Every bride-to-be has dreamed about getting married practically since they were little girls. Some brides remember drawing themselves with veils in crayon in preschool. Others remember practicing a new surname on the back of a a high school notebook.. No matter how you cut the wedding cake, every bride-to-be wants their wedding to be considered happy, special, and sometimes “THE BEST THERE EVER WILL BE.” However, the reality is …dreams do not always unfold into reality. So, what exactly can a bride do to help her happy visions actually come to life?
The Perfect Wedding
DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
A wedding reception is like a research paper. To make for a great one, research has to be done. But before you do any research, you need to focus on finding the right questions, before you can try to find answers. First off, the bride and groom should identify “The Big Question” and then decide on a thesis (an answer) they are both comfortable with.
THE REAL QUESTION IS…
The only real way to be happy with your reception is if all the people around you are happy. The big question, therefore, then should not be “What do I want?” but rather, “What do I want for my guests?”
By formulating this question every time you plan an aspect of your party, you are planning from the guests’ perspective. Planning using the “Big Question” instead of something more selfish and meaningful to only you, will spawn a number of sub-questions that go along with it like, “what do I want my guests to say when they sit down?” and also, “what do I want my guests to say when they walk out the door?”
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
Demographics is everything. Thinking about who is going to be there before you actually plan, will make your reception “the best wedding of all time.” Different people like different things and you have to have a happy medium of what they will like and what you will like too.
BEING A GOOD WEDDING HOST MEANS BEING UNSELFISH –
Realizing that you are trying to accommodate all of your guests’ wishes from a great wedding reception is only the first step. Next, you have to do your research. Your homework is to find what really makes you happy, and also makes every guest attending happy as well. Because wedding receptions happen everywhere everyday, it is safe to say thousands of reception options have been created and your answers are out there. You just have to find them. Using this planning philosophy can work in every area including food, entertainment, music and even the overall look & layout of the decor.
Fun With Design
THINK OF EVERYONE AT YOUR RECEPTION –
Don’t force eating restrictions on your guest. It causes friction.
Let’s apply this unselfish planning thinking from the guests’ perspective to one particular aspect of the reception: The Cake. While you may absolutely love the idea of a classy cream cheese carrot cake, Uncle Charlie may absolutely HATE IT. That doesn’t mean you have to be unselfish and not have carrot cake, it only means you have to think outside of the box. What would my guests like to see in a cake? How can I make everyone happy? In this case, why not TRY WEDDING CUPCAKES. Have you heard of this? You tier up a wedding cake display with many different types of cup cakes, in displayed in the shape of a traditional wedding cake. Everyone, including you and Uncle Charlie is now happy.
Same goes for the seating. Putting older folks close to the DJ is usually a bad idea!
As a wedding DJ specialist in Upstate New York, I tell my clients that if you really want to have your guests look back at attending “the best wedding ever,” keep them in mind as much as yourself. Happiness breeds happiness. Playing your favorite songs is important and fine, but remember to always involve some of your guests’ favorite songs as well-even when they might not involve the same types of musical tastes.
Find the happy medium, it is out there.
CAKE
Speaking of the cake… Here is something else to think about: Try to make the cake as late as possible as this is often a point of exit for many guests. No matter what anyone says, dessert feels like the end and if your reluctant party-goer guests get this feeling, they may leave early!
The whole idea of having a wedding cake tradition with music and couple feeding really has been around forever, though it has transformed more into what we know it as today in recent times.
During the ancient Roman Empire, the groom would cbreak up a bread-like cake and sprinkle the crumbs all over his bride’s head. In the 17th century, a large decorated wedding pie was uhe dessert of choice, with one main ingredient: a glass ring hidden inside to symbolize that the finder was the next to be married. After the 19th century came about, we really started to see the big frosting giants with multi-layering.
No matter which way you cut it, everyone tends to agree that music makes things better, so somewhere along the line music was added to the mix.
Having a mood-setting wedding cake theme song is a great way to put the people into the mindset of the bride and groom. However, how do you pick the right song?
The best thing to think about when choosing your wedding cake theme song is to think about what kind of atmosphere you would like to set during the actual cake cutting activity. If you want “fun,” I wouldn’t go with classical music or jazz. If you want classy, I also wouldn’t pick Def Leppard. Happy, party, fun, serious, nostalgic, classy, and romantic are a bunch of moods that you could set. Remember to always pick a suitable song that goes along with the feeling you would like to convey.
