Fun WEDDING Reception Songs of Any Genre.

70

By socalweddingdj

Wedding Music Guidelines

So your thinking of what music to choose when it comes time for your wedding reception, but you just can't think of songs that are going to appeal to the entire audience. You want to keep them on the dance floor as much as possible so your guests stay involved and entertained right? After all, they say it's the DJ that can make or break the wedding reception, so if a DJ plays music, doesn't that at least indirectly mean that the music makes a huge impact on a wedding reception?

These are all fears that one might face when it comes time to select music for their ceremony and/or reception. Luckily through various resources on the internet and some help from some first hand wedding professionals, deciding what would best fit your guests isn't going to be that hard. First, let me start by saying that the most informative website with articles and information about your wedding reception can be found on theknot.com. But enough of that, let's get to the music!

As stated from diskjockeys.com you can find a complete list of the top 200 dance songs collected from around the world. This is a great way to get started when making your list of must-play songs. Not only does it cover a wide range of genre's but it also gives you an idea of the most popular requested songs from mobile DJ's. This is a huge benefit because you want to play music that is going to cover the largest percentage of the demographics at the party as possible. Sure, there is a lot of music that we enjoy that doesn't come on the radio, and probably never gets played in a room with a dance floor. In fact, this is my favorite type of music because it has substance and innovation, whereas a majority of the music you are going to hear that appeals to guests at a wedding reception is probably going to be classic and popular; played out.

My personal recommendation as a Wedding DJ would be to keep your music to a formula something similar to:

Cocktail Hour

  • Piano Instrumentals
  • Classical Music
  • Jazz
  • Acoustic Contemporary

Dinner Hour

  • Big Band
  • Standards
  • Acoustic Contemporary
  • Jazz
  • Music you enjoy but can not dance to

Early Dancing

  • Slow dances
  • Funk
  • Motown
  • Disco
  • Classic Rock (songs you can dance to)
  • 80's Dance
  • Group Dance Songs

Late Dancing

  • Disco
  • Funk
  • Motown
  • 80's Dance
  • 80's Hip Hop
  • R & B
  • Top Forty
  • Current Club Hits

Late Late Dancing

  • Classic Rock
  • 80's Rock Ballads
  • Slow Dancing
  • Sing-a-long songs

This format allows for a constant progression of energy throughout an evening. This is important because you want your guests to stay with you dancing as long as possible because if they don't, you had more of an expensive dinner party than successful wedding reception. Using group dance songs as tools to bring guests back out on the dance floor, as well as gradually increasing the energy and changing music genres when a certain style or beat has been exhausted, are all going to help you keep the guests involved, entertained and having a good time.

There are a lot of factors of providing music at a wedding reception that most people don't think about. And although I have recommended so much already, I must say that without a doubt, your wedding ceremony and reception will be much more succesful if you hire a professional wedding DJ. Having new innovations like online music databases where the client can log in and select requests prior to the date, as well as online planning forms to arrange the itinerary for all of the other vendors to be in tune to the events of the day, there isn't much of a reason not to hire one other than budget.

As a professional Wedding DJ in San Diego California I feel confident in saying that the entertainment of your wedding reception will make an enourmous impact of the it's success, over the location, attire, photography or even the food!

Comments

honestway profile image

honestway 3 years ago

Its amazing that motown seems to fit in plenty of places!

socalweddingdj profile image

socalweddingdj Hub Author 3 years ago

This was my first response Hub hehe and yes, Funk goes well with just about everything. I am sure you like the funk being a bass player and all :D

starrkissed profile image

starrkissed 3 years ago

yay, i really appreciate this! thank you

increaseurmileage profile image

increaseurmileage 3 years ago

You gotta love those motown sounds. They just seem to hit the right note.

Dominci Halpin 3 years ago

Good post, motown played by the Dj is a must

Adam B profile image

Adam B 3 years ago

Here are the songs I hear at every f'n wedding:

We Are Family, Don't Stop Believin, The Chicken Dance, Stay Together, Celebrate, Living On a Prayer

Lgali profile image

Lgali 3 years ago

amazing info

Mark Trezise 2 years ago

These songs are played at all receptions, proms, and dances I have been to.

