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Wedding Reception Basics: Social Hour Music, Grand Entrance, Welcome Speech, Clinking Instructions, Table Release
Instructions, Cake Cutting, Toasts, Shoe Game, Father/Daughter Dance, Mother/Son Dance, Bride and Groom First
Dance, Group Photo on the Dance Floor, Anniversary Dance, Bouquet, Garter, Dollar Dance, Send Off (I would like to
discuss all of these things before the event, but there's much more to discuss if you have time.
Wedding ceremony example: I begin standard classical prelude music 15 minutes before the start time. When the groom
finishes seating parents and reaches the front, I begin playing the Wedding Party Processional. When the flower girl
reaches the front, I begin the Bride's Processional. I press play on the Recessional right after the officiant introduces the
couple for the first time with the new last name. If you hired me to do your ceremony, scroll to the bottom of this page to
find the "Ceremony" tab for play list ideas.
The survey below is not required to be completely filled out. It can be copied and pasted to the body of an email to me, or
printed, handwritten and mailed to me, scanned, or filled out in person in a meeting. Write or type YYY by the must play
songs, and NNN on the ones I should not play, even if requested.
This is a general survey and not a complete list of music I own. I own more music than there is room to list.
Add any requests you can think of to this survey, and I will follow your play lists.
Recent "Top requests:": "Danza Kuduro," " Despacito," and Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody"
When you copy this text and add your comments, please add your notes/questions in bold/italic instead of a
different color. I look forward to answering any questions in person, by phone, email, Facetime, or messaging- I
enjoy planning in person, but most events are planned by a series of emails. I am free most weekdays and
evenings to meet in person- suggest a few option for date/time/location. I live in Edina, near the Hopkins border.
____ The Cupid Shuffle (...to the right to the right to the right to the right, to the left....) often confused with:
____ The Casper Cha Cha Slide (...three hops this time, cha cha real smooth, etc.)
____ Wobble (lessons available upon request) ____Electric Slide (lessons available)
____ The Macarena ____Country Line Dancing (lessons available)
____ The Wop ____ Watch Me Whip ____ Soulja Boy Tell Em ____Hit the Quan
____ JuJu on that Beat ___Betcha Can't do it Like Me (Challenge) OTHER: __________
Down-tempo Recent Hits with explicit or radio versions: ____"I'm the One" by Justin Bieber and DJ Khalid
____"ispy" by Kyle ____"Bad and Boujee" by Migos _____"Redbone" by Childish Gambino
____ "Black Beatles" by Rae Sremmurd ____"Rolex" by Ayo & Teo _____"Jumpman" by Drake
____"Goosebumps" by Travis Scott _____"What if?" by Kevin Gates ____"Mask Off" by Future
____"Magnolia" by Playboi Carti
Upbeat Recent Hits:
____"Despacito" by Justin Bieber and Daddy Yankee ____"Stay" by Zedd and Alessia Cara
____"I Feel it Coming" by the Weeknd ____"Rockabye" by Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul
____"Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake ____"Honey, I'm Good" by Andy Grammar
____"Handclap" by Fitz and the Tantrums ____"Cake By the Ocean" by DNCE
____"Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon ____"Timber" by Ke$ha/Pitbull
____"Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift ____"There's Nothing Holding Me Back" by Shawn Mendes
Other:________________________________________________________________________
Bruno Mars: ____That's What I Like ___24K Magic ___Uptown Funk ___Treasure
Pitbull:____Time of Our Lives____1,2,3,4 Calle Ocho ____Don't Stop the Party____Fireball ____International
Love
Lonely Island: ___I'm on a Boat ____I Just Had Sex
Chainsmokers: ___Paris ___Closer ___Something Just Like This (with Coldplay)
Ed Sheeran: ____Castle on the Hill ____Shape of You
LMFAO: ___Party Rock Anthem ___Sexy and I Know It ___Shots ___Miami
Ke$ha: ___Die Young ___Tik Tok ____Blow ___Your Love is my Drug ___We R Who We R
Miley: ___Party in the USA ____23 ____We Can't Stop
Meghan Trainor: ___All About That Bass ___Me Too ___Dear Future Husband
Pink: ____Raise Your Glass ____Get the Party Started ____So What
Beyonce: ____Crazy In Love ____Formation ____Put a Ring on It ____Love on Top
Usher: _____Yeah! ____OMG
Prince:___Let's Go Crazy ___ Kiss ___DMSR ___ E City ____P Control___Wanna Be Your Lover ___1999
More upbeat party pop:
___"Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen _____"Backyard Party" by R Kelly
___"Call on Me" by Eric Prydz ___"Every Time We Touch" by Cascada ___"Heaven" by DJ Sammy
___"Sandstorm" by Darude ___"Satisfaction" by Benni Benassi ____"Around the World" by Daft Punk
___"All I Ever Wanted" by Basshunter ____"Take Me Home Country Roads" by Hermes House Band
___"Dragonista" by Ozone ____"Hey Baby" by DJ Otzi
___"Shake That ___, ___Let me See What You Got" by Booty Bass
Should I shout out WHO a song is being played for as it starts? For example "Bridesmaids!"
