Creating A Wedding Cd: A Guide To Music Memories

A wedding CD can be a great way to commemorate your special day and share it with your guests. Whether you're creating a CD of wedding photos or a playlist of your favourite songs, it's a personal and unique memento that your guests can cherish long after the wedding is over. In this guide, we'll cover everything from choosing the right songs to creating and customising your CDs, as well as exploring modern alternatives like USB favours. So get ready to celebrate and preserve your big day in style!

Choosing songs

Choosing the songs for your wedding CD is a crucial task—it creates a soundtrack for every important moment, from the walk down the aisle to the first kiss and more. Here are some tips to help you select the perfect songs for your big day:

Prelude Music:

The prelude music plays an important role in setting the tone for your wedding as guests are entering and taking their seats. Choose romantic and upbeat tunes that will create a pleasant ambiance. Select about 5-10 songs, depending on the duration of your prelude (usually 20-30 minutes). Some popular choices include "Air on a G String" by Bach, "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley, and "Your Song" by Elton John.

Processional Songs:

The processional song is played while the wedding party, such as the bridesmaids and groomsmen, walk down the aisle. Choose a song that has a rhythm matching a natural walking pace, neither too fast nor too slow. Some popular choices include "Canon in D" by Pachelbel, "All of Me" by John Legend, and "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder.

Bride's Processional Song:

For the bride's grand entrance, select a song with a bit more drama and grandeur. You can go for something traditional or a sweet and lively tune, ensuring it matches the magnitude of the moment. Popular choices include "Bridal Chorus" by Richard Wagner, "Here, There, Everywhere" by The Beatles, and "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri.

Interlude Music:

Interlude music is optional but can be played during transitions or rituals within the ceremony. Choose ultra-romantic and emotional songs for this portion of the wedding. Some examples include "Ave Maria" by Schubert and "In My Life" by The Beatles.

Recessional Song:

The recessional song should be upbeat and joyful to celebrate the newlywed couple as they exit the ceremony venue. It can also be a little cheeky and humorous. Some popular choices include "Love on Top" by Beyonce, "Wedding March" by Mendelssohn, and "Marry You" by Bruno Mars.

Postlude Songs:

After the recessional, guests may linger, so it's a good idea to have a few more celebratory songs lined up. Choose songs with a similar vibe to your recessional. Examples include "Beautiful Day" by U2, "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles, and "Happy" by Pharrell Williams.

Remember, these are just suggestions, and you can personalise your wedding CD to match your unique style and preferences. Enjoy the process of curating your wedding soundtrack, and don't be afraid to seek help from your DJ or live musicians if you need guidance or want to ensure a seamless flow to your ceremony.

Syncing songs to your computer

Once you have chosen the songs you want to play at your wedding, you will need to sync them to your computer so that you can arrange them in the order that you want. The process will differ depending on the type of computer you own (Windows or Mac).

Syncing songs to a Windows computer

If you are using a Windows computer, you can use Windows Media Player to sync your songs. Here are the steps:

• Open Windows Media Player.
• Select the "Burn" tab in the Player Library, then select the "Burn options" button and choose "Audio CD" or "Data CD or DVD".
• Insert a blank disc into your CD or DVD burner. If your computer has multiple CD or DVD drives, select the one you want to use.
• Search for the items in your Player Library that you want to burn to the disc, then drag them to the list pane on the right side of the Player Library to create a burn list.
• When you are finished creating the list, select "Start burn".
• If you want to change the order of the songs, simply drag them up or down in the list.
• If you want to remove a song from the burn list, right-click on it and select "Remove from list". This will remove the song from the burn list but will not delete it from your computer.
• If your list has too many songs for one disc, you can burn the remaining songs to a second disc.

Syncing songs to a Mac computer

For Mac users, iTunes is a popular option for syncing songs to your computer. Here are the steps:

• Insert the CD into your computer, with the logo side facing up.
• Open iTunes. If you don't have iTunes installed, you will need to download and install it.
• Click on the "CD" button in the top-left corner of the iTunes window. This will take you to the CD's page.
• Click "Import CD" in the upper-right corner of the page. This will open a pop-up window.
• Select an audio format for the songs. By default, iTunes will save the songs as AAC files, but you can also choose MP3 or other formats.
• Select an audio quality if you want to import the files in a specific quality, such as "Higher Quality".
• Click "OK" to start importing the CD.
• Once the import is complete, go to your music library and open the imported CD's album.
• Right-click on one of the songs and select "Show in Finder" to open the folder location of the imported songs. From here, you can move, rename, copy, or edit the files as needed.

