Since I originally wrote about music in October, I’ve been adding songs to an iTunes playlist as they come to mind or as I play them. Last weekend, Josh and I drove to my parents’ and back, and on our way home, we went through his (extensive) music collection and picked even more songs for the reception.

The only problem: We now have more than eight hours of music for a four-hour reception. Oops! And we haven’t even tackled our list of “artists we need more tracks by” (ABBA, Janet Jackson and Lenny Kravitz, just to name a few). Here’s our unedited list, by approximate genre. (Mr. R is the genre king and would certainly disapprove of these sweeping categorizations… ;)

Oldies through Early 90s
ABBA, Dancing Queen
Alison Krauss, When You Say Nothing At All
B52s, Love Shack
Bay City Rollers, I Only Want to Be With You
Beach Boys, God Only Knows
Beach Boys, Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Beach Boys, Kokomo
Beatles, Ob-la-di
Beatles, She Loves You
Billy Idol, White Wedding
Cranberries, Dreams
The Cure, Friday I’m in Love
Dead or Alive, You Spin Me ‘Round
Dramarama, Anything, Anything
Edwyn Collins, A Girl Like You
Gloria Estefan, 1-2-3
Hall & Oates, You Make My Dreams Come True
INXS, Need You Tonight
The Mamas & the Papas, California Dreamin’
Mike & the Mechanics, Par Avion
Phil Collins, You Can’t Hurry Love
Phil Collins, Two Hearts
Phil Collins, A Groovy Kind Of Love
Police, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Sade, Smooth Operator
Sade, No Ordinary Love
Spandau Ballet, True
Thompson Twins, Hold Me Now

Singer-songwriters, Piano Rock, etc.
Air, Cherry Blossom Girl
The Autumn Film, Can This Be
Chairlift, Bruises
Chantal Kreviazuk, Feels Like Home
Duffy, Mercy
Duffy, Oh Boy
Eastmountainsouth, So Are You to Me
Feist, 1234
A Fine Frenzy, You Picked Me
Flunk, On My Balcony
Frou Frou, It’s Good To Be In Love
Goo Goo Dolls, Slide
Goo Goo Dolls, Iris
Greg Laswell, I’d Be Lying
Ingrid Michaelson, Giving Up
Ingrid Michaelson, Way I Am
Jon McLaughlin, So Close
Kent, Quiet Heart
KT Tunstall, Universe & U
Michelle Featherstone, We Are Man and Wife
Missy Higgins, Warm Whispers
Sara Bareilles, One Sweet Love
Sarah McLachlan, Ice Cream
Shivaree, All Because You Told Me So

Jazz
Diana Krall, Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You
Diana Krall, I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Duo Mecanico, Love Luxury
Ella Fitzgerald, Ain’t Misbehavin’
Ella Fitzgerald, Isn’t It Romantic
Ella Fitzgerald, Sentimental Reasons
Etta James, At Last
Nat King Cole, When I Fall In Love
Nat King Cole, You’ll Never Know
Norah Jones, Come Away With Me
Norah Jones, The Nearness of You
Renee Olstead, Taking a Chance on Love
Renee Olstead, A Love That Will Last
Renee Olstead, Sunday Kind of Love
Tony Bennett, The Very Thought of You
Tony Bennett, Alright, Okay, You Win

Pop
Barenaked Ladies, Light Up My Room
Britney Spears, (You Drive Me) Crazy
The Cardigans, Been It
Christina Aguilera, Candyman
Colbie Caillat, Magic
The Darkness, I Believe in a Thing Called Love
Edwin McCain, I’ll Be
Gwen Stefani, Wind It Up
Gwen Stefani, The Sweet Escape
Lady Gaga, Just Dance
Letters to Cleo, I Want You To Want Me
Madonna, Cherish
Madonna, Express Yourself
Madonna, Holiday
Natasha Bedingfield, These Words
Pussycat Dolls, Wait a Minute
Ryan Cabrera, True
Shakira, Whenever, Wherever
Smash Mouth, Then the Morning Comes
Sugar Ray, Someday
Tal Bachman, She’s So High
Third Eye Blind, Never Let You Go
Vanessa Williams, Save the Best for Last

Hip-hop & R&B
Alicia Keys, No One
Alicia Keys, If I Ain’t Got You
Aretha Franklin, Natural Woman
Ashanti, Happy
Beyoncé, Crazy in Love
Black Eyed Peas, Don’t Phunk With My Heart
Cassie, Me & U
Ciara, 1, 2 Step
Common, Light
Fergie, Clumsy
Kanye West, Flashing Lights
Rihanna, Pon De Replay
Outkast, Hey Ya!
Timbaland, The Way I Are
TLC, Diggin’ On You