Other:____________________________________________________________________
SLOW DANCE IDEAS:
Ed Sheeran: ___Perfect ___Tenerife Sea ___Thinking Out Loud
___"Piano Man" by Billy Joel ____"Like I'm Gonna Lose You" by Meghan Trainor
___"Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers
___"Open Arms" by Journey ___"What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
___"Could I Have This Dance" by Anne Murray ____"Love Can Build a Bridge" by the Judds
___"All My Life" by KC and JoJo ____"I Believe in You" by Joe ____"I Believe in You" by Don Williams
___"Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden
___ "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Haley Reinhart ____"Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley
___"Can't Help Falling in Love" by Ingrid Michaelson
___"From The Ground Up" by Dan + Shay ____"Die a Happy Man" by Thomas Rhett
___"Adore" by Prince ____ "H.O.L.Y." by Florida-Georgia Line ____"Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton
Other: ____________________________________________
BOY BANDS:____"I Want it That Way" by Backstreet Boys ___"Bye Bye Bye" by 'Nsync
___"Everybody (Backstreet's Back) by Backstreet Boys _____"Step By Step" by New Kids on the Block
___"MMM Bop" by Hanson _____Spice Girls "Wannabe"
SWING: ____Jump Jive 'n Wail by Brian Setzer ___Zoot Suit Riot by Cherry Poppin' Daddies
___Sing Sing Sing from the Swing Kids soundtrack ____Sing Sing Sing original Benny Goodman
LATIN: ____"Danza Kuduro" by Don Omar
___Celia Cruz "La Vida Es Un Carnival" for Salsa ____Elvis Crespo "Suavamente" for Merengue
___"Stand By Me" by Prince Royce for Bachata (Many more available)
___"Baila Es Cumbia" by Kumbia Kings w/ Selena
Daddy Yankee: ____Limbo ____Rompe ____Gasolina
MOTOWN, SOUL and OTHER UPBEAT 50's 60's "ROCK OLDIES":
___Shout! by Otis Day and the Knights (Animal House); ___Twist and Shout by the Beatles
___Respect by Aretha Franklin, ____Mustang Sally by the Commitments
___Build Me up Buttercup by the Foundations ____Proud Mary by Ike and Tina Turner
___Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) by the Four Tops, ___Mony Mony by Tommy James
___Runaround Sue by Dion ___The Wanderer by Dion ___Do You Love Me by the Contours
___Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison; ___Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker
___Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison; ___Honky Tonk Women by the Rolling Stones
___Hang on Sloopy by the McCoys ; ___Wipe Out by the Surfaris; ____Tequila by the Champs
___Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley ___Barbara Ann by the Beach Boys
COUNTRY:
Sam Hunt: ___Body Like a Back Road ___House Party ____Leave the Night On
Thomas Rhett: ____Vacation Locash: ___I Love This Life
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: ____Fishing In The Dark Hank Williams Jr, ____"Family Tradition"
Big N' Rich: ____ Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy
Shania Twain: ___Man I Feel Like a Woman ____Any Man of Mine ___Party For Two Country Version
Gretchen Wilson: ___Redneck Woman ____Here for the Party Sugarland: ____It Happens
George Strait: ____Check Yes or No ____All My Ex's Live in Texas ____Here For a Good Time
Luke Bryan: ____That's My Kind of Night ____Country Girl (Shake it For Me) ___Kick the Dust Up
Jason Aldean: ___Crazy Town ____Hicktown ____Big Green Tractor ____Take a Little Ride ____Lights
Come On
Johnny Cash: ____Ring of Fire ___Folsom Prison Blues ____I Walk the Line
Zac Brown Band: ___Toes ___Chicken Fried ___Beautiful Drug
Eric Church: ___Drink in My Hand
Florida Georgia Line: ___Cruise ____Round Here ____This is How We Roll __Get Your Shine On
Alabama: ____Mountain Music ____I'm in a Hurry
Chris Young: ____Aw Naw Dierks Bentley _____5-1-5-0
Blake Shelton: ___Footloose ___Honeybee
Kenny Chesney: ____She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy
Justin Moore: ____Redneck Side John Pardi: _____Head Over Boots
Garth Brooks: ____Friends in Low Places (Live) ___Ain't Going Down ___2 Pina Coladas ___Callin' Baton
Rouge
Taylor Swift: ___22 ___Stay ___Mean OTHER:____________
