemberists

Love it! Swoon.



Father/Daughter Dance

"The Way You Look Tonight," Frank Sinatra

I sent Daddy Stiletto a list of song ideas, and asked him to pick whatever he liked, whether or not it was on my list. He came back with this song. Can't go wrong with a classic!



So, there you have it - the Stiletto wedding day in a musical nutshell. I'm so glad that this is finally done, and I love the flow of the day! All of these songs express us and our musical tastes in one way or another.

Did you spend a lot of time selecting each and every song for your day?

Read more...

Exactly Like Heaven

Finding the right music has been a struggle, from the recessional to the first dance and beyond. We want the music to reflect our style and to be the right fit. However, I didn't want to spend a great amount of time and energy finding the song that the bridal party will walk down to.

In all of the weddings I've been to since I started planning my own, I cannot remember the song anyone has used for the bridal party entrance, whether they were traditional or more modern ceremonies. Absolutely nothing has stuck in my mind. So, rather than overthink this one, when Mr. S and I hit upon something that we both loved, it was chosen without a second thought.

I know many couples out there have gravitated toward the Vitamin String Quartet for their beautiful instrumental covers of popular songs. Their cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" is absolutely perfect. It's beautifully done and will be a perfect fit on the day. This decision is absolutely set!

Have you used Vitamin String Quartet in your ceremony music?

Read more...

We Together Make a Limb

Oh, the struggles of the first dance song. THE defining song, it seems. I was a little bummed after my last post about this that the lyrics of two of my favorites just didn't jive with the wedding day. It was difficult deciding if the lyrics mattered as much as how the song made Mr. S and I feel. In those instances, the lyrics seemed to have won out.

Don't worry, we have another contender! It's a song that Mr. S suggested a few months ago and I immediately said "It's a pretty song, but not for this." Needless to say, he was a bit upset at how quickly I shot it down. I feel bad that I didn't give it a chance, especially now that he played it for me again last week and I immediately wanted to use it. Hmm, what a difference a few months can make!

So, without further adieu, I give you "Red Right Ankle" by The Decemberists (remember?! I wanted to use a Decemberists song before, but the lyrics just weren' right).



I absolutely loooove his voice. I also love that this is just a straightforward love song with beautiful lyrics:

This is the story of your red right ankle
And how it came to meet your leg And how the muscle, bone, and sinews tangled
And how the skin was softly shed

And how it whispered “Oh, adhere to me
For we are bound by symmetry
And whatever differences our lives have been
We together make a limb.”
This is the story of your red right ankle.

Doesn't that just fit? "We together make a limb" - two different lives coming together?

Has it taken you awhile to get your first dance selection just right?

Read more...

Some Middle School Dancin'

Why, you ask, will the Stilettos be doing some middle school dancing? This Stiletto isn't so much of a dancer, sadly. It seems fitting, really, considering the scope of our relationship. Mr. S and I actually have a definite role reversal in many aspects of our relationship. He's a fanatical cleaner (seriously, I've never cleaned the bathroom since we've lived together), a great cook and always seems to know when we're running low on the essentials like toilet paper and handsoap. If it were left to me, we'd be running to the store in a panic as each of these items ran out. I'm a much more laid back member of the household, and tend to be the one leaving shoes out and not seeing the reason for making the bed in the morning (seriously, aren't we just going to mess it up again?!).

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes - dancing. The stereotype seems to be that women are usually better dancers and the guys struggle with no rhythm and generally avoid the dance floor. I, sadly, am the wallflower of our duo. Mr. S has natural confidence on the dance floor and is just so darn cute. In recent years I've finally started going out onto the dance floor, but I need a good dose of vodka tonic to really get me going. And, let's be honest, I probably look like a ridiculous fool...but I've had to make my peace with that.

So, for the first dance, I'm not anticipating any fancy twirls or big dips. I'm thinking more along the lines of my hands on his shoulders, his hands on my hips, and some awkward swaying back and forth. Did I also mention that I absolutely hate being the center of attention and the thought of my wedding day could easily bring on a cold, panicky sweat? So, when Mr. S and I are out there swaying to the music, I want it to be a great song that personal and emotional...and us, of course! I've finally narrowed it down to three "swaying" songs.

Song #1: Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillat "Lucky"



This is a song that wasn't particularly personal for us...I happened to hear it on the radio and just thought it would be perfect (and, I've also had a bit of a crush on Jason Mraz). I really love the line of "Lucky I'm in love with my best friend." Aww. Mr. S is completely my best friend. Hands down.

