General

Your wedding planning pulls you in many different directions,you never have enough time to get all the things crossed off your list and then there is the music.Over the past years we have had many couple ask us what we thought about using i Tunes. Well, If you're looking for the perfect music for your big day  you might consider using iTunes, the popular Apple website where you can listen to, purchase and download millions of songs. Even if you are technologically-challenged, iTunes is simple to use, does not require you to purchase an iPod and will make the imposing  task of choosing music a lot easier.Now with the into of i cloud it can be easire and faster. If you are going to go this direction,you don't want anything to go wrong. So here are some simple instructions...

1. Download iTunes

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     Go to the Apple Company website to find the iTunes download page. Click on "download" and you will be taken to a page that prompts you to download the latest version of iTunes. Choose either the PC or Mac download.

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     Make sure you have a good  broadband  internet  connection. If you are planning to burn music to compact discs make sure your computer is equipped with an appropriate drive.

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     Open the new iTunes program you have installed on your computer. When iTunes opens, you will see a blank list that will eventually contain any songs you decide to purchase. Click on "iTunes Store" to go to the iTunes Store online.

   Browse, Listen and Purchase (take your time)

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     Search the iTunes library by entering your search terms in the "search iTunes Store" text box. You can enter specific song titles, artist names or a subject like  wedding  songs". Once your search is entered, you will see a chart that lists songs, identifies the artist and the album, provides the length of the song and gives you the option of purchasing the song.

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     Listen to a brief audio clip from any song on the list by double-clicking on the song title. You can purchase any song at this point by clicking on "purchase" next to each title. Keep in mind that iTunes offers additional ways to search for more results.

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     Go to the album icons on your search page. Double-click on an album cover that interests you and a list of song titles from that particular album will appear. Again, you have the option of purchasing these songs. You can also click on the "See all" icon to see a list of all of the albums iTunes can provide based on the search terms you used.

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     Use one of iTunes' most creative features, the iMix, to find additional music choices. The iMix is a collection of songs, similar to an album, assembled by users of the web site. These creative song collections are often assembled by themes or categories. A search for wedding music will bring up a good selection of iMixes.

   Create a Wedding Playlist (call it what you like)

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     Return to your iTunes program, where you'll find that the songs you purchased have been downloaded. If this list is not displayed, click on "Purchased" to see the list of the songs you now have.

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     Click on the "File" menu of your iTunes page, and double-click on "New Playlist" to create your playlist of wedding songs. A new playlist will appear in a list on the left. If you click on the name, "New Playlist," you can type in your own name for the list, such as "My Wedding Songs".

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     Access your list of songs and click and drag each song title to your new playlist. Continue this until you have placed all the songs you want on your wedddiing    playlist.

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     Burn your playlist to a CD by clicking on "Burn CD". ITunes will display an icon to let you know that the songs are being burned to your CD. Once this is done, you can give the CD to your wedding musicians  or wedding planner or simply keep it for posterity in the future.

   • Also apple has an app to help you. Here it is http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wedding-row/id435083665?mt=8
     

This week  sunday I did a fun wedding for Clare & Thomas at the wonderful Ralston Hall Mansion.

Please enjoy the photos,let me know what you think . Check back back in a week or soo  to see more photos

Cheers Peter Bruce

This registered National Historic Landmark is a stunning Victorian mansion, completed in 1867 by William Chapman Ralston, founder of the Bank of California. Ralston purchased the land in 1864, and modified the original Italian villa with touches of Steamboat Gothic and Victorian details to create a lavish and opulent estate. The delicately etched glass panes of the front doors, and the windows dressed in striped awnings give you an indication of what you’ll see inside.

The interior reflects the charm of a bygone era, featuring a magnificent ballroom, delightful parlors, and a picturesque opera box gallery. Each room is decorated with beautiful antiques, stunning crystal chandeliers and colorful Oriental rugs. The ballroom is particularly appealing. Its patterned hardwood floor is encircled by mirrored walls, and three impressive chandeliers hang gracefully from the skylight. At the far end of the room is a large bay window, with a curving fabric-covered bench seat and regal matching draperies. Musicians can set up in an alcove without interfering with the grandeur and flow of the ballroom. The spacious dining rooms were decorated with an attention to detail that is unparalleled by today’s standards. Because of Ralston Hall’s size and layout, you can choose from a variety of setups utilizing the entire first floor or the expansive front lawn. This facility is one of the Peninsula’s few mansion locations and makes a terrific venue for a sophisticated and memorable wedding.

We were lucky enough to shoot Julia & Chances wedding at the  Marines’ Memorial Club  which is a hidden jewel in the heart of San Francisco’s Union Square. This Beaux-Arts beauty was built in 1926, and in 1946 was dedicated as a memorial to the Marines who lost their lives during World War II. Today, the landmark is a nonprofit club for veterans and their families and also a fine hotel and special event facility and this fun couple had there wonderful  wedding there.

We hope you enjoyed there photos. Please check back in a week or so to see all the photos.

Cheers Peter Bruce