Last week we honored the late MCA with a list of Top Beastie Boys songs for your wedding. We love to do the unusual song list, but we also want to be helpful. So, this week we give you a list you’re pretty likely to use: the Top 10 Beatles’ songs for your wedding. Of course, because we still want to have fun we also give you ten Beatles’ songs you really, really shouldn’t use!

Top Ten Beatles’ Songs for Your Wedding

10. When I’m 64
9. Across the Universe
8. I Wanna Hold Your Hand
7. Here Comes the Sun
6. Things We Said Today
5. Love Me Do
4. Here, There and Everywhere
3. Got to Get You into My Life
2. All You need is Love
1. In My Life (which is always the best because it’s my wedding song, and this weekend is my 10th anniversary!)

Top 10 Worst Beatles’ Songs for Weddings

10. Why Don’t We Do It in the Road
9. Eleanor Rigby
8. I Am the Walrus(seriously, do you want to spend the whole reception analyzing it?)
7. Everybody’s Tryin to be My Baby
6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
5. Yesterday
4. Run for Your Life
3. Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey
2. Revolution #9
1. Helter Skelter

You know how you feel when you first get engaged but you decide not to tell your friends until you’ve had a chance to talk to your family? That’s how we’ve felt for months around here! We’ve been working on a fantastic partnership with an amazing resource, but we haven’t been able to tell anyone!

Today though, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re working with the premiere online source for wedding vendors and information, The Knot! We’ll be sharing some of our top wedding ceremony musicians with them. You’re obviously already familiar with GigMasters and our amazing wedding entertainers, but not everyone is so lucky. This special partnership with The Knot will help other couples and planners find out about our great resources.

The Knot will also be sharing some of their resources with us (and you)! We’re going to get some fabulous content from them to share with you, giving you all the latest info and ideas for your wedding planning.

For more info about this fun arrangement check out our press release.

Everything about Jessica and Max’s wedding at the Zlac Rowing Club in San Diego was cool. From the water to the cool jazz band Melly G and the Madmen to their photographer, Kevin from Cool Cake Photography. So sit back, relax and take in the cool vibe.

When you’re planning a wedding you need all the help you can get. That’s why every month we like to check in with one of our top astrologers, Suzan Hayden to see what’s in the stars for brides planning their wedding.

Aries Bride To Be
In May you’re still most active at work and in improving your health regime. It’s a great idea to start your marriage on a healthy and wealthy note. For the next few months you’ll be everso charming with everyone including neighbors and siblings. Around the 6th you’re obsessing on business/joint finances or sex.

Taurus Bride To Be
In the next few months you’ll be making more money in different ways and spending it on various wedding expenses. For most of the month you’ll appear more charming to others. Your energy continues to be put into socializing, talk about kids or investments. Around the 6th you’re obsessing on or intensely focused on your future hubby.

Gemini Bride To Be
For most of the month you’ll keep most of your thoughts to yourself or trusting your intuition more now. In the next few months you’ll seem to be attracting everyone around you. Don’t forget you’re committed already. LOL. You continue to be most active at home or with family or finding the right home for you and your future hubby. Around the 6th you’re obsessing on your health regime. Need to fit in that wedding dress.

Cancer Bride To Be
In the last 2 ½ months you’ve kept your feelings close to your vest. After the 20th you’ll be more open with your feelings. In the next few months you would prefer to spend time alone or with your future hubby. You want what you want now, but you’re watching how you says things so you don’t offend anyone.

Leo Bride To Be
In the next few months you’ll be out socializing with the public or with friends. You also will be pursuing your financial goals in order to pay for the wedding and start your marriage on a good footing. The way you’ve been spending money since November you need to pull in your spending spree. For most of May your mind is focused on career or status. In the past 2 ½ months you’ve been focused on various goals or chatting with friends. That will slow down after the 20th.

Virgo Bride To Be
For most of May your mind or conversations are focused on travels with loved ones or legal matters. In the next few months you’ll be thrilled about a promotion or raise at work. Keep in mind to balance your own wants with your future hubby’s wants. Around the 6th communications are essential to get everyone on the same page.