I Like To Move It by Reel 2 Real

Y.M.C.A. by The Village People

Let's Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez

Dancing Queen by ABBA

Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) by C&C Music Factory

Shout by Otis Day & The Knights (Animal House)

Cotton-Eyed Joe by Rednex

Electric Slide by Marcia Griffiths

Macarena by Los Del Rio

C'mon & Ride It (The Train) by The Quad City DJ's

Cha-Cha Slide by DJ Casper The Slide Man

Staying Alive by The Bee Gees

Who Let The Dogs Out by The Baha Men

Get The Party Started by Pink

this list could be endless.

djbriswatek profile image

djbriswatek 2 years ago

Great ideas!

DJ Funktual profile image

DJ Funktual Level 1 Commenter 21 months ago

I just wanted to point out that Motown isn't funk. Unless you are talking about late Marvin or Stevie "Superstition" type stuff. Motown as most know it, Temptations, 4 Tops, Supremes, Smokey, is called Northern Soul.

If you want some funk in your party, you will need James Brown, Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Parliament-Funkadelic, Ohio Players, Rick James, Isley Brothers, Brothers Johnson, Crusaders, AWB, Edwin Starr, Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters, etc. etc.

If you actually want ppl to visit this hub like they do mine, you must give titles not just outlines. There isn't a wedding dj in the world who doesn't know this formula and I am sure you realize this. If you want to offer your peers something, suggest a nice playlist for cocktail hour, (that's a hub) GREAT SONGS FOR YOUR COCKTAIL HOUR is also something people will search on google.

Hope this helps.

