Category: Weddings

SELECTING THE BEST FIRST DANCE WEDDING SONG

If your wedding is coming up you know that making everything just right is a daunting task. There are countless things to look at, and with so many options out there, it can truly be overwhelming. Hall location, center pieces, floral arrangements, which DJ and catering company to select, entry selections & appetizers; the list goes on and on.

Some nervous grooms and brides alike get sweaty palms at the mere mention of having to step up to the spotlight and face “The Dreaded First Dance.” But if you choose a song that is meaningful to you, and makes you happy, that first dance will set the tone and break the ice for everyone.

If you have no clue what to pick for the first dance, here is a great list to look at at some popular hip songs, as well as some great classics that many couples have used in the Upstate New York area for their first dance.

EIGHTIES MUSIC IDEAS FOR YOUR WEDDING OR PARTY

Over the past weekend, I did a really fun 80’s theme wedding where the guests actually dressed up to go along with the décor. It was really a blast! People dressed punky as early Madonna, sunglassed and pantless as Tom Cruise in Risky Business, and even as the zombie Michael Jackson!

Having a theme-based wedding reception, or get together can really make things more fun for your next big party or event, too. This campy decade saw the rise of Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, and the King of Pop Michael Jackson thanks to the early music video-playing channel, MTV. If you choose to go this route, remember to word your invitations in exactly the same way, and tell everyone to come dressed as their favorite 80’s star. The pictures will be priceless!

MY 80’s TOP 10 LIST TO PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING

Out of the countless weddings I have been the DJ for, I have found that these 10 80s songs seem to get the best response from the guests:

1. Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
2. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
3. Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl
4. Outfield – Your Love
5. Matthew Wilder – Break My Stride
6. The Police – Roxanne
7. Prince – Kiss
8. Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam
9. Salt N Peppa – Push It
10. Run DMC – It’s Tricky

Music Videos and television shows lead to the fashion industry, pushing black and white lace for the girls, a la The Material Girl, or pastel colored jackets with T-shirts or skinny ties, with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow for the guys like the guys from Duran Duran and Miami Vice.

Make sure to have plenty of jelly bracelets, fishnet gloves and punk wigs for those guests who will not be dressed appropriately. Quite often people will not want to dress up and look “silly,” but then wish they did after they see all the fun the other guests are having, once they get there.

80’s TOP 100 MUSIC LIST

According to VH1, a station that still plays some actual music videos (albeit early in the morning0, these are the top 100 80’s songs that you just, like totally have to play!

