GOLDEN WEDDING: WEDDING SONGS, MUSIC AND PROGRAM

It was awesome to be involved with an affair prepared by the children to put up a remarkable bash celebrating the 50th wedding anniversary of their parents. A golden wedding is a feat to reach and the best has to be offered for the celebrants.

The wedding songs and music selected by the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lucena speaks of their taste in music. The old standard songs and music still top the wedding music choice list and many longs for the forgotten songs of the past to be heard once again because their unique melodies are felt from the hearts. It is during a golden wedding where romantic music lingers in the air. You can feel what the song or music is telling you especially if wedding musicians come to play and musicians in the Philippines are passionate when it comes to the old classics. It is also the reason why Filipino music is one of the best in the world. Everybody loves music from the Philippines.

The wedding ceremony where the couple renewed their vows is a chapel near the middle of the vast Veteran Memorial Hospital where it sits. It is a small circular chapel ideal for an intimate number of people for a mass celebration and far from noise from the busy street nearby. It is cozy, too because it is an open kind of chapel where air passes through and lots of light making scenes photographic.

Before ceremony began, the Augustine Music performed touching wedding prelude music
that captivated the guests around with the solemn rendition of the light classical music which is familiar to many and after the prelude music provided by the wedding musicians, an old beautiful romantic song was rendered for the bridal march timely done even the center aisle is that short for the couple walked slowly to relish the special moment. There was the church choir to do the rest of the wedding songs and music and proceeded to the wedding reception venue where we will manage our instruments to be used as the guests arrived after the wedding ceremony.

It was nearly twelve noon when the guests arrived with reception music the moment guests arrived in droves and to cope up with the time, program started when almost all were in as suggested and let everybody come in from the photo booth section to start the first part of the wedding reception program.

I hosted the golden wedding program
and enjoyed the moment with the children with their husbands and wives who did fantastic tribute by singing very relating wedding songs for a golden wedding. Even the grandchildren spiced the bash with their special dance number with the music from the thriller of Michael Jackson. The wedding program was prepared by the children and followed the program flow as it was with some insertions were needed.

The wedding musicians enjoyed their time playing beautiful wedding songs and music which are easy to listen to and observed that the couple were very intent when one of their favorite songs were performed like “Stardust” and “Smile”. And even the guests kept humming as they heard those old familiar music played by the Augustine Music.

A golden wedding is best to be engaged with when it comes to intimacy with the wedding program and wedding music. These are two areas where hearts are called to effectively relish the importance of a celebration with such wonderful contributions. A wedding program host or emcee either makes or breaks the affair and wedding musicians’ share with that splendid list of wedding songs and music add glitter to the party.

Once again, I am so glad having given the opportunity to host and sing for a remarkable golden wedding and my very share is, at least made the wedding day as expected.

WEDDING EVENT DESTINATION DIARY - A GLIMPSE

A union of two people in love culminates by exchanging eternal vows through a sacrament called marriage with their guests as witnesses joining the solemn affair. A wedding is always a special event and the presence of relatives and friends fulfills the happiness of the married couple.

This was evident during an early afternoon wedding at Sanctuario de San Jose where for my observation was an organized one. The wedding started at exactly 2 pm and all guests as expected were around to witness the bridal march of Charisma choosing an original Pilipino song, “Ikaw Lamang.”

Special wedding music is an integral part of the ceremony and the couple were very exact with their choice. Yes, it was a part of their wedding checklist to regard important music integrated during the ceremony. The traditionally popular “Take and Receive” was chosen during the offertory and the widely-used communion song “Lead Me Lord” was sung.

Augustine Music Ensemble, dedicated wedding musicians of the Philippines added solemnity for the ceremony doing the best they could to maintain a certain blessedness as the proceeding went. When the ceremony culminated popular romantic music were performed as they had group pictorials that lasted around thirty minutes. The good thing with Sanctuario de San Jose is they let you take your time for pictorials when there is no other wedding to follow not like other churches who'll not let you extend time.