peace

DJ Funktual

World's Biggest Sample Junkie

http://www.youtube.com/funktuall

Mark Trezise 19 months ago

1,2 Step – Ciara—321u-7

100% Pure Love – Crystal Waters—1124-10

16 Candles – The Crests—18-20

1999 – Prince—1046-8

2 Step – Dj Unk—416-7

2 Way – Lil Romeo—216u-14

20 Inch – Cutty Rames—367-12

21 Questions – 50 Cent—267u-8

3 Am – Matchbox 20—1046-5

4 Minutes – Madonna—-L

867-5309 Jenny – Tommy Tutone—305-11

99 Red Balloons – Nena—303-6

A Bay Bay – Hurricane Chris—L

A Little Respect – Erasure—Bx-1

A Moment Like This – Kelly Clarkson—289d-2

A Puro Dolor – Son By Four—Bx-1

A Song For Mama – Boyz Ii Men—289-7

A String Of Pearls – Glenn Miller—-902-8

A Whole New World – Peabo Bryson/Celine Dion—58-4

Abc – Jackson 5—1070-13

About Us – T.A.T.U.—391d-5

Abracadabra – Steve Miller Band—1088-9

Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus—86-2

Addicted – Enrique Iglesias—277-3

Addicted – Simple Plan—255r-13

Addicted To Love – Robert Palmer—701-7

After All – Peter Cetera/Cher—1019a-12

After The Lovin – Engelbert Humperdinck—1009-16

Ain’t It Funny – Jennifer Lopez/Ja Rule—Bx-1

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell—1069-10

Ain’t No Other Man – Christina Aguilera—L

Ain’t That A Kick In The Head – Dean Martin—1011-10

Ain’t That A Shame – Fats Domino—60-15

Ain’t Too Proud To Beg – Temptations—1069a-19

Air Force Ones – Nely—-374u-5

Alcohol – Brad Paisley—346c-13

Alive – Beastie Boys—79u-14

Alive – P.O.D.—196r-17

All Apologies – Gin Blossoms—Bx-1

All For You – Janet Jackson—1092-1

All I Have To Do Is Dream – Everly Brothers—205-2

All I Wanna Do – Sheryl Crow—2098-1

All I Want Is You – U2—Rk19-4

All Jacked Up – Gretchen Wilson—354c-11

All My Ex’s Live In Texas – George Strait—83-7

All My Life – Kc & Jojo—1046-4

All My Rowdy Friends – Hank Williams Jr—94-20

All Right Now – Free—-Bx-1

All She Wants To Do Is Dance – Don Henley—-674r-5

All Shook Up – Elvis Presley—73-8

All Star – Smashmouth—Rk17-5

All That She Wants – Ace Of Base—Bx-1

All The Small Things – Blink 182—85a-13

All The Things She Said – T.A.T.U.—228-15

All You Need Is Love – The Beatles—1056-14

Alley Cat – Bent Fabric—-Bx-1

Always – Atlantic Star—408-11

Always & Forever – Heatwave—20-3

Always On Time – Ja Rule/Ashanti—199u-9

Am To Pm – Christina Milian—667-9

Amazed – Lonestar—87-10

American Pie – Don Mclean—501-10

American Woman – The Guess Who—36-4

And I Love You So – Perry Como—Bx-1

Angel – Aerosmith—1122-7

Angel – Amanda Perez—244d-4

Angel – Shaggy—151d-2

Angelina – Louis Prima—Bx-1

Anniversary Waltz – Eddie Howard—905-19

Another Night – Real Mccoy—425d-9

Another One Bites The Dust – Queen—300-1

Ants Marching – Dave Matthews—Bx-1

Any Man Of Mine – Shania Twain—-2074-2

Apologize – Timbaland—-L

Are You Lonesome Tonight – Elvis Presley—74-3

Around The World (Lalalala) – Atc—147d-7

As Long As You Love Me – Backstreet Boys—Bx-1

As Time Goes By – Johnny Mathis—1128-5

At Last – Etta James—1061-1

At The Hop – Danny/The Juniors—200-18

At This Moment – Billy Vera—-Bx-1

Atomic Dog – George Clinton—Rp4-4

Baby Baby – Amy Grant—403-6

Baby Boy – Beyonce/Sean Paul—268u-1

Baby Girl – Sugarland—329c-11

Baby Got Back – Sir Mix-A-Lot—Rp1-4

Baby I’m Back – Baby Bash—-331-17

Baby Likes To Rock It – The Tractors—81-11

Baby One More Time – Britney Spears—82m-1

Back At One – Bryan Mcknight—1124-7

Back In Black – Ac/Dc—1023-6

Back That Thing Up – Juvenile—1064-7

Bad Boys – Inner Circle—-567-1

Bad Girls – Donna Summer—1064-6

Bad Girls, Bad Boys – Wham—Bx-1

Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater—54-5

Bad To The Bone – George Thorogood—1125-11

Bad, Bad Leroy Brown – Jim Croce—1049-1

Bada Boom – B2k—282u-11

Bailamos – Enrique Iglesias—77m-9

Bajo La Lluvia – Grupo Mania—Latin Bx

Bamboleo – Gypsy Kings—Latin Bx

Band Of Gold – Freeda Payne—Bx-1

Band Of Gold – Kimberly Locke—L

Bang On The Drum All Day – Todd Rundgren–1107-3

Barbara Ann – Beach Boys—-Bx-1

Bartender – T-Pain Ft. Akon—L

Basket Case – Greenday—295r-2

Be My Baby Tonight – John Michael Montgomery—2039-1

Be My Lover – Labouche—708-3

Be With You – Enrique Iglesias—-78m-6

Beat It – Fall Out Boy—-L

Beat It – Michael Jackson—68-10

Beautiful – Christina Aguilera—244d-3

Beautiful Day – U2—140r-14

Beautiful Girls – Sean Kingston—L

Beautiful In My Eyes – Joshua Kadison—-Bx-1

Beautiful Liar – Beyonce/Shakira—L

Because Of You – Kelly Clarkson—363-9

