AC/DC, Neil Diamond, or Dexy’s Midnight Runner? - You Make the Call
Our wedding is less than 10 weeks away and we still have a lot of loose ends to tie up before we say “I do.” We’ve finally settled on a caterer (someone from my hometown) and we’ll be finalizing the menu in the next couple of days. I’ll post the whole thing - complete with budget - once it’s been confirmed.
We’re currently in the process of designing our wedding invitations, and it’s been more challenging than I could have imagined. After weeks of pouring over various invite language, I think we’ve finally settled on something that sounds like us and yet isn’t too informal for the occasion.
The next big thing on our “to do” list is to firm up the set list for the band. We’ve selected the song for our first dance, and we’ve put together an i-pod compilation of our favorite music for the cocktail hour, but we’re struggling on our dance tune requests for the rest of the reception. We know what we don’t want played (The Macarena comes to mind), but I’m not sure what people dance to these days .
If Matt had his way, the set list would consist of mostly Beck and The Pixies, and I’m more of a Ben Folds kinda girl - but I don’t think that this is the stuff that guests will shake their booties to. I’m thinking of a mix of 80’s favorites with a few country songs thrown in for the benefit of my dad and sisters, but I don’t have anything specific in mind.
So, once again, I am turning to my readers for advice - what gets you up out of your chair and onto the dance floor? Post your favorite dance tunes in the comments section below and I’ll forward your suggestions to our wedding band.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
“what gets you up out of your chair and onto the dance floor”
Cupcakes.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Brick House…Commodores!
August 5th, 2008 at 6:06 am
Well, as someone who has been to about 10 weddings this year, I can tell you what is being played - a little bit of everything. I personally love dancing to motown, beach music and 80s pop. Those are usually pretty popular among other wedding guests also. Some country can be good if that is what you all are into (but I would try to keep it away from ultra sappy stuff). And if you and Matt love Beck, The Pixies and Ben Folds, then be sure to sneak a few in there. Keep with things that you love and you can’t go wrong.
Oh, and from my observations, the #1 thing that gets guests on the dance floor………………free flowing alcohol.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:47 am
We left the dance music up to our DJ. After making a “do not play” list, he suggested that we let him do the picking. The reasoning was that he could read the audience, and make adjustments accordingly. We could not have asked for a better result.
During the reception my wife would ask him to play a particular song and it would be cued up in a matter of minutes, but for the most part, we let him do the job we paid him for.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:52 am
play that funky music, white boy
i will survive
what a wonderful world (louis armstrong), for slow dancing
mustang sally
i’m trying to think of more….
August 5th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Sweet Caroline and Brown Eyed Girl. Neither are favorites of mine, but they definitely make me want to dance.
August 5th, 2008 at 11:54 am
The classics!
We are Family
Celebration
YMCA
It’s Raining Men
August 5th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
“Smooth” by Santana
Though if you have a good DJ, then give him a “do not play” list (and a few favorites you “have” to have) and let him handle it, that’s what you pay them for.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:06 am
I second “I Will Survive”. Also, “Get Down Tonight” by KC and the Sunshine Band. And–anything by PRINCE!
August 11th, 2008 at 8:26 am
I can’t help myself when I hear the Electric Slide at a Wedding Party.
August 12th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Baby Got Back. It kills, I swear. The early ’90s hip-hop works wonders.
August 15th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I, too, had a “do not play” list for my reception that included the “Macarena.” I had a few requests, but pretty much let the dj decide based on the crowd. People went nuts for the 80’s music. He started the dancing with “Footloose” and tons of people jumped on the floor. I think it’s good if you can find a dj that can gauge the crowd and go from there.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I will never get up and dance at a wedding until the set list includes:
“Veronica” - Elvis Costello
“Life is A Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)” - Reunion
“Little Willie Won’t Go Home” - The Sweet
“Rewind” - Big Audio Dynamite (off MegaTop Phoenix)
“Waiting Room” - Fugazi
“Yea Yeah” - Matt & Kim
“Flash Gordon Theme Song” - Queen
“Lost In the Supermarket” - The Clash
“I Fought the Law (And the Law Won)” - Sonny Curtis and the Crickets
“That’ll Be the Day” - Buddy Holly and the Crickets
“Babylon Sister” - Steely Dan
“Rock and Roll Hallelujah” - Lordi
“Gone Daddy Gone” - Gnarls Barkley version
“Sunny Days” - Sesame Street Opening Theme
“My Deliverer” - Unmastered Rich Mullins version
“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Grievance” - Daniel Johnson
“Tea for Two” - Anita O’Day
“#1 Crush” - Garbage
“Hang on St. Christopher” - Tom Waits
“Walking on Broken Glass” - Annie Lennox
“Anything’s Possible” - Jonny Lang
“Triumph” - Wu Tang Clan
“Stompin at the Savoy” - Ella Fitzgerald
and finish with
“Casey Jones” - Johnny Cash
Not that I’ve thought about it much…