Category: Wedding Song Ideas

ALTERNATIVE IDEAS FOR YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY MUSIC – A list of different wedding ceremony music for different brides & grooms

Do you remember the kid’s version of the wedding march? “Here Comes the Bride, All Fat and Wide!” This version of Wagner’s classic may have ruined it for everybody! So…

What are other good wedding songs for walking down the aisle? Of course the obvious answer is that any song that is meaningful to the two of you is perfect.

Want a list of wedding songs that they don’t usually play at a wedding ceremony? Making a list of songs that aren’t usually played at weddings seems like an oxymoron. It’s therefore an anti-list. If it isn’t a song you usually hear, then it could be anything! Anyhow, there are actually a handful of songs that do seem to see some regularity in non traditional wedding ceremonies, despite the fact that they are not the norm.

Here are a few alternative ceremony song ideas:

Only Time – Enya
I Wanna Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler
At Last – Etta James
Marry Me – Train
I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You – Josh Groban
Unchained Melody – Righteous Brothers or Il Divo
The Prayer – Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion
Warmness on the Soul – Avenged Sevenfold
For My Wedding – Don Henley
You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker
You And I – Michael Bublé
Love Me Tender – Norah Jones ft Adam Levy
You Are The One – Elliott Yamin
The Luckiest – Ben Folds Five
Heavenly Day – Patty Griffin
I will be here – Steven Curtis Chapman
I’ll Be – Edwin McCain’s
Happy Together – The Turtles
Time of Your Life – Green Day
I will Follow You into The Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
Love And Marriage – Freank Sinatra
Wonderwall – Oasis
Slide – GooGoo Dolls
When I see You Smile – Bad English
Extraordinary – Better than Ezra
Everybody Loves Somebody – Dean Martin
Crush – Dave Matthews
Bring Me to Life – Evanescence
She will be Loved – Maroon 5
Beautiful Day – U2
Silverstein – still dreaming
Bob Marley- is this love
Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop – Landon Pigg
Born for You – David Pomeranz
A Moment Like This – Kelly Clarkson

CUSTOMIZING YOUR CEREMONY WITH YOUR SONG

It is funny how since the last episode of The Sopranos, everyone and there mom loves the song “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. If you have a song that is “your song,” then an instrumental version of it might be perfect for you. There are classical bands like Vitamin String Quartet who do songs like “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC-DC, but in an elegant arrangement. Boyce Avenue also does an acoustic music version of this familiar tune. This softer cover version idea could sooth the older guests, while also make the younger ones smile.

Overall, realize that music sets the mood. Think about the atmosphere you absolutely want for your wedding ceremony. Is it elegant, rocking, fun, festive, friendly, classy, one of a kind, Celtic wedding, Italian, natural, unique? Think of music that fits with how you want your guests to feel and how you’ll want to feel that day. Don’t feel forced. You don’t have to choose something from those silly wedding music CDs, it doesn’t have to say “wedding” on it at all, as long as it says you.

“The wedding ceremony was beautiful. The food was great,” the bride says, about to roll her eyes below a beautiful veil. “People were having a good time. The cake was delicious. Everything seemed just right, but then all of the sudden… UGH! It’s The Dreaded Chicken Dance!!!”

The groom drops his head in shame. “I forgot to tell him no.”

The bride looks at the groom and says, “This is the one song I hate more than anything in the world.”

While it may sound simple, not everyone thinks to make… THE DO NOT PLAY LIST!

If you want to be really prepared, make a list of songs that you actually loath. Give your DJ the list. This way when the party part of your big day comes about, it’s only what you really want.

While your must-hear song list may seem very important, a do not play list in many situations, may be even more important!

It is now that magical moment for you, the bride in white. The glowing spotlight is shinning softly on you and all eyes casted your way. Your hands hold a modest, yet gorgeous bundle of flowers and you are about to throw it all away, and move on to the next wonderful chapter in your book.

Your dress is perfect. Your hair is lovely. Everything is just how you imagined it would be, but the silly DJ cracks a stupid joke to match his song choice and plays something ridiculous and seemingly unrelated,  because you didn’t specify and left it up to him.

You bite your lip. “I knew shoulda told him what to play!”

Don’t worry! You are not there yet. So what can you actually pick for a song? There are countless songs out there, and it is overwhelming, but you do not half to reinvent the wheel.

Here is a popular listing of Top Bouquet Tossing Songs where you cannot go wrong!

• Single Ladies – Beyonce
• Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
• I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
• Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
• Dancing Queen – Abba Girls
• Ladies Night – Kool & The Gang
• Man! I Feel Like A Woman – Shania Twain
• Respect – Aretha Franklin
• All I Wanna Do – Cheryl Crow
• Chapel of Love – Dixie Cups
• Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
• Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison
• So Many Men, So Little Time – Miquel Brown
•This one is for the girls – Martina McBride
•Wishin’ and Hopin’ Ani Difranco (My Best Friends Wedding Soundtrack)
•”Sex in the City” theme song
• American Woman – The Guess Who
•Bootylicious – Destiny’s Child
• Diamonds are a girls best friend – Marilyn Monroe
• Dirty – Christina aguilera
• Don’t want no Scrub – TLC
• Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
• Express Yourself – Madonna
• Funky Town – Lipps Inc.
• Girls, Girls, Girls – Motley Cruew
• Hey Ladies – The Beastie Boys
• Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar
• Its Getting Hot in Herre – Nelly
• Its Raining Men – The Weather Girls
• Just a girl – No Doubt
• Ladies Night – Kool & The Gang
• Lady Marmalade – Pink, Mia, Lil’ Kim, Christina Aguilera
• Let’s Get Loud – Jenifer Lopez
• Like a Virgin – Madonna
• Milkshake – Kelis
• Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman – Britney Spears
• Oh Its so Quiet, Shhh (Zing-Boom) Bjork
• One way or another blondie
• Our Day Will Come – Ruby and the Romantics
• Perfect Day Hoku – Legally Blonde Soundtrack
• Red Neck Woman – Gretchen Wilson
• Shoop Shoop Song – Cher
• Single White Female – Chely Wright
• This one’s for the Girls – Martina Mc Bride
• Touch Me, Tease Me Case – Foxy Brown
• What a Girl Wants – Christina Aguillera

The traditional cutting of the wedding cake has strange roots. Did you know that back in the Roman Empire, the groom would eat part of some barley baked especially for the nuptials and break the rest over his bride’s head.

Did you also know that the multi-tiered wedding cake was originally reserved for English royalty?  Well, a lot has changed.

You are probably planning a wedding and wondering, ” what are some good songs that my DJ could play for before dessert is served?”

Here are a few I have seen in the past:

•Cut the Cake (Average White Band) – *I don’t really recommed this instrumental anymore, as no one really knows the title.
•I Wanna Grow Old With You (Adam Sandler)
•How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
•Sugar, Sugar (The Archies)
•Hit me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)
•When I’m 64 (The Beatles)
•Recipe For Love (Harry Connick Jr.)
•That’s Amore’ (Dean Martin)
•Happy Together (The Turtles)
•Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard)
•I Got You Babe (Sunny & Cher)
•Love & Marriage (Frank Sinatra)
•Oh Yeah! (Yello)
•Axel F (Harold Faltermeyer)
•Peter Gunn Theme

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. 

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