Libra Bride To Be
In the next few months you’ll be enjoying travels more or benefitting from legal matters or even feeling more spiritual. For most of May you’re obsessing on business/joint finances or sex. You continue to do things behind the scenes to avoid confrontations. In the past 2 ½ months you’ve been talking more about your beliefs or dealing with travel, education or legal matters.

Scorpio Bride To Be
For most of May you’ll be either having loving and romantic chats with your honey or being more charming to the general public. During May and the next few months you’ll be enjoying improvements in business/joint finances or a little sexual rendezvous with your honey. Around the 6th you’re most intense and passionate. You’ll be finishing up talks about ways to improve business/joint finances.

Sagittarius Bride To Be
Until early July you’re feeling quite romantic with your honey, so enjoy all the quiet times you can spend together or out in public with family and friends. For the middle of May you’re focused on working and improving your health regime. Around the 6th you’ll want quiet time with your honey.

Capricorn Bride To Be
In May and for the next few months you’ll be socializing more with coworkers, working out or working more to improve finances to pay for the wedding or start your future marriage on good financial footing. Around the 6th you’ll be around your loyal friends. This is the last month you’re focusing so intensely about ways to improve your health regime.

Aquarius Bride To Be
Enjoy socializing with your honey and friends for the next few months. You may even want to start investing now to start your marriage on the right foot. You continue to either be creative or confused about your finances, so focus on the reality of finances in your marriage. Around the 6th you’ll be focused on your career. Conversations will be mostly with family or talks about real estate.

Pisces Bride To Be
Enjoy love and support from family for the next few months. Socialize at home or put money into your future love nest with your future hubby. For most of the month it will seem like there’s nonstop communications coming and going. Keep track of details. Around the 6th you’re obsessed with travel plans or legal matters.

Ring photo courtesy of DeSignet International

It’s been a sad week for those of us who like to party. First we lost Adam Yauch (MCA) of the Beastie Boys, and then just yesterday the inspiration for generations of wild children, Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are. In honor of MCA, we’re happy to present the Top 5 Beastie Boys songs for your wedding reception. We’re not suggesting that these be your first dance or anything, but they’ll definitely get the party moving.

5. Shake Your Rump
4. Body Movin’
3. Make Some Noise
2. Intergalactic
1. (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)

Normally for our song lists we like to find 5 songs that would be inappropriate for your wedding as well, but you know, it seemed a little too easy with this topic!

We love parties, but sometimes we hear of a type of party that confuses us (Sip and See anyone?). It’s not that we’re against it, we just don’t know what it is! So when we heard about a Groom’s Roast we went to some experts to find out what it’s all about. Jeff from The Groom’s List was more than happy to fill us in.

Special to GigMasters from The Groom’s List

Do grooms need a “Groom’s Roast”? The simple answer is yes.  The Bridal Shower is an important event, and having an equivalent event, that’s right for guys, has been missing for far too long.  Although something resembling this type of event has come about in recent years: Man Shower, Guy Gathering, Groom Shower and Bro Bath, they are not quite complete.

Still, you may be asking yourself: Why would any guy need to have a “shower” type event when he already has a bachelor party?   Well, let’s first turn to the Urban Dictionary Definition of a Groom Roast for our answer.  Oh, and if you’ve seen a celebrity comedy roast, you may already know where were going with this.

“The Bachelor Party may not always be appropriate for younger guys or older relatives, so this is a great way for all the important men in the groom’s life to celebrate him by spending an afternoon together and having a little fun at his expense (public appropriate comedic insults, praise, outlandish true stories and uplifting tributes). The groom knows that it’s all in fun, and is able to be a good sport about it. The groom will be roasted by those who wish to do it, with some of the same treatment possibly coming their way too. It’s hosted by the groomsmen, who pick a theme the groom would like: sports, gaming, poker… and bring everyone together with food, drinks and some good laughs.” –Urban Dictionary

What Exactly Happens At A Groom Roast?
1.   You play some games.
Depending on the groom this could be: poker, various sports, a team building activity, Wii and/or groom trivia (every wrong answer means he has to drink… are something like that).