Fun Rap: ___Tipsy (JKwon)
___No Diggity (Blackstreet) ___Regulators (Warren G) ____Boombastic (Shaggy)
___All I Do is Win (DJ Khaled) ___Lip Gloss (Lil Mama) ___Shoop (Salt N'Pepa)
___Baby Got Back by Sir Mix A-lot ____Temerature (Sean Paul)
___Let Me Clear My Throat (DJ Kool) ___It's Tricky (Run DMC)
___Jump Around (House of Pain) ____Jump (Kriss Kross)
___Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice) ___Bust A Move (Young MC) ___Rapper's Delight ___Jump On It (Sugar Hill Gang)
___Get Back (Ludacris) ___Can't Touch This (MC Hammer) ____Here Comes the Hot Stepper (Ini Kamoze)
___This is How We Do It (Montell Jordan) ____Whoomp! There it Is (Tag Team)
___Motown Philly (Boyz II Men)
___I'm Different (2 Chainz) ____Put On (Young Jeezy)
Notorious B.I.G.: ___Hypnotize ___Juicy ___Mo Money ___Going Back to Cali
Snoop Dogg: ____Who am I? (What's My Name?) ___Gin N Juice ____America's Most Wanted ____Drop It
Eminem: ___My Name Is ___Forgot About Dre ____Shake That * For Me ___Lose Yourself
Beastie Boys: ____Brass Monkey ____Fight For Your Right ___Girls ____Sabotage
Macklemore: ____And We Danced ___Thrift Shop ____Can't Hold Us ___Downtown
2 Pac: ____Keep Ya Head Up ___Thug Passion ___California Love
Jay Z: ___Big Pimpin ____Dirt off Your Shoulder ___Show Me What You Got ____On to the Next One
Wiz Khalifa: ___We Dem Boyz ___Black and Yellow ___Medicated ___The Plan ___Paperbond
R Kelly: ___Ignition (remix) ___Step in the Name of Love ___Happy People ____Bump N Grind
Nelly: ____Country Grammar ____Shake Ya Tailfeather ____Ride Wit Me ____Hot in Herrre
Missy Elliot: _____Work It ___We Run This ____Pass the Dutch ____Get UR Freak On
Lil Jon: ___Get Low ____Turn Down For What ____Snap Ya Fingers ____Outta Your Mind
Flo Rida: ____Low ___My House ____GDFR ____Right Round ____Good Feeling ___Wild One
50 Cent: ____Candy Shop ____In Da Club ____Fire
Rob Base: ____It Takes Two ____Joy and Pain ... Petey Pablo: ____Raise Up ____Freek a Leek
DMX: _____Rough Rider Anthem ____Party Up in Here
Drake: ____Started From the Bottom ____Hotline Bling ____Jumpman
Kanye West: ___Good Life OTHER:_______________________________________________________
DISCO and FUNK 70's - 90's :
___Brick House by the Commodores ___Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry
___She's a Bad Mamma Jamma by Carl Carlton ____Atomic Dog by George Clinton
___James Brown Medley
Earth Wind and Fire: ___September ___Groove Tonight _____Marvin Gaye: Got to Give it Up
Kool and the Gang: ___Celebration ___Get Down On It ___Jungle Boogie ____Spirit of the Boogie
Michael Jackson: ___Beat It ___Billie Jean ___Thriller ___Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
___The Way You Make Me Feel __Black or White ___PYT ___Rock With You
___We Are Family by Sister Sledge ____Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees ____I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
___Get it Right Back by Maxine Nightengale ___Y.M.C.A by the Village People
___Just Got Paid by Johnny Kemp ____I Want Her by Keith Sweat
Abba: ___Dancing Queen ___Take a Chance on Me
Donna Summer: ___Hot Stuff ___Last Dance
KC & the Sunshine Band: ____ Boogie Shoes ___Get Down Tonight ___That's The Way ___Keep it Coming Love
Stevie Wonder: ____ I Wish ___Superstition ___Higher Ground ____Reggae Woman
OTHER________________________________________________________________________
ARENA ROCK ____"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by the Darkness
Sweet: ___Ballroom Blitz ___Little Willy ____Fox on the Run
Journey: ____Don't Stop Believing ____Open Arms ____Faithfully ____Any Way You Want It
AC/DC: ___You Shook Me All Night Long ___Back in Black ___T.N.T. ___Thunderstruck ___Hells Bells
Bon Jovi: ____Living on a Prayer ___You Give Love a Bad Name ___Bad Medicine
Def Leppard: ____Pour Some Sugar on Me ____Photograph
Bob Seger: _____Old Time Rock and Roll
Poison: ___Talk Dirty to Me ___Nothin' But a Good Time
G N'R: ____Welcome to the Jungle ___Paradise City ____Sweet Child O' Mine
Billy Idol: ____Dancing with Myself _____Rebel Yell ____Mony Mony ____Hot in the City
Blink 182: ____All the Small Things ____What's My Age Again?