Burning your CD

Once you have chosen the songs you want to play at your wedding, you need to sync them to your computer so that you can arrange them in the order that you want. Depending on the type of computer you own (Windows or Mac), you can use different software to burn your CD. If you have a Windows computer, you can use Windows Media Player or Windows XP, which has built-in CD burning software. For Mac users, if you own a Mac OS 9, you can follow the instructions to burn your CD.

Regardless of the software you use, ensure that your computer has a recordable disc drive and use either CD-R or CD-RW discs. CD-R is ideal for the final CD as it cannot be overwritten, while CD-RW is suitable for testing and ensuring that your songs play seamlessly without skips, overlaps, or unwanted spaces between tracks.

After burning your CD, you can design and print labels for your discs. You can find free printable labels and templates online to customise and give your wedding CD a personal touch. This allows you to add your wedding theme, colours, and other creative elements to the CD design.

Additionally, consider purchasing favour cases to package your CDs. This adds a nice touch when presenting them to your wedding guests. You can find CD favour cases from vendors like BrossieBelle, which can also be used for DVD favours.

Using CD-R or CD-RW

To make a wedding CD using CD-R or CD-RW, you'll need to first gather your chosen songs on your computer. You can purchase songs from sites like iTunes or Zune, or purchase CDs that contain wedding music. Once you have your songs, you'll need to sync them to your computer and arrange them in the order you want.

When you're ready to burn your CD, you'll need to use a recordable disc drive in your computer. If you have a Windows computer, you can use Windows Media Player or Windows XP to burn your CD. For a Mac OS 9, you'll need to follow the specific instructions for burning a CD.

It's important to note that CD-R and CD-RW discs have some differences. CD-R discs are for a final product as they cannot be overwritten. On the other hand, CD-RW discs can be burned and then checked for any skips, overlaps, or unwanted spaces before finalising. However, CD-RW discs are slower and more expensive than CD-R discs. They also have less reflectivity, which may cause issues with some CD players.

Once you've burned your wedding CD, you can use blank printable CD labels to add a personal touch.

Creating CD labels

Choose Your Design Programme and Template:

You can use a variety of programmes to design your CD labels, such as Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF), Sure Thing, Print Shop, Label Matrix, or Open Office. Each programme has its own advantages and capabilities, so choose one that suits your needs and skill level.

Select Your Artwork and Graphics:

Decide on the artwork and graphics you want to include on your CD label. You can find free wedding-related artwork and graphics on sites like Wedding Clipart, Anne's Wedding Gifs & Backgrounds, CoolClips, and Original Country Clipart by Lisa. These sites typically offer line drawings and photographs that you can easily modify and adapt. If you're willing to pay a small fee, consider using stock photography sites like iStockphoto, which offer a wider variety of high-quality images.

Pick a Colour Scheme:

Use colours that match your wedding theme. If your wedding colours are purple and yellow, look for designs that incorporate those shades. You can also modify the colours in your chosen artwork using photo editing programmes.

Include Relevant Information:

Make sure to include important details on your CD label, such as the names of the couple, the date, and a brief description of the music included on the CD. This will help guests understand the context and purpose of the CD.

Use High-Quality Printing:

Once you're happy with your design, it's time to print your labels. Use high-quality printers and paper to ensure that your labels look professional and clear. You can find blank printable CD labels from companies like WorldLabel, which offers options for both laser and inkjet printers.

Finalise Your CDs:

After printing your labels, carefully apply them to your CDs, ensuring they are centred and smooth. You can use CD-R or CD-RW discs, depending on your specific needs. CD-R discs are suitable for a final product as they cannot be overwritten, while CD-RW discs are useful for testing and ensuring there are no skips or overlaps in your audio.

Creating wedding CD labels is a great way to personalise your celebration and give your guests a memorable keepsake. With careful planning, attention to detail, and a bit of creativity, you can design elegant and meaningful CD labels that will impress and delight your family and friends.

Frequently asked questions