Rock, Alternative, etc.
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Around the Bend
Blaqk Audio, Semiotic Love
Blue October, Into the Ocean
Coldplay, The Scientist
Dave Matthews Band, The Space Between
Dave Matthews Band, Angel
Dave Matthews Band, American Baby
Death Cab for Cutie, I Will Follow You Into the Dark
Fall Out Boy, Dance, Dance
The Fray, You Found Me
The Fray, Look After You
Gnarls Barkley, Crazy
Gorillaz, Feel Good Inc.
Hard-Fi, Gotta Reason
Jimmy Eat World, A Praise Chorus
The Killers, Read My Mind
Maroon 5, Sunday Morning
Oasis, Wonderwall
The Postal Service, Such Great Heights
Robin S, Show Me Love
Shiny Toy Guns, I Owe You a Love Song
Smashing Pumpkins, Beautiful
Smashing Pumpkins, Perfect
Smashing Pumpkins, Tonight, Tonight
Smashing Pumpkins, Today
Tegan & Sara, Take Me Anywhere
U2, Sweetest Thing
The White Stripes, Fell in Love With a Girl
Yellowcard, Dear Bobbie

Soundtracks
Grease, The One That I Want
Moulin Rouge, Your Song
Moulin Rouge, Come What May
Once, Falling Slowly

I’ve had a deep relationship with music since I was very young. My mom can tell you about how I used to serenade everyone from a microphone in our living room. (The fact that they supported me is a real testament to their love, I’m sure.) So, needless to say, music is extremely important to me.

I knew one thing for sure: I didn’t want a DJ. It’s probably a control freak thing (I admit it), but even with “play this” and “don’t even think about playing this” lists, I wasn’t too hot on the idea. The ballroom has a brand new A/V system, so hiring a DJ also seemed like an avoidable expense — and I’m always on the lookout for those.

Although I really wanted live music for the wedding and reception, I quickly realized that there was no way we could afford it. Even a jazz trio would’ve blown our budget; three (members) times four (hours) times virtually any amount equals no flowers, no linens, and possibly no tables.

Thankfully, I found La Musica Bella, a piano and violin duo out of Portland. I found rave reviews online, and their rates were extremely reasonable, so I booked them right away. They can play for both the ceremony and reception, but the current plan is to have live music for the ceremony and use an iPod for the reception. The only songs I’ve settled on for the ceremony are Vivaldi’s Winter Largo (parents’ and bridesmaids’ processional) and Pachelbel’s Canon in D (bride’s processional). They’re both very traditional selections, but I love them and they really fit with the elegant, romantic, classic mood I’m striving for.

My best friend from high school is singing during the ceremony, but we haven’t made a selection yet. She has fantastic jazz and country talent, and she could quite honestly sing anything we gave her and do it brilliantly. I like the idea of putting a jazz twist on When You Say Nothing At All by Alison Krauss.

It’s amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word, you can light up the dark
Try as I may I can never explain
What I hear when you don’t say a thing

I was also considering If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys, but I know Josh will veto that on principle. (Not a big Alicia fan, to say the least.)

Choosing the recessional and reception songs is a much bigger challenge. Helpful lists from the Bride’s Guide and Classic Bride will prove indispensible, I’m sure, as will my old officemate’s wedding mix. But I think my problem is going to be editing the playlist down, not adding to it. At four minutes a song, we only need 60 — 75 if we pad it by 25%.

The first hour or so, Josh and I (and our wedding party and family) will be taking photos, since we aren’t planning to see each other before the ceremony. During that time, our guests will (hopefully) be distracted by food and wine. I definitely want a jazz mix for that time, and I might make things easy for myself (for once!) and go with a classic: Nat King Cole Love Songs.

Then comes dance time, which has to be the perfect blend of romantic and fun, slow and silly, old and new. The key here is finding the right transitions. You can’t just jump from YMCA into Etta James… or can you?

We’re also going to get our guests involved in picking the reception songs — but the exact details are under wraps, at least for now.

Any must-have songs that might slip through the cracks? Let me know!

I’ve been sitting with my summer 2008 Martha Stewart Weddings for a couple of weeks, and there really are some fabulous finds in there. I must admit I was slightly irritated that one article is talking about being a bride on a budget (aside: anyone else notice the expanded DIY section?) and a few pages later, they’re talking about giving iPods as attendant gifts. (I love my girls, but how does $1,500 for gifts fit into a smaller budget?) But once I got past that, I found some fun music suggestions and downloadable templates. Oh, and the cuff links… Definitely one of the highlights, great variety.

What a brilliant idea: Having a space on the RSVP card for people to make a song request for the reception. Fantastic for those of us who are iPod-ing it.

It certainly isn’t original or innovative, or even particularly creative, but I’ve tentatively selected my song for walking down the isle: the timelessly-lovely Pachelbel’s canon. This selection has been made without consultation with the groom and the mother of the bride and is subject to change without notice.