Song #2: The Decemberists "Crane Wife 3"



Sorry for the sub-par version of this - I always want to make sure whatever youtube video I post won't be taken down for any reason. Anyway, if you don't know this song, you should. It's beautiful and always makes me thing of Mr. S. However, it also makes me think of a couple of his friends, for whom he shot engagement pictures last year. He used this song for the slideshow he created, so I always associate it with that. But I love the song!

Song #3: Iron and Wine "Resurrection Fern"



Mr. S had suggested this song a little while back. I listened and immediately said no. I listened to it later while driving home from a wedding...and fell in love. It's gorgeous. But they're not the most wedding-ish lyrics, are they? I was looking online at the meaning of the song, and it definitely doesn't seem to be a love song. But does that really matter?

Ok...the moment of truth. Thoughts on #1, #2 or #3? I have my favorite of the three, what's yours?

Read more...

Daddy & Daughter

I've searched endlessly for a song that works well for the father/daughter dance. Like everything else, I want it to make sense, fit our day and not be incredibly cliche.

After scouring many message boards and doing a full-blown iTunes search for every song containing the word "daughter" in the title, I came across Loudon Wainwright's song entitled, what else, "Daughter."

Who is Loudon Wainwright, you ask? Well, I wasn't familiar with him either, but I'm certainly familiar with this tune, and I'm sure it will ring a bell for you if you've ever seen the movie Knocked Up, as the closing credits of the movie are set to this song.

While the song is a little more country that I, Mr. S and my dad might be, the lyrics are incredibly sweet. I especially like the following lines (I'm sure my dad will laugh when he hears them):

Everything she sees
she says she wants.
Everything she wants
I see she gets.

That's my daughter in the water
everything she owns I bought her
Everything she owns.

I wouldn't say I'm spoiled, but my dad has been incredibly generous with me, from paying for my college tuition to sending me to study abroad for a semester in London. And I hope he knows that I've appreciated all of the opportunities he's helped to make available to me!

So, the first question I have is whether or not in September people would automatically associate this song with Knocked Up, which hit theaters in in 2007. Secondly, how hard will it be to get my hands on a high quality version of this song? That's something I haven't yet investigated.

We'll see what happens, but I'm definitely pulled in by the sweetness of this song!

Read more...

Struttin' Up the Aisle...

By choosing music that we love for the wedding day, I like that idea that whenever I hear those certain songs, it will bring me back to the day. While I know that I've been trained over the course of the years to associate "The Wedding March" with weddings and maybe I should want that for walking down the aisle, it's not like I'm going to load it onto my iPod after the fact and listen to it when I'm feeling reminiscent.

So, of course, Mr. S and I are weighing out every single (non-traditional, of course!) music option for the wedding day. We've opted to not use the organ in our church and instead play whatever music will make us smile. But for whatever reason, the recessional is proving to be a struggle. How do you choose a song that is beautiful, meaningful and the right tempo for excitedly strutting up the aisle, and also includes church appropriate lyrics?

We've narrowed it down to I think two strong contenders, but they are so wildy different..

Option #1: Clare & the Reasons "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"


(Scroll through the opening segment...we'd start playing this right when Clare starts singing) Yes, this song may ring a bell. This is a beautiful cover of the 80s classic by Tears for Fears. Mr. S and I saw Clare & the Reasons in concert this winter and I just fell in love with Clare's sweet, melodious voice.

While the lyrics may not be completely wedding-ish, I love that our first step down the aisle would be to Clare crooning "Welcome to your life..." How appropriate? We'll just, err, not focus on some of the other lyrics that I think are about war. I just love how Clare's voice floats, I listen to this song constantly on my iPod and try and envision it on the day. In my mind, it fits and I get giddy when I listen.

Option #2: Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"


So on the other end of the spectrum, we have Jackie Wilson. Hmm, totally different tempo and feel. A much more upbeat way to celebrate up the aisle. Exciting, fun, dare I say "vintage." But is it very "us"? That I don't know. I'm not a big wave my hands in the air and celebrate type of gal, and I feel like this song would expect me to do so.

What's a girl to do? The Clare & the Reasons song has so much more meaning to me personally - partly because I just love the band and we saw them together, and partly because I've been listening to this non-stop for months after Mr. S and I put it on the list of possibilities (it was actually his idea - I hadn't even considered it). I also want to make sure we integrate our point of view and work in some indy bands where they'll fit.

Thoughts? Ideas? Does anyone have some unique recessionals that might fit the bill?

Read more...