Partially from an earlier blog, here is a good updated list of songs that you may want to use for your wedding reception cake cutting activity:
wedding cake song list
Ain’t That a Kick in the Head – Dean Martin
All My Life – KC & JoJo
Better Be Good To Me – Tina Turner
Better Together – Jack Johnson
Cut the Cake – Average White Band
Cuts Like A Knife – Bryan Adams
Eat It – Weird Al Yankovic
Happy Together – The Turtles
Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar
How Sweet It Is – James Taylor
I Do – Colbie Calliet
I Got You Babe – Sonny Bono & Cher
I Wanna Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler
Ice Cream – Sarah McLachlan
If I had A Million Dollars – Bare Naked ladies
It Had to be You – Harry Connick Jr.
It’s your Love – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
Love and Marriage – Frank Sinatra
Mack The Knife – Bobby Darin
Marry Me – Train
Pour Some Sugar on Me – Def Leppard
Recipe for Love – Harry Connick Jr
So This Is Love – Cinderella Theme
Sugar, Sugar – The Archies
That’s Amore – Dean Martin
Theme From ‘Jaws’ – Jaws Soundtrack
This Could Be The Start of Something Big – Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme
This Guy’s In Love With You – Herb Albert
When I’m 64 – Beatles
Have you been to a wedding lately? Was it good or bad? If you answered “good,” there is a good chance that the DJ had a good part of helping you come to this answer. Audience interaction is the key to success.
It is funny how a lot of weddings have so many similarities, but can still be good or bad. There are many traditional activities that happen at most all receptions. The first dance, the bouquet toss, father & bride dance, mother & groom dance, toasts and the cake cutting… we have seen these all time and time again. But these activities alone do not make the wedding reception a night to remember. If you really want people to have fun, your guests need the option to interact.
Dancing Activities are important to many of you guests.
Some will argue that group dances are hokey and there are a number of them that really, really are. One example is the dreaded “Chicken Dance”. I personally, hate that song! However, there are some that are very modern and can do wonders for getting people out of their seats.
Even if you as the bride and groom absolutely hate dance activities, these are great ice breakers. If you can sacrifice a couple of songs to the majority of your group and and moving, it may be worth it in the big picture. If you get the people up and dancing with The Cha Cha or Electric slide, they may very well stay up there for the rest of the night.
There are many activities you have at your disposal as options. Others include The Cupid Shuffle, The Apache, The Mississippi Mudslide, The Conga, Souljaboy and The YMCA. Also, there are dollar dances, the freeze dance, The Limbo, the twist, and anniversary dances – where the DJ calls out numbers of years married to leave the dance floor, until the couple that had been together the longest remains.
Albany Wedding DJ Disc jockey - DJ Kenny Casanova - Cut Wedding Cake. When?
So… Umm… When do we cut the wedding cake?
The activity of celebrating the wedding cake has been an important part of the wedding reception since the days of Ancient Rome. During that time period, things were a little different. There was no stacking and there was no crazy decorating. There was, however, a simple wheat cake crumbled over the bride’s head and into her hair. Sound odd? There was a reason. Wheat at this time to this culture was a symbol that represented bounty, so this messy tradition was carried out to ensure her fertility.
Today, many things have changed at the wedding reception. While we may seem more civilized to pour crumbs over the head of the new bride, we do carry on a twist to the old cake tradition. Instead, now the bride and groom hold a knife together and cut the cake together. In some cases, the groom lovingly smashes the cake in the glowing bride’s face; Not a far cry from the old tradition after all. This new tradition continues with the top of the layered cake is now saved for the bride and groom to eat, one year later on their first anniversary.
The first wedding I ever DJ’ed at where there was no cake cutting happened last week. Do you have to cut the cake? Technically no. However, cutting the cake gives your guests and your photographer a great photo opportunity and lets them all celebrate your marriage with you, and your creativity of cake choice.
I have heard that there seems to be a constant battle, of late, between the DJ and/or wedding planners and the wedding hall/ caterers on when the best time it is to cut the cake at your wedding reception. Well, what is the answer?
Traditionally, the cake should be cut towards the end of the evening. Think about it. After eating a big meal, dessert isn’t always right on the guests’ minds, but could be after an hour or two of dancing. Some also choose to do the cutting right after the dinner so that everyone can dance the night away without any interruptions, but again, the cake often isn’t eaten then, if at all, until later.