1. Bon Jovi / “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986)
2. Def Leppard / “Pour Some Sugar On Me” (1987)
3. Duran Duran / “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982)
4. Michael Jackson / “Billie Jean” (1982)
5. Prince / “When Doves Cry” (1984)
6. Hall & Oates / “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” (1981)
7. Guns N’ Roses / Sweet Child O’ Mine (1987)
8. Madonna / “Like a Virgin” (1984)
9. Run-D.M.C. / “Walk This Way” (1986)
10. AC/DC / “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1980)
11. Journey / Don’t Stop Believing (1981)
12. Whitney Houston / “How Will I Know” (1985)
13. U2 / “With Or Without You” (1987)
14. The Bangles / “Walk Like an Egyptian” (1986)
15. Van Halen / “Jump” (1984)
16. INXS / “Need You Tonight” (1987)
17. Whitesnake / “Here I Go Again” (1982)
18. Dexy’s Midnight Runners / “Come On Eileen” (1982)
19. Cyndi Lauper / “Time After Time” (1984)
20. Rick Springfield / “Jessie’s Girl” (1981)
21. Michael Jackson / “Beat It” (1982)
22. The Cure / “Just Like Heaven” (1987)
23. Cyndi Lauper / “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (1984)
24. A-Ha / “Take On Me” (1985)
25. Go-Go’s / “Our Lips Are Sealed” (1981)
26. Guns N’ Roses / “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987)
27. Kajagoogoo / “Too Shy” (1984)
28. Wham! / “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (1984)
29. Talking Heads / “Burning Down the House” (1983)
30. Pat Benatar / “Love is a Battlefield” (1983)
31. Queen and David Bowie / “Under Pressure” (1981)
32. Night Ranger / “Sister Christian” (1983)
33. Soft Cell / “Tainted Love” (1981)
34. Poison / “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” (1988)
35. Phil Collins / “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
36. Tommy Tutone / “867-5309/Jenny” (1981)
37. Aerosmith / “Janie’s Got a Gun” (1989)
38. U2 / “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984)
39. Modern English / “I Melt With You” (1982)
40. The B-52’s / “Love Shack” (1989)
41. Mötley Crüe / “Dr. Feelgood” (1989)
42. The Clash / “London Calling” (1982)
43. ABC / “Look of Love” (1982)
44. Bananarama / “Cruel Summer” (1984)
45. Janet Jackson / “Nasty” (1986)
46. The Police / “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
47. Twisted Sister / “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (1984)
48. Bruce Springsteen / “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984)
49. Beastie Boys / “Fight For Your Right” (1986)
50. Eurythmics / “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” (1983)
51. Ratt / “Round and Round” (1984)
52. Dead or Alive / “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)” (1985)
53. Billy Idol / “White Wedding” (1988)
54. Salt-N-Pepa / “Push It” (1986)
55. A Flock of Seagulls / “I Ran (So Far Away)” (1982)
56. Bonnie Tyler / “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983)
57. Toni Basil / “Mickey” (1981)
58. Culture Club / “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” (1982)
59. John Mellencamp / “Jack & Diane” (1982)
60. Young M.C. / “Bust a Move” (1989)
61. Styx / “Mr. Roboto” (1983)
62. Berlin / “Take My Breath Away” (1986)
63. Devo / “Whip It” (1980)
64. Paula Abdul / “Straight Up” (1988)
65. Foreigner / “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984)
66. Depeche Mode / “Just Can’t Get Enough” (1981)
67. REO Speedwagon / “Keep On Loving You” (1980)
68. Public Enemy / “Fight the Power” (1988)
69. R.E.M. / “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (1980)
70. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts / “I Love Rock N’ Roll” (1981)
71. Rick James / “Super Freak” (1981)
72. The Fixx / “One Thing Leads to Another” (1983)
73. Nena / “99 Luftballons” (1983)
74. George Michael / “Faith” (1987)
75. Prince / “Little Red Corvette” (1983)
76. Thomas Dolby / “She Blinded Me With Science” (1982)
77. New Edition / “Candy Girl” (1983)
78. Blondie / “Call Me” (1980)
79. Human League / “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981)
80. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock / “It Takes Two” (1988)
81. Cameo / “Word Up!” (1986)
82. Squeeze / “Tempted” (1981)
83. Prince / “Kiss” (1986)
84. Lionel Richie / “All Night Long (All Night)” (1983)
85. Robert Palmer / “Addicted to Love” (1985)
86. Bow Wow Wow / “I Want Candy” (1982)
87. Falco / “Rock Me Amadeus” (1986)
88. Chaka Khan / “Ain’t Nobody” (1989)
89. The Pretenders / “Brass in Pocket” (1980)
90. Tone-Loc / “Wild Thing” (1989)
91. Katrina and The Waves / “Walking On Sunshine” (1983)
92. New Kids on the Block / “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” (1988)
93. Gary Numan / “Cars” (1980)
94. Rolling Stones / “Start Me Up” (1981)
95. Debbie Gibson / “Only in My Dreams” (1987)
96. Men at Work / “Down Under” (1982)
97. The Romantics / “What I Like About You” (1980)
98. Bobby Brown / “My Perogative” (1988)
99. Wang Chung / “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” (1986)
100. Loverboy / “Working for the Weekend” (1981)

MORE 80s THEME IDEAS

For more 80’s party and wedding theme ideas, go to our blog by clicking HERE – 80s wedding theme ideas. 

Thanks for visiting our site.  Party on!

HOW TO PLAN YOUR BEACH THEME PARTY /WEDDING

A beach theme party or wedding is a great way to break the norm and create excitement. Tiki/totem poles… Cakes with goldfish bowls featuring live fish… Grass skirts. The possibilities are endless!

