- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
Since FH and I are both musicians, we're actually recording a CD as a favor, since, much to my mother's dismay, I REFUSE to sing on my own wedding day (I have enough to worry about!).
I've heard of people doing it both ways or even a mixture of the two. It's up to you!
this was the easy breezy favor of 2006 for me. almost all of the weddings i attended gave away cd favors so now i have a great compilation of all kinds of different songs. some couples put music from their day. most just put together songs that the couple loved. whatever floats your boat!
our song is let it snow, I actually made fh a cd of let it snow in like 15 versions for christmas last year and we're copying that cd for our guests. I'm making pouch programs that hold the cd. it's a CHEAP thing to give if you watch the sales.
i work in the music business and my husband is a major recording artist and just wanted to remind you all that duplicating music, unless it's for the purchaser's personal use, is legally a no-no.... unless you obtain licenses from the music publishers.
We did a mix of songs from the wedding day and songs that were important to me and Mr. Radish. Someday I will get around to blogging about it.
Nashgirl - I don't think compliation CDs are hurting any recording artists. On most favor cds, there is only ONE song from a particular artist and, if anything, it might inspire people to go out and buy the CD of that artist if they like the song. It's basically the same idea as a mix tape. They are pretty harmless in the grand scheme of things.
My cousin gave out CDs at her wedding five years ago. I've been to more than 10 weddings since then and received numerous other favors, but hers is the only one I actually use. She had a mix of her and her husband's favorite songs.....some of them were not so wedding-y and left me wondering why anyone would put that in a wedding CD but they still added to the entire package and I loved it!
Oh I want to add: they used an online service that compiled the songs and printed their picture onto the CD. Since it's a legitimate business, I'm guessing that they paid the royalty for the songs?
Radish... it might not seem like giving away one song "hurts" the artist or the label or manager or any of the many other people whose income is dependent upon the sale of music, and you're right - it may introduce people to music they'd not have heard previously and they might become fans and they might buy the artists cd... but put it this way: giving away a song - even just one song! - is the same as taking a print of a painting from an artist, scanning and printing it yourself, and giving it away. Doesn't seem right does it? (if it were okay to give away one song per artist for free, I think itunes and other digital music providers would be set up a whole lot differently than they are...)
I think cds would make a wonderful favor! Especially if they contain the couple's favorite songs and wedding songs; I love all things personalized!
one note about cd favors, aside from the fact that they're time-consuming to reproduce on your own since technically, they're not legal and most companies won't do it for you: don't use sticky labels on the top. these labels will frequently peel off in (and break) cd players.
nashgirl,
Would you please point us in the right direction of online service that will compile your wedding CD "by the book"? I'm having a hard time finding a service that I believe is legitimate. Thanks!!
Sorry Nashgirl, but we are just going to have to agree to disagree on this one.
Wedding cd favors are not going to be the key to recording industry's undoing.
I'm with Mrs. Radish. I do have to say that the music that you share with others should DEFINITELY have been purchased by you, not downloaded illegally -- that's definitely not fair to the recording artists. But, as Mrs. R. points out, you're sharing something that the other person would in all likelihood not have bought in the first place. I know that we introduced a lot of people to "new" artists through our CD favors.
Nashgirl, I do understand where you're coming from, but look at it this way: I work for a publishing company...libraries buy our stuff all the time and loan it out to people FOR FREE. We never see another penny off those books, and I can tell you that books cost a LOT more to put out in the world than CDs do. People go to bookstores all the time and read books for free, or copy down info and never buy the book. If someone photocopies a recipe out of a book or emails it to someone, haven't they stolen the writer's content the same way you feel burning a track from a CD and giving it to a friend is stealing? If you copy a poem from a book and put it in your wedding program or on your favors, and give it to all your guests, isn't that the same thing too? I'm not saying it's right or wrong. As someone who works and am friends with people who put blood, sweat, tears and money into creative output, I absolutely think we have to recognize that effort and give credit where credit is due. However, I think we also have to recognize that the way we all share "information" (including creative content like music or art) is evolving.When somone borrows our book from the library, or copies something to give to a friend, we hope that the person also likes it enough to go get their own copy. Can we make a living that way? I do not know.
I'm not trying to be confrontational, I just think that our world is changing, and we all need to think about things differently, and adapt.
Sorry to be so off topic for so long, but to the topic at hand, Sweeney2Be: We chose to do 2 different compilations (each couple -- most guests were couples -- got a set, as did the few single guests), one was songs he chose for me b/c they explained his feelings, make him think of me, etc., and one was songs I chose in the same manner. Several were not traditional love or wedding songs, but they were very "us." Someone else mentioned the sticky labels -- yeah, those are bad! I've gotten CDs stuck in my car changer. We went with a company called CDROM2GO who did a beautiful job with our custom designs. I saved a lot of $$ by foregoing the fancier CD jackets and went with plain white cardboard sleeves that literally cost pennies. I embellished them w/ custom labels (stickons), vellum "belly band" and silk cord to keep them closed.
I'm really beginning to wish I never asked the question :-) Hahaha.
Just so everyone knows, I wasn't planning to copy them from home - I don't have that kind of time, I was planning to use a company online. I just assume that if they have a tax ID and a BBB account they must be a legitimate business - otherwise wouldn't they be shut down?
Weather I'm right or wrong isn't the point - we will all never agree - not possible, if we did the world would be a very different place.