One thing to keep in mind… If you do notice that during your reception, the hall is seeming to nag you for the cake to be cut and eaten right away, they probably have a hidden agenda. Sometimes they truly just want to get it out of the way. Other times, however, having the cake cutting activity done early is often a cost-cutting factor for the hall; the hall can send home their extra staff when the serving is done and then save extra money on payroll!
Whatever you chose to do, do what feels right for you! Here are some song ideas to play while the cake is being cut:
Destiny – Jim Brickman
Can You Feel The Love Tonight? – Elton John
Recipe For Making Love – Harry Connick, Jr.
I Got You Babe – Sonny and Cher
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
Thank You – Led Zeppelin
The Sweetest Thing – U2
Sugar, Sugar – The Archies
Wedding Song – Bob Dylan
Unbroken – Tim McGraw
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – James Taylor
It’s Your Love – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Ain’t That A Kick In The Head – Dean Martin
Chapel Of Love – Dixie Cups
Love You Madly – Cake
Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
When I’m Sixty-Four – The Beatles
Love And Marriage – Frank Sinatra
That’s Amore – Dean Martin
Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler
Eat it – Weird Al Yankovic
After All Is Said And Done – Beyoncé Knowles & Marc Nelson
1, 2, 3, 4 – Plain White T’s
‘Cause I love You – Lenny Williams
Whatever It is – Zac Brown Band
One Love – Bob Marley
Here and Now – Luther Vandross
I Do (Cherish You) – 98 Degrees
Cut The Cake – Average White Band
All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
Yummy Yummy Yummy – Ohio Express
Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – Four Tops
Pick a song that says something about you as a couple.
The first dance can be a class act, or something fun. A recent trend is to chop up the first dance and add somethign crazy into it. No matter what you choose to do, there are many options to set the tone.
When you select a first dance song, you want to set one that sets a mood. Traditionally you want to pick a slow song so people can get some good shots of you together as man and wife.
The rest of the night, due to mingling and the couple visiting with loved ones and new members of their family, it isn’t always easy for people to get a lot of bride & groom dancing shots. So going more traditional will allow for one good opportunity for everyone to get the mushy pictures! If this is the route you chose to go with, you will want the song to match your personality and show who you are as a couple. Here are some popular requests for first songs:
Top Bride / Groom First Dance Songs
“Grow Old With Me” by Mary Chapin Carpenter
“Embraceable You” by Nat King Cole
“Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole
“When I Fall In Love” by Nat King Cole
“Marry Me” by Neil Diamond & Buffy Lawson
“When A Man Loves A Woman” by Percy Sledge
“After All” by Peter Cetera & Cher
“Glory Of Love” by Peter Cetera
“Wedding Song by There is Love ” by Petula Clark
“Perhaps Love” by Placido Domingo & John Denver
“Forever and Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis
“You Are the Everything” by R.E.M.
“I Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore” by R.E.O. Speedwagon
“Unchained Melody” by Righteous Brothers
“Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You” by Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson
“Truly, Madly, Deeply” by Savage Garden
“Kiss From A Rose” by Seal
“Dreaming Of You” by Selena
“From This Moment” by Shania Twain & Brian White
“You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain
“If I Never Knew You” by Shanice Wilson & John Secada
“True” by Spandau Ballet
“You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” by Stevie Wonder
“I Believe by When I Fall in Love ” by Stevie Wonder
“Ma Cherie Amour” by Stevie Wonder
“Give a Little Bit” by Supertramp
“Eternal Flame” by The Bangles
“I Will” by The Beatles
“In My Life” by The Beatles
“Something” by The Beatles
“We’ve Only Just Begun” by The Carpenters
“In The Still of the Night” by The Five Satins
“I Only Have Eyes For You” by The Flamingos
“A Groovy Kind Of Love” by The Mindbenders
“Oh, How The Years Go By” by Vanessa Williams
“Will You Marry Me?” by Vonda Shepard
“Hold Me” by Whitney Houston & Teddy Pendergrass
“One Moment In Time” by Whitney Houston
“You Are My First, My Last, My Everything” by Barry White
“Take My Breath Away” by Berlin
“The Rose” by Bette Midler
“Our Love Is Here To Stay” by Billie Holiday
“Just The Way You Are” by Billy Joel
“She’s Got A Way” by Billy Joel
“We’ve Got Tonight” by Bob Seger
“You Are My Special Angel” by Bobby Helms
“If” by Bread
“Everything I Own” by Bread
“Heaven” by Bryan Adams
“True Love Ways” by Buddy Holly
“Tonight And Forever” by Carly Simon
“You’re The Inspiration” by Chicago
“Lady In Red” by Chris DeBurgh
“Longer” by Dan Fogelberg
“Endless Love” by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John
“Friends” by Elton John
“The One” by Elton John
“Your Song” by Elton John
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley
“Always” by Erasure
“At Last” by Etta James
“Let It Be Me” by Everly Brothers
“Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac
“The Best Is Yet To Come” by Frank Sinatra
“The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
“If I Loved You” by from Carousel
“As Time Goes By” by from Casablanca
“Some Enchanted Evening” by from South Pacific
“Somewhere” by from West Side Story
“Love Theme To Romeo & Juliet” by from Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet
“Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” by Glenn Medeiros
“Here We Are” by Gloria Estefan
“Beautiful” by Gordon Lightfoot
“It Had To Be You” by Harry Connick, Jr.
