…reception-part four: the music…

Hope you're in for some reading!

Because we're still awaiting pictures from our photographer, the lovely (and affordable!) Will Knowles, I figured we'd just pick up where we left off…

Our plans for music at the reception had me very excited very early on in our planning process. If I had to pick, I'd say the thing I loved most about our wedding is that it was so "us". Through and through, every detail we incorporated told the story of DG and me. Some of those personal details were obvious to everyone. Some were known only to the two of us, like they were just our little secret….which I loved. Our set list was no exception.

When DG and I gave up on finding any affordable outdoor reception venue in Nashville, our vision became this fusion of the chic party I had always hoped for and a more relaxed family picnic sort of atmosphere. (We magically pulled this off beautifully and I can't wait to show you!) So anyway, part of the picture I'd always had in my mind (long before DG was involved in any of this) was this amazing live band. Luckily, as involved as DG and I were in the musical endeavors of our Alma Matter, many of our friends are insanely talented musicians. I'd played/sung with many of them during my time in school. DG often traveled with them. They are all amazing and close friends, so we naturally started asking for favors and put together a band of guys and gals who could rival ANY professional wedding band you might possibly hope to find. We organized it all and held rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the wedding, and I could barely contain my excitement of the quality of these people. Seriously, I cannot say enough good things about these guys.

We also had a little something up our sleeves regarding the selection of said music. Back in the day, when DG and I had first officially started dating, we were 450-some miles apart from each other, thus we had to get creative about the ways we connected. In his brilliance, DG decided to concentrate on one medium in particular. Knowing that, as a musician and songwriter, music is a very big part of my life and even of who I am, he chose to send me a song via email for (most) every day that we were apart. Here's how the first in a long series of emails went…


So I thought I would be clever and try and get into a habit of sending you an email, potentially every day that would share something with you. It may be deep and meaningful, or it may be completely ridiculous. The format is still up for grabs, so if you have any commentary you would like to pass on, feel free to do so.I thought I would send you a song every day. I know how much music plays a part in your life and how musically gifted you are. Me, on the other hand, not so much, but I do have an affinity for music, and in order to help grow this relationship (and broaden your horizons), I am going to send you a song every day. I think you can communicate so much through music. It is a medium that has so much untapped potential. You are so incredibly talented, and I am so blessed to have you in my life that I want to find a way to share in that experience. Well that, and you need to have a little bit of an education when it comes to things like classic rock.

He went on to detail a VH1-special kind of background on the song for that day, which became his go-to format. I loved it. For the first four months of our relationship, the best part of my day was sitting down to read those emails. Of course, in true DG-fashion, there was a theme for each day of the week, and each email contained a collection of his thoughts about that song and what he wanted it to say to me, along with the useless, cleverly-written trivia about the artist and the recording. (I know. People wish they were me.)
When it came to developing the set list for our reception, using DG's list of songs was the obvious choice. So we picked out the most meaningful of those songs and found sheet music for them all. Someday soon, we should have the live recording of the reception, which I think will be a really cool keepsake, but I thought I'd at least share what they played. Enjoy!

First Dance: Only You Can Love Me This Way – Keith Urban
I guess this song is the one exception to the rule. DG had heard it when the record first came out and played it for me. He'd already determined he wanted our first dance to be to this song. It definitely articulates how we feel about each other. It wasn't long after that conversation that he had cued this song to play when we got into the car for the drive from the restaurant back to my parents house the night he proposed to me.

I Don't Need No Doctor—as covered by John Mayer (originally recorded by Ray Charles)
Here's what DG had to say about this song on February 13, 2009:
Throughout the years, seven other bands have covered this song before JM got to it and laid his blend of funk and soul on it. It has some pretty sweet guitar licks on it and has some really good lyrics that explain just how I feel right now. I cannot wait to see you in a week! There is something about seeing you that keeps me going, even in these times when I am so busy and so tired. So, without hesitation, the 1966 hit “I Don’t Need No Doctor,” as covered by the man himself.

For Once in My Life—Stevie Wonder
Here's what DG had to say about this song on January 31, 2009:
The artist, someone you and I have had the privilege of seeing in concert, Mr. Stevie Wonder. The song, the 1968 hit "For once in my life." I hope you truly can grasp just how much you mean to me in my life.

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic—The Police
Here's what DG had to say about this song on February 7, 2009:
The group is "The Police," the song is "Every little thing she does is magic," off of their fourth album "Ghost in the machine," released in 1981. The lyrics are really great, and when I was thinking of what I was trying to say today, this just fit.

