New trend in DC area wedding market
 

I just flew home from attending a wedding in the DC area. The B&G set out a CD on each place setting for the dinner following the ceremony. The B&G claim that this wedding day CD is all the rage with weddings now in that area.

Here's the twist: the CD is a compilation of the couple's favorite songs with a photo of them on the jacket cover and the jacket liner containing the song titles and the couple's thoughts on why they included that song on 'their special CD'.

I couldn't believe it! I'm lifelong friends with the parents of the bride so I didn't say anything (actually, the swift kick in the shin from my wife when I whispered to her that the CD idea was illegit probably swayed me not to say anything).

Has anyone else seen this happening in your area?

A friend of mine (20 something marrying a 40 something) gave me a CD like this probably 5 years ago so it can't be all that new of a concept...

its old hat, and very tacky if you ask me... couples really shouldnt expect that their guests are THAT much into them to have the onus to play a cd from someones wedding which most likely has all those love songs most people cringe at.
On top of that, its a very ostentatious thing to do, and to offer it is not only illegal (unless your licesed for CD Duplication) but also a big waste of time and resources for the couple, due to the fact that it will prolly only be heard by about 2% of the guests... if that..

my 2c

Actually my friend gave it to me since I wasn't at the wedding. Heh, I just noticed it the other day.... still haven't listened to it ;-)

It maybe new to DC but in the greater Chi-town area they've been doing it for the last 4 or 5 years that I can be sure of and probably longer. Actually, I love it bcecause I get to build my music file for free ;-)

Theres always 1 or 2 left for the folks that didn't show up

Don

I looked over the one my wife opened at the dinner, but she 'accidently' left it on the table when we departed. I put mine in my coat pocket when we first sat down but I'll have to admit, I haven't opened the shrink wrap on mine yet.

I went to a wedding the other day and they had one. I though it was cheezy, but what ever the client wants huh.

had to wonder about the CD too. Co-worker came and asked if I would burn some CDs for his wedding. Great guy, so I agreed. He brought the master and FOUR HUNDRED, that's right, 400 blank CDs. Don't know if there were copyright issues or not, the music was all in Creole. Half way through he drops by a photo and asks that I create and print a label for each of the CDs.

I'm sure you can understand why the slogan in our office is: "No good deed goes unpunished."

I'm surprised they can find a duplication house that will do the disks without a written license from the copyright holders.

Hey Bruce,

I learned my lesson a long time ago, I no longer really do 'free' work, ok maybe a little, but 400cds?!. I'd charge him, probably too late now. But if you are stuck with it, atleast put your credits on the front of the disk, i.e. website, company name etc. IMO.

Mechanical copyright licenses are not hard to obtain, you can do it online with a credit card. Perhaps the couples that have them professionally duplicated and shrink wrapped are doing it the legal way. Maybe.

Composing the music yourself
 

My sister is going to create a cd for her wedding favors, however her and her future husband are both music majors and are going to compose the music themselves and also play the music themselves. That I think, is very neat.

Now that is neat. You ought to tell them that there are alot of videographers always looking for affordable promo demo music.

Jennifer,

That CD I would take the time to listen to because it really is from them. Great idea. Kinda like a videographer sending out video invitations. Maybe someone has already marketed that too.

CDs
 

As a DC videographer, I can confirm this happens more often than not. But... since I am not providing the CDs myself, I bite my tongue.