Sum 41: ____Hell Song ____Fat Lip
Reel Big Fish: ____Take on Me ____Beer ____Harvey Danger "Flagpole Sitta"
Simple Plan: ____I'd Do Anything ____Can't Keep My Hands off of You
Offspring: ____Pretty Fly for a White Guy
MISC:
____"Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond ____"Jesse's Girl" by Rick Springfield
____"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen ____"The Fox" by Ylvis ___"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
____"Take on Me" by A-Ha ____"Tainted Love" by Soft Cell ____"Rattle My Bones" by Suburbs
___ "You Make My Dreams" by Hall & Oates ____"My Sharona" by the Knack
____"Grease MegaMix" ___"Footloose" by Kenny Loggins
____"Groove is in the Heart" by Deee Lite "Jump in the Line- Shake Senora" by Harry Belafonte
____"Cecelia" by Simon and Garfunkel ___"Alice" by Smokie
____ "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meatloaf
____"American Pie" by Don McLean
IRISH FEEL: "Shipping up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphies _____"Drunken Lullabies" by Flogging Molly
____"Come on Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners ____"500 Miles" by the Proclaimers
___Birdie Dance (Chicken Dance) ____Polka ___Ein Prosit Sing Along
___Dance with Grandfathers to "Grandpa, Tell Me Bout the Good Old Days" by the Judds
___Take turns dancing w/the bride to "I Knew the Bride When She Used to Rock and Roll" by Nick Lowe
___Hokey Pokey ____Bunny Hop ____Freeze Dance ____Conga Line
At what time will guests arrive?
Will I have access to the room at least 2 hours before guests arrive?
What does your contract with the venue state regarding the time music must end?
Do they have a deadline for having all equipment removed? Will I have access to lighting controls, or is it
something only the venue staff is allowed to do?
Social hour music is usually Sinatra-style jazz standards and big band for a classy, upbeat mood. A recent
request was for Al Wilson, Lou Rawls, Stylistics, Commodores and Temptations instead of the usual Michael
Buble/Dean Martin/Sinatra/Bobby Darin/Natalie Cole mix. Do you have a preference for social hour music?
GRAND ENTRANCE: I'll need to learn how to pronounce all of the names, and gather the music before hand.
The timing of the Grand Entrance should be determined by the catering staff who will tell us when the food
will be ready. This might not be known until the middle of social hour... The best way to time the entrance is 5
minutes before food is served plus time for any pre-dinner speeches and any prayer.. (not toasts- usually
parents do welcome speeches at this time). The ORDER of appearance starts with the wedding party
members furthest out from the bride and groom, moving inward, so the Best Man and Maid of Honor come in
just before the Bride and Groom. One way to help me learn the name pronunciations is to leave me a voice
mail with the list, so I can play it back a few times and transcribe from there - 952.239.4115
GRAND ENTRANCE FOLLOW UP: I usually bring a microphone to someone who says a brief welcome. Will I be
instructing the guests to wait for their tables to be dismissed by a staff person before going to the buffet?
Will I be announcing a special task guests will need to do in order to get you to kiss during dinner?
There are many ways to make dinner time more upbeat and fun with special stunts guests need to do when
the glasses start clinking (For example, when they clink, I pick a table number, and then that table must get up
and dance for 20 seconds to a funny song).
Cake Cutting Timing: If the cake needs to be cut by helpers and placed onto plates after you do the cake
cutting, it should be done early, such as right after the Grand Entrance, before the prayer. It takes 3-4
minutes for a photographer to capture the cake cutting, and sometimes longer. Would you like me to draw
attention to it and play a song such as
___"How Sweet it is to be Loved by You" (James Taylor) ___ "Sugar Sugar" (Archies)
___"Sugar" by Maroon 5, ____"Pour Some Sugar On Me" ____ "Yummy Yummy Yummy" or
___"Sugar (Gimme Some)" (clean version) by Trick Daddy OTHER:______________________________
If the cake will not require prep time to be able to be served, it should be done right after the toasts, followed
by 10-15 minutes for guests to get the dessert, then the "Shoe Game" would happen just before the first
dance, either on the dance floor or at the head table.