To Be With You—Mr. Big
Here's what DG had to say about this song on February 23, 2009:
So the premise of the song is basically one that I thought for a long time. Perhaps it was before your situation changed and you came back around. Perhaps it was when our friendship was flourishing while you may have been in another relationship. There would be many nights when I would leave you and this song would come into my head. Off the 1992 album "Lean Into It," from the 90's hard rock band Mr. Big, comes today's chart topping single, "To Be With You." The lyrics are catchy, and pretty much sums up how I felt then, and the things I am glad for now. "I'm the one who wants to be with you, deep inside I hope you feel it too."

Better Together—Jack Johnson
Here's what DG had to say about this song on February 6, 2009:
There is nothing greater than beginning and ending my day with you. It just seems right that you are the first voice I hear in the morning and the last one I hear at night. It really is special. I love that this medium helps to bring us closer together. It is a really special part of my day when I get to sit down and write this to you. Here is to putting another day behind us and getting closer to another day when we can be together.

Can't Stop This Thing We Started—Bryan Adams
Here's what DG had to say about this song on March 9, 2009:
I am so excited that I get to see you tomorrow. I cannot imagine if we would have had to wait all of this time to see each other since we were last together in Springfield. I am not sure if I would have made it or not. Being around all of this wedding stuff over the past few weeks just makes me excited for our future together. Off of the 1991 release "Waking up the Neighbours" from Canadian born Bryan Adams comes today's selection, "Can't Stop this thing We Started." The lyrics are pretty catchy and who could really argue with Bryan Adams? After all, he did release "Summer of 69."

Higher Love—Steve Winwood featuring Chaka Kahn
Here's what DG had to say about this song on February 26, 2009:
This song won two Grammy Awards, for Record of the Year and Male Vocal Performance of the Year. An interesting side note, the female vocals on today's track were done by none other than Chaka Khan. Off of the 1986 album "Back in the High Life," by Steve Winwood, comes today's selection, "Higher Love." I hope you like this one, he is really goo,d and this is one of my personal favorites from the mid-80's. Please know that every day I fall more and more in love with you. Each new day brings a new challenge, another obstacle to overcome. Today, the distance between us seems almost impossible to overcome, but love can overcome that, even to the farthest ends of the earth. From the heart of Nashville comes my love to you. Hurry back soon. It won't be but a few more days until we will be together again, and I can wrap my arms around you.

Hey Leonardo—Blessid Union of Souls
This was the song that accompanied that first email above on January 26, 2009.

Somebody Like You—Keith Urban
Here's what DG had to say about this song on January 27, 2009:
Each day that passes by makes me more and more grateful that you are in my life. You understand me, where I am at, and what I am going through. I love the fact that I can be completely honest with you and you still accept me despite all of my insecurities and shortcomings.  I have had the privilege of working with this artist on several occasions and am looking forward to his fifth studio album coming out in March. For your listening pleasure…Off the 2002 album titled "Golden Road", Keith Urban, "Somebody Like You."

Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop—Landon Pigg
Here's what DG had to say about this song on May 20, 2009:
Today's song originally appeared in a commercial for "a diamond is forever" before being featured in the AT&T spots. This young man is a singer, songwriter from Nashville, TN. Tonight's song is one titled "Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop." It is the one that you have become quite familiar with in that jingle. The funny thing about this song is that it really speaks volumes about our relationship. It was in that coffee shop that I fell in love with you for the first time. I knew then and there that we would be together. I wanted so badly in November to tell you how I felt. I wanted to confess my feelings and let you know, but the timing was not right. So here we are now, together at last. I will always have memories of that coffee shop, and every time we have coffee together, it is a reminder of the love that we share. I cannot wait until you are mine forever. I love you! More and more every day, even when you are tired and cranky, and we are procrastinating finishing getting ready to move your stuff in. Come downstairs, I am making coffee!

Last Dance: I Could Not Ask For More—Edwin McCain
Here's what DG had to say about this song on February 13, 2009:
The music, on a Friday. I won't lie, I completely ran across this song by accident. But you know how I am, and since I am clairvoyant, I figured that it was merely fate or destiny or some other force outside of my control that brought me to this particular song. I love this song. From the 1999 album "Messenger" comes today's song by Edwin McCain, titled "I Could Not Ask For More." It pretty much sums up everything that I could ever say about you in a very neat and nicely packaged 4 minutes 36 seconds. I know you of all people can appreciate the lyrics to this song. I love you! Happy Valentine's Day, just a little early!

Don't you just love him??? I know I do.