Being a DJ almost exclusively hired for wedding receptions for the past decade I have witnessed various song trends; seeing what is commonly requested and which song choices make a night memorable for each stage of the night. The list has been compiled to serve as a guide or give a general idea of the songs you want at each special moment to provide the sound and more importantly, the feel you want.

Entry of the Groomsmen and the Bridal Party

The songs chosen for the introduction and entry of both parties signify the real start to your night and set the tone for what is to come. Commonly songs chosen for the entry of each party are big, fun, upbeat and serve as your grand entrance - think the spectacle of a WWE wrestlers entrance without the testosterone. Great examples include:

Beyoncé - Crazy In Love
Black Eyed Peas - Lets Get it Started
Bruno Mars - Marry You
Chris Brown - Forever
Florence and the Machine - Dog Days are Over
Kool & The Gang - Celebration
Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel
U2 - Beautiful Day

If you wish to have your own song as a Bride and Groom, try to find a song that represents you and your partner best. If for example you two are heavily into 80’s rock, ACDC - Thunderstruck could be a perfect fit. Additionally, your song should be a higher tempo than that of the Groomsmen and Bridal party as you two are the big event.

The Cutting of the Cake

The cutting of the cake is often the first formality of the night as husband and wife in front of friends and family. The following is a list of light touching music to display the significance of the bond you two have with each other for all attending;

Alicia Keys - If I Ain't Got You
Billie Joel - Just The Way You Are
Jason Maraz - I'm Yours
Jack Johnson - Better Together
Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is
Queen - Best Friend

Your First Dance

Your first dance as husband and wife is a moment in time to remember forever. It is a chance to show your partner how deeply you feel for them while your friends and family watch on emotionally in awe. Songs chosen for the first dance are heavy, loving and emotional; the significance of the event takes away any sappiness that could potentially be associated with these songs;

Coldplay - Magic
Lifehouse - You and Me
Lonestar - Amazed
Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
K-Ci & Jojo - All My Life
Faith Hill - Breathe
Shania Train - You're Still The One
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You

Bride & Father and Groom & Mother dance songs that often follow a first dance should also be touching but not more so than your first dance.

The Dance Floor

It's party time! Your guests have been sitting waiting very patiently until now, itching to get on the dance-floor. The dance-floor needs to be fun, high energy and more silly as the night goes. This is the moment of the night you want everyone to enjoy themselves and truly loosen up after all of the formalities of the night. Usually dance-floors have a mix of the latest top 40 hits and classic party songs such as:

Abba - Dancing Queen
ACDC - You Shook Me All Night Long
B52s - Love Shack
Backstreet Boys - Backstreet's Back
Beyoncé - Crazy In Love
Bon Jovi - Livin On A Prayer
Cyndi Lauper - Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun
Jackson 5 - Blame It On The Boogie
Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Los Del Rio - Macarena
Madonna - Like A Prayer
Michael Jackson - Just About Any Song
Mc Hammer - Can't Touch This
Mark Ronson - Uptown Funk
Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
Sir Mix Alot - Baby Got Back
The Knack - My Sharona
Tina Turner - Nutbush
Toni Basil - Hey Mickey
John Travolta & Newton John - Grease Megamix
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
Village People - YMCA

Garter/Bouquet Toss

The fun continues with the Garter/Bouquet toss. In this case the more silly the song the better;

Beyoncé - Single Ladies
Cyndi Lauper - Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun
Dixie Cups - Chapel of Love
Def Leopard - Pour Some Sugar On Me
Kelis - Milkshake
LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It
Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy
Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
Weather Girls - Its Raining Men

Last Song of The Night

The last song of the night marks the close to your special day. Couples often have a farewell circle or arch where they can see their guests for the last time before going off into the night. These closing songs are either sentimental or finish the night in an upbeat manner;

Billy Joel - Piano Man
Don McLean - American Pie
Kenny Logins - The Gambler

Hopefully this guide can help you choose the perfect songs for the closing chapter of your big day. Remember which moods are important for your formalities and the type of songs that will provide the emotional impact to make your reception unforgettable.

It's your big night. Your friends, family, their partners and even your drunk uncle from Hobart are there to celebrate your big day. You stroll out onto the dance floor for your first dance together as a couple, it’s beautiful, the song that was played while you first met plays as you dance holding each other tightly. The song slowly fades as everyone cheers, the DJ your cousin Dazz recommended winks your way and mouths "trust me".

"Don't break my heart, my achey break heart" booms through the speakers and in seconds his song choice has destroyed the atmosphere and left a bad taste for all attending and killed any motivation they previously had of wanting to join the dance floor.

Choosing the right DJ for your wedding is essential to ensure your reception has the atmosphere you desire and the dance floor continually full throughout the night.

1. Clarify your expectations.

Before trawling through the internet forums and search engines, attending wedding fairs or interrogating your friends, evaluate how you would like your reception to unfold.

Here are some key considerations:

The age groups present
Your taste in music
How much you are willing to spend
How outgoing you would like your DJ and ultimately your dance floor to be
If you need the DJ to MC your event
How hands on you want to be with the music selections
If there are any special considerations you have for the night

2. Research, research, research.

Now with your clear goal in mind it is time to begin the information trawl. Talk to everybody about everything about your expectations and take on board their suggestions.

Friends and family are obvious go-tos for this information but do not be afraid to contact others who have hired their services in the past. Organisations often display testimonials on their web-page with the contact information of those who have provided it. Alternatively, do not be afraid to ask an organisation for a previous client's details for an honest evaluation of their services.

However, do be weary of asking an organisation directly about the quality of their services as they will likely state they provide an excellent service and can handle any event.

REMEMBER! THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE A SALE!

Instead try to find evidence of their work if possible through testimonials, pictures and video of previous events. Try to find evidence of events that closely resemble the day you wish to have and see if they meet your expectations.

3. Contact and meet up with your best picks.

Generally, your gut feeling about an organisation or DJ is a good guide. However, to ensure your night is destined to be an unforgettable success request a meeting with your DJ.

The meeting will allow you to get a feeling for the DJ and have a conversation between you and your DJ to provide you with their expert knowledge, clarify expectations and ultimately determine if they are a good fit.

4. Pick the DJ for your event.

The step is easy as it sounds, ring them up and organise the event and relax by knowing you've gone through a thorough process selecting your DJ and not left your event to risk.

Also finally, remember to post your thoughts about the event afterward as a testimonial to help others who are going to be going through the same stress as you!

Choosing the Perfect Songs for your Wedding Reception