Toast Timing: It is best to wait for all guests to have food before starting it. If I am served last, then I use that
as my cue to walk up to the head table and ask if they are ready to start. I then bring them my cordless
microphone and I go back, bring down the dinner music, and introduce the person starting the toasts using
my second microphone. Will there be a champagne pour to wait for?
Toasting Tips: Will you use my microphone or the one provided by the venue? Will there be person making a
video who will need an audio source from me? I will need to know who will have the last word on the
microphone. Usually the groom says a thank you as the last phase of the toasts. Will you do this? Will any of
the people making a toast want to sing a song with a backing track I play? Will anyone want to do a slide show
during their toast? Will you be leaving for sunset photos at an undetermined time?
Cake and Coffee Time: Will young children be present? Will they have a designated person to entertain them
during dinner and just before the dance beings? Would you want me to play any music for kids to dance to
before the dance begins? Will you be going out to visit with each table before the dance begins?
The Pre-Dance, Stand-Up Shoe Game is usually a 3-4 minute event that I do while you are on your way to the
first dance...see the video demo under the "Routines" tab below in the menu on the right, at the bottom of
this page.
Would you like the Shoe Game?
To help customize the Shoe Game, let me know details about the bride and groom in advance, with a list of
things the groom does and a list of things the bride does. Also consider giving blue and pink napkins for the
wedding party to wave around for any of the answers where you disagree or hesitate to answer. We could
gather wedding party members behind you and they could chime in with their versions of the answers to the
questions by raising napkins, etc.
DANCE PLANS: Before the First Dance, I will need a helper to make sure the people involved in the 2nd, 3rd
and maybe 4th spot light dance will be standing by on the edge of the dance floor, so we won't need to wait
for them to push through a crowd. Is there a personal attendant or coordinator who will assist with that (and
later on for finding the bride for the bouquet toss and the groom for the garter removal...and the best man
and maid of honor for the dollar dance?)
SPOTLIGHT DANCE REVERSE ORDER OPTION: Starting with the Father/Daughter, then Mother/Son, then the
Bride and Groom 3rd, in order to build interest and allow the photographer to establish the best angles
-Should I arrange the first 3 dances in this "reverse order?
TRADITIONAL ORDER:
First Spotlight Dance: "Let's welcome__________________to the dance floor for their first dance as a married
couple."
Let me know the song title, artist and version of the song you'd like for your first dance.
Second and Third spotlight dances are usually a Father/Daughter then Mother/Son dance.
The 4th dance is usually a crazy new upbeat hit song where the wedding party starts out then I say "snowball"
half way through so they run out and get seated guests to come back to the dance floor with them. You could
also skip the wedding party dance and go to a slow dance for everyone.
DANCE FLOOR PHOTO OPTION: After the spot light dances, would you like me to gather all guests onto the
dance floor for a group photo and start the dance music immediately so they are all up on the floor?
May I have some info about who I might "pick on" during dinner and dance time? This could be a table
number, or a table with a key name associated with it, or a group of friends from a particular school, job, etc.
TIMING OF THE ANNIVERSARY DANCE / BOUQUET / GARTER / DOLLAR DANCE: Sometimes we need to do these
right away before the photographer leaves. At what time will the photographer leave?
I prefer to play at least 10 dance songs before going into the special routines.
____Anniversary Dance Routine:
I ask all married couples to dance-and gradually eliminate them
until the couple that has been married the longest remains on the floor. I then run out and interview the
oldest couple on the cordless microphone and ask their name, how many years they have been married and
what advice they have for the new couple.
____Bouquet Toss: After the Anniversary Dance, the dance floor is cleared, so the timing is perfect to get the
single ladies out there and toss the bouquet. I usually play Beyonce "Put a Ring on It" as they come out.
Your choice:________
I also would like to have the toss bouquet brought to the DJ table before the dance, so it is not misplaced.
(Add that to your check list of things to bring to me early in the day, which might also include the final
payment).
Once the bouquet is caught, I will shout out "Who Caught It?" and stop the music to hear what you say the
name is. I will then use that name in a "follow up routine". There are several optional routines, but I prefer to
have her lift the bouquet and start a conga line. Would that be OK?
____Garter Removal: I have a "sexy approach" routine with special music so the groom will need to try out
different songs as he walks toward the new bride so we can see his "sexy walk" - I set this up so the bride is
in a chair on one end of the floor and he starts on the opposite end. Would that be OK?
____Garter Toss: I play a TV Football theme as we gather bachelors to catch the garter. If you prefer to
auction it, I can act as auctioneer as well.