The reception venue is about 30 minutes to reach from the church. Glass Garden is becoming a famous Philippine wedding destination. They have two venues, the wedding reception of Willard and Charisma was set at the Emerald Hall that can house 250 to 300 guests. But the lesser guests, the better for more space but this reception had around 200 guests, more or less.

The wedding reception program started around 6:30 pm doing the most important parts of the program first before dinner. Well, the guests kept up with the time enjoying the first parts of the program prepared by the couple.

When they were introduced, they danced to their chosen music cascading downstairs to their seats at the presidential table. It was fun to watch their guests enjoying the moment. All of us felt the joy from the newly-married couple, enough to say that their wedding celebration was a hit.

The food was very good with three stations. One for the main buffet. Another for salad and desserts. A separate buffet of different pasta with eight sauces to choose from. It was really a big feast and everybody not only enjoyed the program devised by the couple but a superb dinner amidst the lush of the reception venue, subdued spectrum of lighting effects and world class physical set-up similar from foreign styles.

This event is a keepsake worth scribing about to say to ourselves, “We were a part of a wonderful wedding affair.”

EASY WEDDING PLANNING - AUGUSTINE MUSIC AND EVENTS

Now that the couple has arranged everything from scratch, a helping hand is called for and a coordinator is needed if a relative is not around to do the job professionally. It is best if a friend or someone else can offer assistance to curtail some expenses but remember that you can not demand if they do accept. Even if it is easier for them to do so, still the knitty-gritty of wedding details has to be attended and a professional coordinator is a solution.

Four coordinators is ideal
Two coordinators are assigned to where the couple are to pick necessary materials needed for the ceremony – flowers for the entourage particularly for the principal sponsors. The bridal bouquet is left for the bride for pictorial purposes. The rest of the entourage who are with the couple can have their needed flowers or bouquet. They are going to have pictorials, too and the best shots are having them at hand.
An hour and a half, the coordinators must be at the ceremonial ground or at the church to attend to the guests and the bridal entourage. Checking is done at the same time pinning buotonnieres for male entourage and handing the bouquet for the female entourage and the rest who don't have theirs yet.
At least an hour before the ceremony, offerings are set and remind those assigned for the offering. This is for a Catholic ceremony. They are grouped near the offertory table.
Fifteen minutes before the ceremony, the bridal entourage is assembled
Then, procession begins with a coordinator assisting with the march and one or two is assigned near the altar to assist members of the entourage for their seats.
Then, the parents of the bride walk until the middle aisle to wait for the bride ready to hand her to the groom waiting near the altar.
Ten minutes before the offertory, the ones to offer are lined up at the back.
When the ceremony is over coordinators assist for the sequence of the picture taking or do a roll call if nobody is assigned.
For the recessional march, entourage and some guests are gathered for some petal throwing and confetti to add gaiety.
Then, we gather everything left-off like the veil, cord, the bible, the unity candle, etc.

When the ceremony is over guests proceed to the reception area.Before the grand entrance of the couple, everybody has to be received. If there is a seat plan then it has to be implemented.

As guests are ushered in, music is played on either live if there are musicians or house music from the sound system.
When everybody is seated, the couple are briefed for their entrance.
Principal sponsors and parents are acknowledged then followed by the presentation of the entourage.
Then the Grand Entrance with all the flair needed like bubbles, smoke, confetti, flaming swords, etc.
The guests are assisted for the souvenir shots with the couple before proceeding to the buffet table.
During dinner, guest book is passed on
Middle part of the program, souvenirs are handed to some guests.
Assist the program host during the bouquet and garter games where single ladies and single guys are needed to participate.
Take care of the suppliers' fees, if designated.
Take care of the wrap-up job like food left has to be brought home by the couple, all paraphernalias are handed over.

These are the most needed details and following them will make a job well done. The reward of having to be in one place at the same time taking care of all the couple and guests' needs is a good feeling of having done something commendable.