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The Wedding Reception
From a DJ's perspective there are many major sections to a successful wedding, commencing with the background music that your
guests hear when they arrive, through to the importance of the bridal waltz and to those special songs that you wish to feature
as you are bidding a fond farewell to your family and friends, many of whom may have travelled from a long distance away.
You may also wish to incorporate songs from either of your family's original homelands - because of this, we have an extensive
library of Arabic, Croatian, Greek, Irish, Italian, Jewish, Scottish, Spanish and Turkish music that you may wish to include
- but remember, this is your day.
So what are the specific points of the evening that you might be planning to include within your reception?
Below is a guide to musical high points that you may wish to include, but as I mentioned above, please keep in mind at all
times that this is your day and everybody will work to make it the wonderful day you always dreamed it would be.
Reception Line
This is normally only done these days at formal black tie events when the hosts of the party greet your friends and family
at the door of your reception venue.
Bridal Entry view Bridal Entry music examples
Always a crowd pleaser, and there are many ways of making an entrance - but be true to yourself in the song that you choose
as it will set the scene for the night to come. I am always happy to provide you with suggestions of songs that have worked
at previous events.
For example, you may wish to consider a fun entry with something like 'Hello, Hello' from The Cat Empire, Sonny and Cher's
'I Got You Babe' or 'I Feel Good' by James Brown. Perhaps you'd prefer the romantic entrance of 'Amazing' by Alex Lloyd, or
'Happy Together' by the Turtles, or maybe even the classic 'It Had to be You' from Harry Connick Junior. The possibilities
are endless.
In recent years I have played everything from the themes from 'Jaws' and 'Mission Impossible', to Queen's
'Another One Bites the Dust' - so rule nothing in or out but be true to yourself. Alternatively, you may simply wish to make
a low key arrival with no introduction at all.
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First Dance view First Dance music examples
Cake Cutting view Cake Cutting music examples
Again the possibilities are endless, from the humorous 'Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, Ive Got Love in my Tummy', to the romantic 'When
a Man Loves a Woman'. Remember, the song should reflect the two of you and allow both the professional camera crew and your
friends and family to take photographs of this event.
The cutting of the wedding cake is an historic gesture that dates back to medieval times. Click Here
for its origins.
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Speeches
In recent years, couples have added short musical inserts to introduce the people that are making speeches.
These can be fun, but need to be planned carefully with a structured running order, as it is impossible to change a song at
the last minute when it will only take between 15-30 seconds for the speaker to arrive at the microphone.
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Bridal Waltz
This is usually the focal point of the reception and therefore you need to choose a song that reflects you and your partner,
and perhaps a couple of additional favourites to make the experience special. One thing to seriously consider is the length
of the song, as something as romantic as Celine Dion's 'Because You Loved Me' is a long track to be dancing to on your own,
should you be planning a dance routine.
You may also wish to take the second track as your opportunity for a Father/Daughter dance, and we have listed a selection
of tracks that you can consider for this. The list would also apply should you wish to incorporate a mother/son section.
I will be more than happy to assist you in making a number of musical suggestions based on our meeting, and will supply you
with a disc of options - we have a library of over a quarter of a million songs from around the globe, which range from the
classic to the outright wacky.
In recent years many couples have selected Adam Sandler's 'I Wanna Grow Old With You' from the movie soundtrack
of 'The Wedding Singer', and more recently 'Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World', sung by Hawaiian vocalist Israel Kamakawiwo'ole,
featured in the 2005 film '50 First Dates'.
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Games (Garter / Bouquet throw) view Games music examples
This is an area that can be lots of fun, but also cause problems - so knowing the taste of your friends and family is very
important, as you do not want to offend them. Remember that not everybody wants to be involved in a staged game to ascertain
who will remove your garter or catch your bouquet. It is likely that there will also be children present, and a somewhat racy
garter removal may not be appropriate.
One thing that has become a tradition in recent years is to present your bouquet to your grandmother or
your mother as a token of your gratitude for everything that they have done for you - so you may wish to consider this as
an alternative to the bouquet throw.
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Last Dance & Exit Songs view Last Dance & Exit music examples
The last dance does not have to be a slow song and can just as easily be a classic party song such as 'Khe Sahn', 'Run to
Paradise' or 'Dancing Queen' - but the two or three tracks that are played as you thank your guests should above all, reflect
you, and keep your friends and family entertained as they await you to thank them. Tracks such as 'Time to Say Goodbye' or
'Time of our Lives' are used very regularly, but they may not be to your taste.
If you are having an arch to run through after saying your fond farewells, you may wish to find a fun track to run the gauntlet
to - such as 'We Gotta Get Out of this Place' or 'Hit the Road Jack'. Recently I have been asked to play songs as diverse
as The Muppets' 'Somebody's Getting Married', 'They're Coming to Take Me Away' from Napoleon IV, and 'Goodbyee' from Peter
Cook & Dudley Moore. Please bear in mind that your choice can be as crazy as you want it to be.
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I hope that this has helped. If you click on the headings of each section, I have listed ten songs that you might wish to
consider - but these are only suggestions, and of course you are free to choose your own.
Alternative Entertainment
Other areas that I have provided music for at weddings have included Firework Displays, Film & Slide Presentations and music
for Belly Dancers - so with careful planning we can make your evening a night that you and your guests will remember for many
years to come.
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For more details about any of the above, feel free to contact me, either
to arrange a no obligation meeting, or to hear more suggestions.
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