Below is a comprehensive list of music options, decorations, party ideas and other tidbits to make your beach theme wedding a splash with your guests!

BEACH THEME INVITATION IDEAS 

How about wedding invitations sent as Sting would like… as, “A message in a bottles.” Get some cheap bottles with nasty corks. Get them anywhere you can find them. You can find them online, in an antique store, or in the grass down route 87. (If you do start looking out on the road, remember you need glass ones! Look out for the gator aid bottles that the truckers have disposed of.) If you still have no luck, just stop by the local dollar store. Fill the bottles up with invitations you print yourself on weathered-looking paper. Tear the edges, roll them up and put them in the bottles with a sprinkling of sand, tiny shells, or confetti.

You could also include a treasure map, with location information.

LOCATION IDEAS

You don’t need to travel to bring the fun in the sun to your party. You can have your beach theme party at an actual beach, or capture the atmosphere without being seaside. Some other options are on a boat, at a marina, any venue with a view of the water – lake, river or sea, any venue with prominent fish tanks, especially tropical, a hotel’s swimming pool area, in a backyard by a pool.

BEACH PARTY DECORATION IDEAS

A row boat, treasure chest or a kiddie pool filled with beverages would be awesome! Also, if you have the money and connections an ice sculpture of a mermaid or some kind of fish/dolphin/ or whale would be pretty cool too. Get some seashells and sand to put out in or around your centerpieces. (Photo Credit mypartypassion.blogspot.com)

Inflatable or fake palm trees for an indoor location would also be cool, as would sculptures of sand castles, fishing boat decorations, miniature boats in bottles, and fishing nets. For tables, place sand chairs around covered with bold beach towels. If the party is outdoors, use tiki lights for that ultra groovy Gilligan’s Island feel, and maybe you will attract a Ginger or two! Wooo!

BEACH PARTY COSTUME SUPPLY TABLE

Let’s face it. Not everyone will come in costume, but many will wish they had AFTER they see how much fun people are having.

Put out a table with sunglasses, grass hula skirts, and flower leis, to get people in the spirit. You can get a lot of these things right at your local dollar store in bulk!

If you want to be really fancy, provide Gilligan & Skipper hats, as well as flip flops.

BEACH THEME WEDDING ATTIRE IDEAS

If your wedding going to be on an actual beach, and you are non-traditional and not afraid to break the norm, you might want to think about costumes. Because of the heat, you’ll want to go a little more on the casual side, anyhow so have fun with it!

Wedding – Let your groom be your captain in a sharp blue blazer, white pants and a captain’s hats. Your grooms men could dress as sailors, pirates, Hawaiian hula gear, or Gilligan’s Castaways. Or go with Hawaiian print shirts, muumuus and sarongs. The bride could also consider a sexy mermaid-style wedding dress.

WEDDING FAVOR IDEAS

If you are planning party favors, present your favors in plastic children’s beach pails. Some items you might want to put in the pails include: Beach ball (deflated) – Sun screen – Ocean print hand towel or washcloth – Sand dollars – Lifesavers candy – Cheap sunglasses – Seashell soaps – Natural sponge – Starfish – Shell encrusted candles -Beach Boys CD – “Beach Blanket Bingo” DVD – Plastic leis.

BEACH THEME ENTERTAINMENT/ACTIVITIES

Don’t forget to bring lots of Beach Balls, Hula Hoops, Surfboards, Limbo Sticks and maybe even “Twister!” with you!

CENTER PIECE IDEAS

Here are a few centerpiece ideas to help give you inspiration.