Because Of You – Tony Bennett—1043-18

Because You Love Me – Celine Dion—1027-4

Been Caught Stealing – Janes Addiction—Bx-1

Beer Barrel Polka – Lawrence Welk—900-19

Beer For My Horses – Toby Keith/Willie Nelson—-258c-10

Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood—-L

Before You Accuse Me – Eric Clapton—58-3

Begin The Beguine – Artie Shaw—104-5

Believe – Cher—77-7

Bennie & The Jets – Elton John—500-1

Bent – Matchbox 20—109r-13

Best Of My Love – Emotions—501-12

Betcha Can’t Do It Like Me – D4l—-368-1

Better Off Alone – Alice Deejay—102d-4

Beverly Hills – Weezer—-L

Beware Of The Boys -Panjabi W/Jay-Z—259u-5

Beyond The Sea – Bobby Darin—1043-11

Billie Jean – Michael Jackson—68-1

Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On – Neal Mccoy—359c-13

Birthday – The Beatles—Bx-1

Bizarre Love Triangle – New Order—Bx-1

Black Balloon – Goo Goo Dolls—Rk14-5

Black Betty – Ram Jam—-Bx-1

Black Magic Woman – Santana—11-9

Black Velvet – Alannah Myles—400-15

Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis—-L

Bless The Broken Road – Rascal Flatts—327c-11

Blister In The Sun – Violent Femmes—58-6

Blow The Whistle – Too Short—381u-8

Blowin Me Up – Jc Chasez—241d-1

Blue (Da Ba Dee) – Eiffel 65—79m-1

Blue Moon – The Marcels—203-1

Blue Suede Shoes – Elvis Presley—5-2

Blue Velvet – Bobby Vinton—1113-2

Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino—201-2

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen—1103-9

Bonnie & Clyde – Jay-Z/Beyonce—239u-1

Boogie Nights – Heatwave—307-8

Boogie Oogie Oogie – Taste Of Honey—35-3

Boogie Shoes – Kc/The Sunshine Band—Bx-1

Boogie Wonderland – Earth, Wind & Fire—23-5

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – Andrew Sisters–1105-1

Book Of Love – The Monotones—200-10

Boom Boom Boom – Venga Boys—714-2

Boom! Shake The Room – Jazzy Jeff—402-2

Boot Scootin Boogie – Brooks & Dunn—92-5

Bootycall – Blackstreet—Rp3-13

Bootylicious – Destinys Child—L

Born In The Usa – Bruce Springstein—42a-8

Born To Be Alive – Patrick Hernandez—22-10

Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf—7-6

Born To Boogie – Hank Williams Jr—81-12

Boulevard Of Broken Dreams – Greenday—324r-14

Bounce – Sarah Connor—283d-6

Boys Are Back In Town – Thin Lizzy—-Bx-1

Brand New Girlfriend – Steve Holly—389c-14

Brass Monkey – Beastie Boys—1125-5

Break It Off – Rihanna—L

Break On Through – Doors—1050-1

Break The Ice – Britney Spears—-L

Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson—Bx-1

Breathe – Faith Hill—100-4

Breathe Again – Toni Braxton—Bx-1

Breathe And Stop – Q-Tip—L

Brickhouse – Commodores—501-5

Bring Em Out – T.I.—329u-6

Bring Me To Life – Evanescence—251r-19

Broadway – Goo Goo Dolls—Rk14-3

Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison—1034-2

Brown Sugar – Rolling Stones—1104-13

Build Me Up Buttercup – Foundations—206-11

Bump & Grind – R. Kelly—402-12

Bunny Hop – Ray Anthony—-Bx-1

Burn – Usher—298-2

Burning Down The House – Talking Heads—Bx-1

Bust A Move – Young Mc—Rp1-2

Busy Child – Crystal Method—Bx-1

Butterflies – Michael Jackson—33-1

Butterfly – Crazytown—151r-16

Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle—907-11

Buttons – The Pussycat Dolls—L

Buy You A Drink – T-Pain—420-9

By Your Side – Sade—136d-3

Bye Bye Bye – N-Sync—100d-1

Bye Bye Love – Everly Brothers—200-21

C’mon – Mario—-244u-7

C’mon N Ride It The Train) – Quad City Dj’s—1046-9

California Girls – Beach Boys—Bx-1

California Love – 2 Pac—1113-13

Californication – Red Hot Chili Peppers—Rk16-6

Can I Get A – Jay-Z—1107-9

Can You Feel The Love Tonight – Elton John—1102-1

Can’t Buy Me Love – The Beatles—1073-3

Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love – Barry White—708-4

Can’t Get You Out Of My Head – Kylie Minoque—202m-3

Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley–74-8

Can’t Hold Us Down – Lil Kim—Bx-1

Can’t Let You Go – Fabolous—255u-5

Candy Shop – 50 Cent—331u-5

Candyman – Christina Aguilera—L

Cantaloop – Us3—Bx-1

Car Wash – Rose Royce—Pf1-8

Careless Whisper – Wham—-Bx-1

Caribbean Queen – Billy Ocean—302-3

Cars – Gary Numan—711-18

Cat Scratch Fever – Ted Nugent—704-5

Caught Up – Usher—L

Cecilia – Simon & Garfunkel—Bx-1

Celebration – Kool/The Gang—307-4

Centerfold – J Geils Band—703-3

Cha Cha Slide – Dj Casper—147-9

Chances Are – Johnny Mathis—1095-3

Change Clothes – Jay-Z—

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