Thanks for all the input!! It's been very helpful!
you can justify it however you want; the fact remains that it is still illegal... sure, the likelihood of getting caught is minimal at best, so it does come down to your personal morals. I'm also not saying that you burning 150 compilation cds without paying the appropriate licensing fees (which, for the record, would be an extremely low cost if you were to actually go about garnering the license) is going to make me homeless. I just wanted everyone to be aware that this very popular wedding favor actually is on the darker side of grey when it comes to the law.
oh, and also, i should mention that music copyright laws are different between Canada and the US - what I've mentioned above applies to the US.
I'm very sorry to have caused such an uproar. I'd be happy to leave your husband off my complation CD should I end up doing it if that would make you feel any better. Though it's not the point I know you're trying to make, I can't promise I won't do it and certianly don't want anothers beleifs pushed on me and to be made to feel guilty over a favor that so many others have been doing since the beginning of CD recording. All the wedding sites sell and promote them with lables and tins - even the Knot. Not one ever suggests or notes that should you want to do this there are legal hoops you should jump through. I am not the enemy and I really don't appreciate you trying to make me feel bad for not only asking, but suggesting this as a favor.
Also, if you'd like to provide the right information and maybe a place to find this licensing info I'd be more then happy to look into doing it the right way. I'm actually quite amazed as this has been your stand to "Do the right thing" you've not pointed anyone in the right direction to actually do it...
I'm certinaly not trying to "put you on the streets" - looking at your profile, as you are listed as being an exec at a recording studio and you said your husband was a major recording artist, I highly doubt this "downfall of the music industry as a whole" could happen in your lifetime or you childrens for that matter, leaving you homeless as you led us all to believe. This has become a little more dramatic then need be, because trust me if my wedding will leave anyone living on the stresst - it will be me for going a bit over budget...but certainly not you.
I appreciate your passionate about your business and I respect this, I do - but the legality of it isn't why I asked the question and I'm beginning to not want to ask questions anymore. More and more often I see them turning into debates instead of us respecting the question and answering it, or not answering if we've nothing of use to say. Offering helpful info is one thing and I appreciate that you stated your side of it, and planned to look into it, but forcing your beliefes on someone and making others feel bad is another thing. We all appreciate your input but continually making us all feel guilty isn't going to do anything but make less of us want to "do it the right way"
I'm sorry I started this.
i'm not trying to cause a problem and am certainly not trying to attack anyone here for the choices they're making. i'm just trying to point out something very valid that the average non-music related person is likely unaware of.
Hi Sweeney!
We did CD favors for our wedding. At first, we were a little hesitant to do them, since they are so popular, but then we thought about how much we listen to and love the CDs we have recieved as wedding favors and we decided to go for it!
It also was a really appropriate favor, because we always have given each other mix cds as gifts, and the songs have really become the soundtrack of our love story, as cheezy as that sounds. :)
We went with the best songs from our collections of mix CDs we have made of each other... a "best of" if you will. They all were love songs, and our guests have told us they really enjoyed the CDs. THe only song from our wedding day we included was our first dance song.
My brother-in-law and his wife also did CD favors and went with their all-time favorite songs, which were not necessarily romantic songs. They also included songs from their wedding day -- like the song they were introduced to.
We also really enjoyed laying out the artwork for our CDs -- we used Kurt Halsey drawings because he's our favorite artist. I think CDs are one of the more personal wedding favors that you can do.
Hiya!
I've made cd favors for a lot of my friends. It's always a hit! (haha). For my own wedding we've decided to ask all the married couples what their song was or their first dance song was. I found cd's that look like old 45's and I am going to put a couple of our important songs from the wedding on them, and then most of the guests first dance songs. (Would you believe that first dance songs were not always a big deal? Both my Parents and FI's parents didn't have one- and that was the 70's!) I will give a copy to the dj so the slow song sets played during the reception will be meaningful, and maybe a little bit of a surprise to the guests!
Let's hope mine are a hit as well!
Yes, any music you mass-produce and distribute (whether or not you are trying to reap a profit) is illegal. Any compilation cd's purchased off the knot, itunes, Amazon, etc. already have cleared any legal hurdles with the producing company.
If it has a copyright on it - music, poems, hymns, etc. - do it the right way. It may be a PITA but at least you're paying respect to the artist's work. No, wedding cd favors will not be the single demise to the recording industry. Yes, possibly one or two guests may purchase the full album when turned on to an artist in your compilation gift - but probably not.
That said, we never considered going with CD favors. We thought they would be a waste for the majority of our guests and instead went with locally made, organic chocolate truffles.
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
 vorpalette |
26 |
| ellisrobertson | 24 |
| caseyleigh10 | 23 |
| Brielle | 23 |
| les105 | 22 |
| lionskitty | 22 |
| fishbone | 22 |
| SouthernGirl | 21 |
| mypinkshoes | 21 |
| kat2014 | 19 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| 5thgradeteacher | 4 |
| julies1949 | 1 |
| Wonderstruck | 1 |
| MrsWilson2012 | 1 |
| randomequine |
1 |
| BetterSherm | 1 |
| fishbone | 1 |
| allegrovivo | 1 |
| Ms. 3D RC Flyer | 1 |
| Nurse_Bee | 1 |
Anyone used them - or planning to?
Did you put on all the music from the day, or just complie you're favorite songs?
Thanks!