BEACH THEME SONG LIST

Planning a wedding or party next year with a beach theme? If you are then you already know you will have the Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffet and reggae master Bob Marley requested to your DJ. Below are some more ideas…
1. “Rock Lobster” (The B-52s)
2. “Under the Sea” (from The Little Mermaid)
3. “Come Sail Away” (Styx)
4. “Tequila” (The Champs)
5. “I Love Beach Music” (The Embers)
6. “In the Navy” (Village People)
7. “Love Is the Seventh Wave” (Sting)
8. “Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)” (Enya)
9. “Private Beach Party” (Gregory Isaacs)
10. “Beyond The Sea” (Bobby Darin)
11. “Rockaway Beach” (The Ramones)
12. “Sailing” (Christopher Cross)
13. “Sea of Love” (The Honeydrippers)
14. “Sittin’ on The Dock of the Bay” (Otis Redding)
15. “The Beach” (New Order)
16. “The Ocean” (U2)
17. “The Tide Is High” (Blondie)
18. “Too Many Fish In The Sea” (The Marvelettes)
19. “Under the Boardwalk” (The Drifters)
20. “Ebb Tide” (Al Hibler)
21. “Underwater Love” (Faith No More)
22. “California Girls” (David Lee Roth or The Beach Boys)
23. “Wipeout” (The Surfaris, or The Fat Boys)
24. “Sea Cruise” (Huey Smith)
25. “Beach Baby” (Regents)
26. “Caribbean Queen” (Billy Ocean)
27. “Coconut” (Harry Nilsson)
28. “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” (Rupert Holmes)
29. “La Isla Bonita” (Madonna)
30. “Walk on the Ocean” (Toad the Wet Sprocket)
31. “Margaritaville” (Jimmy Buffet)
32. “From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea” (The Cure)
33. “Vacation” (The Go-Gos)
34. “California Dreamin'” (The Mamas and the Papas)
35. “Going Back To Cali” (L.L. Cool J)
36. “Heatwave, (Love Is Like A)” (Martha Reeves & The Vandellas)
37. “Hot Fun in the Summertime” (Sly & the Family Stone)
38. “Hot Hot Hot” (Buster Poindexter)
39. “I Can See Clearly Now” (Johnny Nash or Jimmy Cliff)
40. “Miami” (Will Smith)
41. “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades” (Timbuk 3)
42. “Walkin’ on Sunshine” (Katrina and the Waves)
43. “Surfing USA” (Beach Boys)
44. “Three Little Birds” Bob Marley
45. “I’m Yours” Jason Mraz
46. “Lazy Song” Bruno Mars
47. “SOmewhere Over The Rainbow” Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
48. “Limbo Rock” Chubby Checker
49. “Banana Boat SOng” Harry Bellefonte
50. “Toes” Zac Brown Band

BEACH THEME CUPCAKES

Want to drift away? Need some good music to start it all off with?

Here is a link to our Island Music Playlist   —> ISLAND THEME MUSIC LIST

Here is another link to a video blog of a recent corporate event that DJ Kenny Casanova did at Beach Theme Party, where they poured tons of sand down and brought the beach to them!   —> BEACH THEME VIDEO BLOG

Thanks again, and come sail away with me!

…

HOW TO DANCE THE ELECTRIC SLIDE

The Electric Slide – isn’t hard to do, though it looks pretty advanced. Here are the steps transcribed:

STEP 1 – Starting with the right foot
Take three steps to the right and clap

STEP 2 – Starting with the left foot
Take three steps to the left and clap

STEP 3 – Starting with the right foot
Take three steps backwards and clap

STEP 4 – Shake your upper body down
Shake your upper body up

STEP 5 – Quarter turn to the right
(Repeat steps 1-5 for duration of song)

Wedding Introduction Ideas & Song Options

The “Bridal Party Introduction” is where I really made the transition from Professional Wrestling Ring Announcer Kenny Casanova to Wedding Reception DJ. It was just natural that my Michael Buffer-like,  “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble,” voice lent a hand in success when it comes to the intro of the bridal party. So with that being said, what have I seen lately in this area of bridal introductions?

For the most part, as the wedding DJ, I format the actual bridal party line up ahead of time expecting changes last minute. This gives me a base to start from. It often changes last minute, but at least we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. So, along with the song selection, I send them an outline to fill out with names in chronological order. This helps a lot, brides, so if you can get this squared out ahead of time, there is a lot less confusion in the hallway a minute before you are about to go on.

Usually, I think it works best to acknowledge the grandparents from their seats, then have the parents come through the doors with no music. Next, the sound hits and the wedding party comes in.

