Music creates atmosphere, and occasion. Use of the right music is one of the best ways to promote a happy and relaxed atmosphere, by careful expert selection of the right notes and beat. So to make your wedding reception go really well, why not use music to move the event along and help your guests enjoy themselves. The secret is to select the music very carefully and to ask you friends and relatives to help you make the choice.

While planning your wedding you may need to take advice and in many matters you will feel that you are not the best expert to do the planning. You will be right to let the experts decide on these matters and accept their decisions. Now, with music this is different, this is your wedding and you are the expert. Only you and your partner, know your family and friends well enough to choose the music, albeit usually with their help – so you are the best to make the final choice.

If you don’t know where to start the selection process, we suggest that you begin by thinking of music, songs or melodies which will bring back the memory of important events in your life. A chart song which was around when you first dated might have romantic memories, or you may have danced to a special tune. As you get into the thought process more and more musical favorites will come to mind. Sit and relax, listen to the music again, on your iPod , or music centre, and things will begin to fall into place.

However, before you make your final selection do be sure that the words are appropriate, listen carefully, and if necessary search the web and read up on the lyrics. Some wedding venues will also have some rules on the type of music which can be played and the volume which the music must not exceed, so be sure to read those as well and comply.

If you have decided to engage live musicians, then do be sure that the venue provides sufficient space. Also, if the party is to be serenaded during the meal, then make sure that the caterers know in advance so that an adequate space is made available for them to set down their musical instruments and set up to play.

If you like to continue to use the traditional ways in your wedding music plans, then the wedding march is always a great piece of music to use, and we know that the use of “Here comes the bride”, may have been excessive in the media recently, but you really cannot beat it for its associations with wonderful weddings of years past, and the way it creates a sense of occasion for so many of us.

However, one friend of mine still found the choice difficult. She was very nervous and did not have the confidence to select the music herself. Now if you experience the same problem it is possible to send a reply card along with the invitation card asking the guests to each write down their favorite tune on the reply card. Before the wedding, all that you have to do is just go through all these reply cards, and compile the list of all of the favorite songs, for the orchestra to play. This final idea is definitely a foolproof method of ensuring that your guests enjoy their favorite music.