Ceremony Music - The Recessional

Finally, my favorite part, the recessional! The recessional is the song played right after the bride and groom kiss and as they walk back down the aisle. This song should be celebratory and upbeat. According to the Knot guide, it "should reflect the giddiness of your just-marriedness and get guests revved up for the celebration to follow."

Some great, fun picks for the recessional:

Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever - The Four Tops
Happy Together - The Turtles
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder
Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher - Jackie Wilson
How Sweet it Is (To Be Loved by You) - Marvin Gaye or James Taylor

I think a top contender for us is That's Why by Jackie Wilson (posted above).

Up next, the first dance!

Ceremony Music - The Processional

The processional is played as the bridal party and then the bride walk down the aisle. The Knot guide suggests this music be "monumental and bold." I personally think it should be more sentimental and meaningful but still with a beat people can walk to. Mozart's Wedding March and Pachellbel's Canon in D are the obvious traditional choices.

Want something a little more contemporary? Try these:

Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
She's Got a Way - Billy Joel
I Will - Alison Krauss
All You Need is Love - The Beatles (ever seen the movie Love Actually?)
By Your Side - Sade
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
More Than Anyone - Gavin DeGraw
God Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts (I'm not a huge country fan but I actually kind of like this song, I like the duet with Carrie Underwood)

You can either choose to switch up the song for the bride's entrance/walk down the aisle or perhaps pick a dramatic point in the same song. We are thinking maybe God Only Knows by the Beach Boys for the bridal party and then You are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker for me, instrumental versions of both.

Are you going contemporary or traditional for your processional?

My imaginary Minneapolis wedding...

I spent most of my teen years in the Minneapolis suburb of Wayzata (which is probably best known for being the town where Brenda and Brandon of 90210 fame were supposed to be from). My parents and a few friends still live in the area and I figured I could save a buck or two so I briefly researched what my options would be in Minneapolis. I do love the idea of ceremony and/or ceremony + reception at:

Walker Art Museum - The Cargill Lounge

You can have up to 250 guests and the windows face the sculpture garden. I like that the clean white space would allow you to choose any color scheme. Rates are around $2,000 for a Saturday evening.

Chambers Hotel

I love the colorful modern art and furniture that is placed all over the lobby and in many of the rooms. They seem to have both indoor and outdoor space options which is nice, a rooftop lounge with a giant fire pit sounds fab to me! Rental fees are not listed online but you can contact them here.

Mill City Museum

This historical museum which sits next to the Mississippi river houses the ruins of one of the largest flour mills in the US! This is a truly unique site for a more unconventional couple.
To contact for more information and pricing click here.

Promontory Point

I love this location for a ceremony or ceremony plus reception. This historic building is located right on Lake Michigan just south of downtown Chicago and you can see a great view of the city from here. It is a little smaller so no huge parties and you do have to adhere to the Chicago Park District's somewhat strict guidelines. But perfect for that lakefront wedding with and indoor space in case of rain.