Lately for large bridal parties, I have found a few songs is kind of cool, as long as it doesn’t create a huge hassle for the DJ who has to also announce the names at the same time. Very familiar songs are the key and also create individuality and characterization for the members walking out.

Recently, one bridal pairing came out loosely costumed as Michael Jackson to Billie Jean and walked to their line on the dance floor complete with pearled gloves and surgical masks to boot.

A dramatic pause before the bride and groom is also cool, followed with a different song.

Wedding Party Reception Entrance Song Idea List:

• Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
• Carmina Fortuna – A Familiar Gothic Opera Tune You May Recognize 
• Rocky Theme -Gonna Fly Now w/ Survivor – Eye of the Tiger follow up
• Twilight Zone
• Mission Impossible Theme
• Olympic Fanfare – Emerson, Lake & Palmer
• Star Wars Imperial March Theme

ROCK
• Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
• Welcome To The Jungle – Guns N’ Roses
• White Wedding – Billy Idol
• You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC  
• Jump – Van Halen
• Thunderstruck – AC/DC
• Pour Some Sugar – On Me Def Leppard  
• Start Me Up – Rolling Stones
• The Final Countdown – Europe  

These are just a few selections I have seen in the Capital Region area as a wedding DJ. What ever you choose, make sure it fits you, as it sets the tone for the rest of the DJ fun for the night!

For more modern selection options, check out our Intro Song Idea List, also on this site.

Remember something borrowed and something blue? At first we only saw hints of one color on a bride. A little color maybe in the hair… A blast of color in jewelry… These accents made a nice touch, while still allowing the bride to wear her traditional white, at a traditional white wedding. However, many different colors have been creeping into the scene more and more, with all the new brights and eccentric patterns just as we see in today’s fashion trends. Just as we see people breaking the norm at many receptions, today’s bride who wishes to buck tradition is throwing the color rules out the window.

Just as brides and grooms are breaking it down on the wedding dance floor in the middle of a slow song all over the internet, today’s independent woman is no longer a follower. She is no longer silent. She doesn’t want to go along with the crowd. She wants to be different. She wants to make her day memorable. Today’s daring bride wears what she wants to wear, and sets a trend.

Out of Albany, NY, but willing to travel, I was the Disc Jockey for a recent wedding in Rochester, NY. At this particular wedding, I was pleasantly shocked to see that each bridesmaid had a different pastel color on, as I was calling the introductions over some Black Eyed Peas. The dresses were, in fact, the same cut and style and matched the vest on each of their individual escorts, but none of the dresses were the same color. White at this one was reserved for the bride, however, I am seeing brides dropping this tradition more and more!

What Will Everyone Think? I read that historically, white wedding dresses weren’t the norm until after Queen Victoria wore a white dress for her wedding. Okay, I am just the DJ, and not any sort of fashion plate, but I can tell you this. Not all brides are following the Queen anymore! Brides who are choosing colored gowns, are doing so for many other different reasons.

Quite often, in a world that sees second marriages as commonplace, for today’s bride who wants color but doesn’t want to be too obvious, I have been seeing washed out and faint colors on the dance floor, mixed into in their traditional white dresses. I have also seen very faint colors, it almost still looks white; almost as if someone washed a bright colored sock in with the gown.

Wedding dresses in the palest of pink or the lightest of blue add color, but aren’t looked at as inappropriate and don’t make the groom look as if he is marrying Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

One denominator for color choice has often been selection to match the season. Spring brides are choosing pale pastels, while those marrying in the summer choose deeper shades of similar colors. Those getting married in autumn are choosing yellows, golds and even shades orange, like my friend Pete, who recently got married on Halloween 2009, which fell on a Saturday.

However, from what I hear, it is the daring trend-setting winter bride who often chooses to make the boldest statement. Last winter, I had a bride in a bright red dress, with a red veil to match. (And yes, she looked like she raided Lady Gaga’s VMA closet.

My opinion on this? The wedding is all about the bride. I think the bride looks beautiful with whatever she chooses to wear, as long as she feels good in it and wears it front of a DJ at the reception, rather than a band!