Don't forget to pick a song for all planned events, including the introductions and cake cutting. These are areas to have tons of fun with. Clay's college mascot is the Tigers, hence our bridal party introduction song, "Eye of the Tiger." Our bridal party had so much fun pumping it out Rocky style as they were introduced at our reception. We walked into the Batman theme song, because both of us love superhero movies and Clay called himself Batman for the majority of his childhood. Our cake cutting song came from my favorite Disney movie, Sleeping Beauty. On our first dating anniversary, Clay sent me a bouquet of flowers with a note that read "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream." Our cake topper was also an antique Aurora and Prince Phillip salt and pepper shaker Clay gave me for my birthday one year. All these small details in our music selection made the day so unique and memorable for both of us.
Here is our complete planned event song list:
Planned Events Song List:
Introduction of Bridal Party
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Eye of the Tiger- Survivor
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Introduction of Bride and Groom
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Batman Theme Song (Animated)
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First Dance
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Everything- Michael Buble
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Father/ Daughter Dance
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Rainbow Connection- Muppet Movie
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Mother/ Son Dance
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Love You Like a Rock- Paul Simon
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Cake Cutting
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Once Upon a Dream- Sleeping Beauty
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Bouquet Toss
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All the Single Ladies- Beyonce
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Garter Toss (Removal & Toss)
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Sharp Dressed Man- ZZ Top
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Anniversary Dance
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Stuck with You- Huey Lewis and the News
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Last Dance
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History in the Making- Darius Rucker
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Make sure you talk to your DJ about all your planned events. Our DJ had never done an anniversary dance before, so needed a quick breakdown from our wedding coordinator right before the reception started. Unfortunately in my final meeting with him, I assumed he knew what an Anniversary Dance was and failed to go into detail about it. Other planned dances could be a money dance, different song for the removal and tossing of the garter, and a dance where the bride dances with the grooms father and the groom dances with the brides mom. Talk to your parents and your fiances about dances they had at their wedding or traditions in your family.
In addition to the music you want played at specific times during your reception, make sure you also provide your DJ with a playlist for dinner and dancing times. Do not give them a complete list equaling the length of time as long as your reception. Instead give them suggestions of songs to play and general genres to cover. You should also include any music or type of music you do not want played. Unfortunately, this is one area I was not firm with our DJ about, and songs on our do not playlist were played due to guest requests.
Tip to all brides out there:
This is your day, not your guests. Even though you want them to have a good time, if you don't want certain music played, make sure you are specific with your DJ about this. You are paying him, not your guests.
If you want to allow them to play more modern music, that may offend grandma, give them a specific time during your reception to play this music. It should not be played during the first part of the reception while grandma is still present and wanting to dance. Wait til she's tired or gone in for the night to let your DJ be open to all guest requests. If you're having an afternoon reception, grandma and the other old folks probably are not planning on leaving before you do, so don't let the DJ have at it if you feel like that type of music will be offensive to them (or the younger kids at your wedding).
If you don't want specific music played any time during your reception, make sure your DJ is aware that this is a hard line for you. Have them tell your guests who request it, that the bride and groom have requested that that type of music not be played.
For our wedding, Clay and I wanted everyone to have an awesome time and be out on the dance floor. We provided the following list for our DJ to follow. Like I said above, we had a few issues with our DJ honoring our guest requests before our own. Aside from a few songs on our list, we requested nothing modern, specifically no rap due to the time of our reception and guests we knew would be offended. We still had an amazing time, but in my opinion "I'm too sexy" is never an appropriate song to play at a wedding.
Here is our dancing playlist for all those interested. In addition to the list, we asked our DJ to only play music from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. We had a few pretty spectacular 90s throwbacks, where everyone was belting Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, and N*Sync. I mean "Everybody."
For dinner, we had the DJ play Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr, etc. We also included a few typical 'lovely dubey' wedding songs here.
Here is our dinner playlist, which was also used to cover guest arrival and cocktail hour:
Guest Arrival Music/ Dinner Music:
Viva La Vida
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Coldplay
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Fly With Me
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Frank Sinatra
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Empezar
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Incendio
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What a Wonderful World
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Louis Armstrong
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Summer Wind
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Michael Buble
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Georgia on My Mind
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Michael Buble
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Thinking About You
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Norah Jones
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Not on Your Love
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Jeff Carson
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Then
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Brad Paisley
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Stealing Cinderella
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Chuck Wicks
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My Wish
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Rascal Flatts
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It Had to Be You
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Harry Connick Jr.
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All the Way
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Harry Connick Jr.
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Lucky
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Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
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1, 2, 3, 4
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Plain White Ts
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**Any music by Darius Rucker,
Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Harry Connick Jr, etc
And finally, our dancing playlist:
Dancing Song List:
Party in the USA
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Miley Cyrus
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Billy Jean
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Michael Jackson
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Move Like Jagger
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Maroon 5
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Thriller
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Michael Jackson
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1999
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Prince
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Do You Love Me
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The Countours
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Sweet Home Alabama
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Lynard Skynard
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Don’t Stop Believing
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Journey
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Accidentally in Love
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Counting Crows
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Summer of ‘69
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Bryan Adams
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Dancing in the Dark
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Bruce Springsteen
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Living on a Prayer
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Bon Jovi
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Only the Good Die Young
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Billy Joel
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Grease
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Grease
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Tik Tok
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Ke$ha
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Footloose
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Kenny Loggins
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Chicken Fried
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Zac Brown Band
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Brown Eyed Girl
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Van Morrison
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Jessie’s Girl
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Rick Springfield
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Wagon Wheel
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Darius Rucker
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Sweet Angel
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Half Jeffersons
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Free
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Zac Brown Band
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Africa
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Toto
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Overjoyed
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Match Box 20
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Respect
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Aretha Franklin
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Twist and Shout
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Beatles
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Do Wa Diddee
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Manfred Man
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Walking on Sunshine
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KC and the Sunshine Band
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Singing Sweet Home Alabama/ Werewolves of
London
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Kid Rock
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Beat It
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Michael Jackson
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Build Me Up Buttercup
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Foundations
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Leather and Lace
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Stevie Nicks
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I want it that way
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Backstreet Boys
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We Are Family
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Sly and the Family Stone
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**Any 90s music would be awesome, including
Backstreet Boys, NSync, Blink 182, Spice Girls, etc
**Also Classic Rock from 60s-80s, especially
CCR, Commodores, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel
**Please no rap or many modern songs
Enjoy our list and our insight! Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Much love to all,
Gretchen (& Clay)