2.   You open gifts.
These should be practical gifts that are home improvement related.

3.   You roast the groom.
The roast is meant to poke fun at the groom with funny insults, one outlandish but true story and an uplifting tribute.  Jokes used in the roast must be suitable for all ages attending.  Groomsmen prepare a roast (others are optional).  Those that prepare a roast should remember that they may receive some of the same treatment in return. (Editor’s note: Sounds like a great chance to hire a professional comedian to serve as M.C. and keep things moving)

Who Plans The Groom Roast?

With the Bachelor Party falling on the shoulders of the Best Man, this one goes to the Groomsmen.  Typically a Groomsman is not called to do very much prior to the wedding, so this is the perfect event for them to host.  They can pool their dollars and share in the planning.

When Is The Groom Roast?
If possible, it will be the same afternoon the bride is having her bridal shower.  If that doesn’t work, it’s good to make it as close to that date as possible.

What Is Served At A Groom Roast?
This depends on the groom’s taste, but something from the grill usually does the trick.  Don’t want to break the bank or have it be too formal.  Something simple and easy is the best plan.

Where Does A Groom Roast Happen?
The event is held at the home of one of the groomsmen (roastmaster for the evening), or a third party location chosen by the groomsmen.

More than anything, this event is meant to get the older and younger guys in both families together, so they can get to know each other better.  Since some of important family members like dads, grandpas, younger cousins and bothers usually don’t go to the bachelor party, a Groom Roast is a great addition to help make them feel included, and at the same time have a little fun, at the groom’s expense!

To learn more about the Groom Roast and other wedding ideas, visit The Groom’s List. To hire a comedian for your roast, visit GigMasters.com.

We’ll admit it, we’re suckers for a dramatic wedding. What could be more dramatic than a Christmas-time wedding taking place on an actual stage? How about a wedding on a stage with a bride in pink, super hero boutonnieres and twinkling stars? Thanks to JoPhotos for sharing these amazing photos of Tori and Adam’s wedding at Knoxville’s historic Capitol Theatre.

Do you love thinking about wedding clothes and accessories? We’ve got a great opportunity for you to help shape the industry!  Our friends at the Wedding Industry Survey Network are taking a survey and your responses can help wedding professionals get a better idea of how to serve you and other engaged couples! Here’s the link to the survey. Go ahead, HAFBO (Help a Future Bride Out). http://twrsv.com/sv/bg/?brand=gms

Rock N’ Roll Bride
The most established of the alternative wedding blogs, British blogger Kat is home to tattooed brides around the world.

Typical Post:  A Theme Park Wedding: Shirley and Elijah

Offbeat Bride
Home to quirky and individualized weddings.

Typical Post: Shannon & Fran’s 1920s Era Vegan-Friendly Potluck Wedding

Austin Wedding Blog
Bridal blog from the city that defines offbeat for today’s 20 and 30 somethings!

Typical Post: DIY Vintage Music Boutonniere Posy

Hot Pink Brides
With an emphasis on “HOT” this blog goes places other wedding blogs don’t.

Typical Post: Ultra Sexy Engagement Shoot

The Anti-Bride
Created to support the “Anti-Bride” series of books published by chronicle, the blog itself is not regularly updated these days (the most recent post I found on May 2nd was from Valentine’s Day). But the archives are worth checking out for inspiration, especially the “real weddings.”

Usually we try to make our weekly wedding playlists focused on an upcoming event, but May has so many great sources of inspiration! We’ve already covered the Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo, and Mother’s Day - why not have a general list of great (and not so great) songs inspired by the month of May.

Top 5 Songs for a May Wedding

5. The Rose – Bette Midler
4. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
3. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
2. Spring Fever – Elvis Presley
1. Come What May – from Moulin Rouge

Worst 5 Songs for a May Wedding

5. Last Days of May – Blue Oyster Cult
4. First of May – Bee Gees
3. May Be – Enrique Iglesias
2. Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison
1. Maggie May – Rod Stewart

Photo credits: Pink and white cocktail party garden style wedding by Sasha Souza Events, photography by Damion Hamilton