“So This Is Love” by James Ingram
“Up Where We Belong” by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warrens
“You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker
“Woman” by John Lennon
“I Swear” by John Michael Montgomery
“Chances Are” by Johnny Mathis
“Beautiful In My Eyes” by Joshua Kadison
“So In Love” by k.d. lang
“Don’t Know Much” by Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville
“What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
“Here And Now” by Luther Vandross
“Dream A Little Dream” by Mamas & the Papas
“Hero” by Mariah Carey
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.
FIRST DANCE SONGS (Traditional / classics)
First, My Last, My Everything – Barry White
Take My Breath Away – Berlin
The Rose – Bette Midler
Our Love Is Here To Stay – Billie Holiday
Just The Way You Are – Billy Joel
She’s Got A Way – Billy Joel
We’ve Got Tonight – Bob Seger
You Are My Special Angel – Bob- Helms
If – Bread
Everything I Own – Bread
Heaven – Bryan Adams
True Love Ways – Buddy Holly
Tonight And Forever – Carly Simon
You’re The Inspiration – Chicago
Lady In Red – Chris DeBurgh
Longer – Dan Fogelberg
Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
Can You Feel the Love Tonight – Elton John
Friends – Elton John
The One – Elton John
Your Song – Elton John
Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
Always – Erasure
At Last – Etta James
Let It Be Me – Everly Brothers
Songbird – Fleetwood Mac
The Best Is Yet To Come – Frank Sinatra
The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
If I Loved You – from Carousel
As Time Goes – – from Casablanca
Some Enchanted Evening – from South Pacific
Somewhere – from West Side Story
Love Theme – Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet
Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You – Glenn Medeiros
Here We Are – Gloria Estefan
Beautiful – Gordon Lightfoot
It Had To Be You – Harry Connick, Jr.
So This Is Love – James Ingram
Up Where We Belong – Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warrens
You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker
Woman – John Lennon
I Swear – John Michael Montgomery
Chances Are – Johnny Mathis
Beautiful In My Eyes – Joshua Kadison
So In Love – K.D. lang
Don’t Know Much – Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville
Amazed – Lonestar
What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Here And Now – Luther Vandross
Dream A Little Dream – Mamas & the Papas
Hero – Mariah Carey
Grow Old With Me – Mary Chapin Carpenter
Embraceable You – Nat King Cole
Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
When I Fall In Love – Nat King Cole
Marry Me – Train
Marry Me – Neil Diamond & Buffy Lawson
When A Man Loves A Woman – Percy Sledge
After All – Peter Cetera & Cher
Glory Of Love – Peter Cetera
Perhaps Love – Placido Domingo & John Denver
Forever and Ever, Amen – Randy Travis
You Are the Everything – R.E.M.
I Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore – R.E.O. Speedwagon
Unchained Melody – Righteous Brothers
Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You – Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson
Kiss From A Rose – Seal
Dreaming Of You – Selena
From This Moment – Shania Twain & Brian White
You’re Still The One – Shania Twain
If I Never Knew You – Shanice Wilson & John Secada
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – Stevie Wonder
I Believe – When I Fall in Love – Stevie Wonder
Ma Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder
Give a Little Bit – Supertramp
Eternal Flame – The Bangles
I Will – The Beatles
In My Life – The Beatles
Something – The Beatles
We’ve Only Just Begun – The Carpenters
In The Still of the Night – The Five Satins
I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos
A Groovy Kind Of Love – The Mindbenders
Oh, How The Years Go – – Vanessa Williams
Will You Marry Me? – Vonda Shepard
FIRST DANCE SONGS –
NEW/ALTERNATIVE LIST
Adele – Make you feel my Love
Alanis Morissette – Head Over Feet
Alicia Keys – Fallin’
Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You
All 4 One – I Swear
Ashlee Simpson – Pieces Of Me
Avril Lavigne – I’m With You
Ben Folds – The Luckiest
Barenaked Ladies – It’s All Been Done
Beyoncé – At Last (Remake of Etta James)
Brad Paisley – Then
Bright Eyes – First Day of My Life
Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are
Bruno Mars – Marry You
Carrie Underwood – Look At Me
Charlotte Church – Crazy Chick
Christina Aguilera – Beautiful
Christina Aguilera – I Turn To You
Creed – With Arms Wide Open
Colbie Caillat – Bubbly
Colbie Caillat – I Do
Coldplay – Green Eyes
Coldplay – In My Place
Corrs – All The Love In The World
Counting Crows – Accidentally In Love
Dave Matthews Band – You and Me
Delta Goodrem – Out Of The Blue
Dido – Thank You
Dixie Chicks – Cowboy Take Me Away
Edwin McCain – I’ll Be, I could not ask for more
Ed Sheeran – A-team
Enrique Iglesias – Hero
Frankie J with Baby Bash – Obsession (No Es Amor)
Frankie J – More Than Words
Foo Fighters – Everlong
Ginuwine – Differences
Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
Guy Sebastian – Angles Brought Me Here
Howie Day – Collide
IZ Isreal Kamakawiwoʻole – Somewhere over The Rainbow
Jack Johnson -Banana Pancakes
Jack Johnson – Better Together
James Blunt – You’re Beautiful
Jason Derulo – Watcha Say
Jason Mraz and Colbie Callait Lucky
Jason Mraz – I’m Yours
Jennifer Lopez – Baby I Love You
John Michael Montgomery – I Swear
Josh Groban – You Raise Me Up
Katy Perry – Thinking Of You
K-Ci & JoJo – All My Life
K-Ci & JoJo – Crazy
Kelly Clarkson – A Moment Like This
Kelly Clarkson – Before Your Love
Kelly Clarkson – Thankful
Leane Womack – I Hope You Dance
Lonestar – Amazed
Lumineers – Ho Hey
Maroon 5 – She Will Be Loved
Marc Broussard – Lucky
Michelle Branch – Game Of Love
Michael Buble – Everything
Mika – Love Today Miley Cyrus – The Climb
Monica and Usher – Slow Jam
Newton Faulkner – Dream Catch Me
Norah Jones- Those Sweet Words
Ne-Yo – Sexy Love
O-Town – Always
OneRepublic – Apologize
OneRepublic – Stop and Stare
Owl City – If My Heart Was A House
Plain White T’s – 1 2 3 4
Plain White T’s – Rhythm of Love
Paulini – Angel Eyes
Rascal Flats – My Wish
Ray LaMontagne – Hold You In My Arms
Ricki Lee – Love Is All Around
Rihanna – Umbrella
Rob Thomas – Little Wonders
Runner Runner – Can’t Hardly Wait
Santana & Chad Croeger – Into The Night
Sara Evans – I could not ask for more
Sarah McLachlan – I Will Remember You
Secondhand Serenade – Fall For You
Shakira – Underneath Your Clothes
Shania Twain – Always and Forever
Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me
Smashing Pumpkins – Today
Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars
Stickwitu – Pussycat Dolls
Taylor Swift – Today Was a Fairytale
Train – Marry Me
The Cure – Just Like Heaven
Toploader – Dancing in the Moonlight
Uncle Kracker – Smile
Usher – U Got It Bad
U2 – Beautiful Day
Vanessa Amorosi – Perfect
Van Morrison – Days like This
Van Morrison – Faith in Me
Vanassa Carlton – A Thousand Miles
Westlife – Swear It Again
