Off-the-Beaten Track

At a wedding in Charleston, a bride and groom broke out with the dance routine performed by John Travolta and Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction. While Chuck Berry's You Never Can Tell doesn't have the typical romantic lyrics expected of a first dance song, it showcased the couple's zest for life (and the guests cheered wildly!).

Not everyone has the talent (or quite frankly the courage!) to pull this off, but you can still make your first dance as husband and wife memorable and unique. Spend some time with your iTunes playlist and select a song that you and your spouse will never tire of through the years (or for those 500 times you'll listen to it before the big day as you tirelessly practice your dance moves in your living room!). Don't be afraid to choose something off-the-beaten--ahem--track, or worry about how every lyric might apply to you. Though you may want to refrain from that heavy metal big hair band to avoid poor granny from running out with bleeding ears!

After their traditional first dance song, another couple chose Manu Chao's Bongo Bong as an opportunity for the wedding party to pull guests onto the dance floor. At first there was a bit of hesitation, but soon the dance floor was filled! A year later the couple was still being asked for copies of the song!

Below is a list of tunes to get your creative juices flowing, as well as some classic favorites.

20 "Uncommon" Tunes:

1. Dance Me To the End of Love - Madeline Peyroux

2. No Other Baby - Paul McCartney

3. Perfect Day - Lou Reed

4. Blue Eyes - Cary Brothers

5. Naive Melody - Talking Heads

6. Heaven - Talking Heads

7. Sea of Love - Cat Power

8. I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

9. All I Want Is You - Barry Louis Polisar

10. Knock Me A Kiss - Louis Jordan

11. I Walk The Line - Johnny Cash

12. Anyone Else But You - The Moldy Peaches

13. Sunrise - Norah Jones

14. You & Me Song - The Wannadies

15. All You Need Is Love - The Beatles

16. To Be Loved - Brian Setzer Orchestra

17. Them There Eyes - Peggy Lee

18. Courtin' Time - Prince

19. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers

20. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen

20 Classics:

1. She - Elvis Costello

2. Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley

3. She's Got A Way - Billy Joel

4. Come Away With Me - Norah Jones

5. A Love So Beautiful - Roy Orbison

6. What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

7.  Your Song - Elton John

8. Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

9. True Companion - Marc Cohn

10. Our Love Is Here To Stay - Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

11. The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra

12. When You Say Nothing At All - Ronan Keating

13. At Last - Etta James

14. I Swear - John Michael Montegomery

15. From This Moment On - Shania Twain

16. You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You - Dean Martin

17. Georgia - Ray Charles

18. Unforgettable - Nat King Cole

19. When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge

20. You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker

- Melissa L Hickman

A White Wedding?

Today's weddings have introduced a wide spectrum of colors, ideas and themes. Traditional white and ivory are being replaced with lavender, aqua, and lemon.

Many couples who dread choosing colors often opt for "safer" choices. Here are some tips on how to incorporate splashes of color into your dream wedding without it looking like a "Thomas CLOWN Affair"!

First, determine whether you want a formal, whimsical, classic or themed wedding. Next, jot down your favorite colors and share them with your fiance to get his feedback (after all, it is his day too!). Take the top two or three colors you most agree on and fit them into a palette. 

Make sure two of your colors are understated. Use the softer and deeper colors for wedding attire, using the bright tones in a sash, tie or flowers. The softer colors will provide an elegant backdrop and allow for the brighter color to have more punch.

You don't want your reception linens to blend (or compete!) with your wedding party, however, use the same concept for the linens and decor. If your bridesmaids are wearing pale yellow with magenta accents, your linens could be a darker lemon tone. Carry over the magenta accents into your floral arrangement, candles, wedding favors or menu card.

Don't forget to set the tone by incorporating your color scheme into your save-the-dates, invitations and other wedding stationery! A good stationer will know how to intermix these colors while still keeping an elegant look.

If you're still a bit nervous with colors, consider the color palettes on the left (click on the image to enlarge). If you're still unsure, consult with your wedding coordinator, rental company or florist for assistance.

- Melissa L Hickman

Avoiding Aunt Mildred's You-Know-What List!

Still sporting your golden tan from honeymooning in paradise, the last thing on your mind is wedding etiquette. But waiting to send a thank you note twelve months after "I do" could end you up on Aunt Mildred's you-know-what list.

Thank you notes should be written ASAP. For gifts and parties given before the wedding, it is expected to send a note within two weeks. Gifts received after the wedding are allotted a more generous time span, but should be sent no later than two months after the event.

Here are a few more pointers:

1. Thank you notes should be handwritten and sent in the mail. Save email, blog posts, e-cards and Facebook for casual correspondence.

2. Your thank you notes don't need to be long. Three or four sentences are plenty. Be sure to mention the gift and how you plan to use it, though avoid specifying dollar amounts unless you want Aunt Mildred spreading rumors about how tacky the new bride is. For financial gifts, explain how you plan to use the money. Do not mention if you plan to return the gift, or worse, stow it away in a dark closet!

3. Thank you cards should be personal. While it may be tempting, fill-in-the-blank templates, form letters, or generic pre-printed cards with your signature should be avoided. Even though you might save time, keep in mind that your gift-giver took the time to buy your gift, wrap it, and arrange for it to be delivered. It doesn't hurt to show the same courtesy.

4. Waiting for custom-made thank you cards with your photo shouldn't cause a delay. If you plan to have custom-made cards, plan ahead with your photographer and/or stationer.

- Melissa L Hickman

Finding the Fit: Choosing the Right Reception Venue

As highly regarded as the church, garden or hall, the reception venue is critical to the wedding’s success. When selecting a location, make sure it accommodates every guest and compliments your type of wedding. Guests will often drive to a separate site, but consider places within reasonable distances and avoid lengthy time gaps between the ceremony and reception.

The venue is also not only meant to cater to you and your guests, but should cater to your vendors as well. Planning a cocktail hour and a four-course meal? Select a site with ample room for caterers to set-up both. Looking to shake your groove thing? Pick a place with an oversized dance floor that provides spacing for your DJ’s speakers, turntables and the occasional strobe light.

Above all, integrate characteristics about your life, your partnership and your guests to find the ideal venue. If you are an outdoor, adventurous couple, opt for a garden reception or a lavish tent party. Reserved and simple? Choose a country club, restaurant or banquet hall for a romantic and intimate gathering. Into the arts and entertainment industry? Consider a museum or gallery for a modern reception. Having a reunion-style affair? Incorporate a place that holds personal significance (a familiar park, renovated warehouse, local watering hole, etc.).

Finally, remember when you’re so lucky to find the perfect place, don’t hesitate to secure it. The last thing you want to worry about is stumbling upon an equivalent venue if your dream site becomes completely booked before you make up your mind!