____Dollar Dance Options: I keep it entertaining by keeping the lights changing color and inserting little
snippets of funny songs here and there. Suggestion: Ask the Best Man and Maid of Honor to keep the pace
up, and quietly remind each person going through that they should not start a long conversation...some say
the "Turnstyle" approach with 20 seconds per dance is best. On the other hand, if you want to take time and
allow everyone a conversation opportunity, you could make it more entertaining by showing a "growing up
slide show" just during the time the dollar dance is going on.
____Shout outs: Who should I thank at the end of the night (usually parents and wedding party members)?
At what time will I be starting up the "Send off" phase? Sometimes it involves a fast song and a slow song.
Do you have a family tradition for the last songs of the night?
___Will a core group of dancers be staying right up to the end because they are staying somewhere in
walking distance or getting on a shuttle picking them up after the music stops?
EXTRAS: Are you adding any room up lights, monogram projection, gobo projection
(autumn leaves, snowflakes, etc)
video / slide show projection, karaoke, or ceremony services?
VIDEO PROJECTION PLANNING: Time, Place, Length, Audio, Format all need to
be discussed.
Did you hire me to DJ your ceremony? See the link to the "CEREMONY" tab on the right:
Instructions, Cake Cutting, Toasts, Shoe Game, Father/Daughter Dance, Mother/Son Dance, Bride and Groom First
Dance, Group Photo on the Dance Floor, Anniversary Dance, Bouquet, Garter, Dollar Dance, Send Off (I would like to
discuss all of these things before the event, but there's much more to discuss if you have time.
Wedding ceremony example: I begin standard classical prelude music 15 minutes before the start time. When the groom
finishes seating parents and reaches the front, I begin playing the Wedding Party Processional. When the flower girl
reaches the front, I begin the Bride's Processional. I press play on the Recessional right after the officiant introduces the
couple for the first time with the new last name. If you hired me to do your ceremony, scroll to the bottom of this page to
find the "Ceremony" tab for play list ideas.
The survey below is not required to be completely filled out. It can be copied and pasted to the body of an email to me, or
printed, handwritten and mailed to me, scanned, or filled out in person in a meeting. Write or type YYY by the must play
songs, and NNN on the ones I should not play, even if requested.
This is a general survey and not a complete list of music I own. I own more music than there is room to list.
Add any requests you can think of to this survey, and I will follow your play lists.
Recent "Top requests:": "Danza Kuduro," " Despacito," and Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody"
When you copy this text and add your comments, please add your notes/questions in bold/italic instead of a
different color. I look forward to answering any questions in person, by phone, email, Facetime, or messaging- I
enjoy planning in person, but most events are planned by a series of emails. I am free most weekdays and
evenings to meet in person- suggest a few option for date/time/location. I live in Edina, near the Hopkins border.
____ The Cupid Shuffle (...to the right to the right to the right to the right, to the left....) often confused with:
____ The Casper Cha Cha Slide (...three hops this time, cha cha real smooth, etc.)
____ Wobble (lessons available upon request) ____Electric Slide (lessons available)
____ The Macarena ____Country Line Dancing (lessons available)
____ The Wop ____ Watch Me Whip ____ Soulja Boy Tell Em ____Hit the Quan
____ JuJu on that Beat ___Betcha Can't do it Like Me (Challenge) OTHER: __________
Down-tempo Recent Hits with explicit or radio versions: ____"I'm the One" by Justin Bieber and DJ Khalid
____"ispy" by Kyle ____"Bad and Boujee" by Migos _____"Redbone" by Childish Gambino
____ "Black Beatles" by Rae Sremmurd ____"Rolex" by Ayo & Teo _____"Jumpman" by Drake
____"Goosebumps" by Travis Scott _____"What if?" by Kevin Gates ____"Mask Off" by Future
____"Magnolia" by Playboi Carti
Upbeat Recent Hits:
____"Despacito" by Justin Bieber and Daddy Yankee ____"Stay" by Zedd and Alessia Cara
____"I Feel it Coming" by the Weeknd ____"Rockabye" by Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul
____"Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake ____"Honey, I'm Good" by Andy Grammar
____"Handclap" by Fitz and the Tantrums ____"Cake By the Ocean" by DNCE
____"Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon ____"Timber" by Ke$ha/Pitbull
____"Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift ____"There's Nothing Holding Me Back" by Shawn Mendes
Other:________________________________________________________________________
Bruno Mars: ____That's What I Like ___24K Magic ___Uptown Funk ___Treasure
Pitbull:____Time of Our Lives____1,2,3,4 Calle Ocho ____Don't Stop the Party____Fireball ____International
Love
Lonely Island: ___I'm on a Boat ____I Just Had Sex
Chainsmokers: ___Paris ___Closer ___Something Just Like This (with Coldplay)
Ed Sheeran: ____Castle on the Hill ____Shape of You
LMFAO: ___Party Rock Anthem ___Sexy and I Know It ___Shots ___Miami
Ke$ha: ___Die Young ___Tik Tok ____Blow ___Your Love is my Drug ___We R Who We R
Miley: ___Party in the USA ____23 ____We Can't Stop
Meghan Trainor: ___All About That Bass ___Me Too ___Dear Future Husband
Pink: ____Raise Your Glass ____Get the Party Started ____So What
Beyonce: ____Crazy In Love ____Formation ____Put a Ring on It ____Love on Top
Usher: _____Yeah! ____OMG
Prince:___Let's Go Crazy ___ Kiss ___DMSR ___ E City ____P Control___Wanna Be Your Lover ___1999
More upbeat party pop:
___"Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen _____"Backyard Party" by R Kelly
___"Call on Me" by Eric Prydz ___"Every Time We Touch" by Cascada ___"Heaven" by DJ Sammy
___"Sandstorm" by Darude ___"Satisfaction" by Benni Benassi ____"Around the World" by Daft Punk
___"All I Ever Wanted" by Basshunter ____"Take Me Home Country Roads" by Hermes House Band
___"Dragonista" by Ozone ____"Hey Baby" by DJ Otzi
___"Shake That ___, ___Let me See What You Got" by Booty Bass
Should I shout out WHO a song is being played for as it starts? For example "Bridesmaids!"
Other:____________________________________________________________________
SLOW DANCE IDEAS:
Ed Sheeran: ___Perfect ___Tenerife Sea ___Thinking Out Loud
___"Piano Man" by Billy Joel ____"Like I'm Gonna Lose You" by Meghan Trainor
___"Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers
___"Open Arms" by Journey ___"What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
___"Could I Have This Dance" by Anne Murray ____"Love Can Build a Bridge" by the Judds
___"All My Life" by KC and JoJo ____"I Believe in You" by Joe ____"I Believe in You" by Don Williams
___"Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden
___ "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Haley Reinhart ____"Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley
___"Can't Help Falling in Love" by Ingrid Michaelson
___"From The Ground Up" by Dan + Shay ____"Die a Happy Man" by Thomas Rhett
___"Adore" by Prince ____ "H.O.L.Y." by Florida-Georgia Line ____"Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton
Other: ____________________________________________
BOY BANDS:____"I Want it That Way" by Backstreet Boys ___"Bye Bye Bye" by 'Nsync
___"Everybody (Backstreet's Back) by Backstreet Boys _____"Step By Step" by New Kids on the Block
___"MMM Bop" by Hanson _____Spice Girls "Wannabe"
SWING: ____Jump Jive 'n Wail by Brian Setzer ___Zoot Suit Riot by Cherry Poppin' Daddies
___Sing Sing Sing from the Swing Kids soundtrack ____Sing Sing Sing original Benny Goodman
LATIN: ____"Danza Kuduro" by Don Omar
___Celia Cruz "La Vida Es Un Carnival" for Salsa ____Elvis Crespo "Suavamente" for Merengue
___"Stand By Me" by Prince Royce for Bachata (Many more available)
___"Baila Es Cumbia" by Kumbia Kings w/ Selena
Daddy Yankee: ____Limbo ____Rompe ____Gasolina
MOTOWN, SOUL and OTHER UPBEAT 50's 60's "ROCK OLDIES":
___Shout! by Otis Day and the Knights (Animal House); ___Twist and Shout by the Beatles
___Respect by Aretha Franklin, ____Mustang Sally by the Commitments
___Build Me up Buttercup by the Foundations ____Proud Mary by Ike and Tina Turner
___Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) by the Four Tops, ___Mony Mony by Tommy James
___Runaround Sue by Dion ___The Wanderer by Dion ___Do You Love Me by the Contours
___Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison; ___Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker
___Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison; ___Honky Tonk Women by the Rolling Stones
___Hang on Sloopy by the McCoys ; ___Wipe Out by the Surfaris; ____Tequila by the Champs
___Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley ___Barbara Ann by the Beach Boys
COUNTRY:
Sam Hunt: ___Body Like a Back Road ___House Party ____Leave the Night On
Thomas Rhett: ____Vacation Locash: ___I Love This Life
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: ____Fishing In The Dark Hank Williams Jr, ____"Family Tradition"
Big N' Rich: ____ Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy
Shania Twain: ___Man I Feel Like a Woman ____Any Man of Mine ___Party For Two Country Version
Gretchen Wilson: ___Redneck Woman ____Here for the Party Sugarland: ____It Happens
George Strait: ____Check Yes or No ____All My Ex's Live in Texas ____Here For a Good Time
Luke Bryan: ____That's My Kind of Night ____Country Girl (Shake it For Me) ___Kick the Dust Up
Jason Aldean: ___Crazy Town ____Hicktown ____Big Green Tractor ____Take a Little Ride ____Lights
Come On
Johnny Cash: ____Ring of Fire ___Folsom Prison Blues ____I Walk the Line
Zac Brown Band: ___Toes ___Chicken Fried ___Beautiful Drug
Eric Church: ___Drink in My Hand
Florida Georgia Line: ___Cruise ____Round Here ____This is How We Roll __Get Your Shine On
Alabama: ____Mountain Music ____I'm in a Hurry
Chris Young: ____Aw Naw Dierks Bentley _____5-1-5-0
Blake Shelton: ___Footloose ___Honeybee
Kenny Chesney: ____She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy
Justin Moore: ____Redneck Side John Pardi: _____Head Over Boots
Garth Brooks: ____Friends in Low Places (Live) ___Ain't Going Down ___2 Pina Coladas ___Callin' Baton
Rouge
Taylor Swift: ___22 ___Stay ___Mean OTHER:____________
Fun Rap: ___Tipsy (JKwon)
___No Diggity (Blackstreet) ___Regulators (Warren G) ____Boombastic (Shaggy)
___All I Do is Win (DJ Khaled) ___Lip Gloss (Lil Mama) ___Shoop (Salt N'Pepa)
___Baby Got Back by Sir Mix A-lot ____Temerature (Sean Paul)
___Let Me Clear My Throat (DJ Kool) ___It's Tricky (Run DMC)
___Jump Around (House of Pain) ____Jump (Kriss Kross)
___Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice) ___Bust A Move (Young MC) ___Rapper's Delight ___Jump On It (Sugar Hill Gang)
___Get Back (Ludacris) ___Can't Touch This (MC Hammer) ____Here Comes the Hot Stepper (Ini Kamoze)
___This is How We Do It (Montell Jordan) ____Whoomp! There it Is (Tag Team)
___Motown Philly (Boyz II Men)
___I'm Different (2 Chainz) ____Put On (Young Jeezy)
Notorious B.I.G.: ___Hypnotize ___Juicy ___Mo Money ___Going Back to Cali
Snoop Dogg: ____Who am I? (What's My Name?) ___Gin N Juice ____America's Most Wanted ____Drop It
Eminem: ___My Name Is ___Forgot About Dre ____Shake That * For Me ___Lose Yourself
Beastie Boys: ____Brass Monkey ____Fight For Your Right ___Girls ____Sabotage
Macklemore: ____And We Danced ___Thrift Shop ____Can't Hold Us ___Downtown
2 Pac: ____Keep Ya Head Up ___Thug Passion ___California Love
Jay Z: ___Big Pimpin ____Dirt off Your Shoulder ___Show Me What You Got ____On to the Next One
Wiz Khalifa: ___We Dem Boyz ___Black and Yellow ___Medicated ___The Plan ___Paperbond
R Kelly: ___Ignition (remix) ___Step in the Name of Love ___Happy People ____Bump N Grind
Nelly: ____Country Grammar ____Shake Ya Tailfeather ____Ride Wit Me ____Hot in Herrre
Missy Elliot: _____Work It ___We Run This ____Pass the Dutch ____Get UR Freak On
Lil Jon: ___Get Low ____Turn Down For What ____Snap Ya Fingers ____Outta Your Mind
Flo Rida: ____Low ___My House ____GDFR ____Right Round ____Good Feeling ___Wild One
50 Cent: ____Candy Shop ____In Da Club ____Fire
Rob Base: ____It Takes Two ____Joy and Pain ... Petey Pablo: ____Raise Up ____Freek a Leek
DMX: _____Rough Rider Anthem ____Party Up in Here
Drake: ____Started From the Bottom ____Hotline Bling ____Jumpman
Kanye West: ___Good Life OTHER:_______________________________________________________
DISCO and FUNK 70's - 90's :
___Brick House by the Commodores ___Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry
___She's a Bad Mamma Jamma by Carl Carlton ____Atomic Dog by George Clinton
___James Brown Medley
Earth Wind and Fire: ___September ___Groove Tonight _____Marvin Gaye: Got to Give it Up
Kool and the Gang: ___Celebration ___Get Down On It ___Jungle Boogie ____Spirit of the Boogie
Michael Jackson: ___Beat It ___Billie Jean ___Thriller ___Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
___The Way You Make Me Feel __Black or White ___PYT ___Rock With You
___We Are Family by Sister Sledge ____Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees ____I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
___Get it Right Back by Maxine Nightengale ___Y.M.C.A by the Village People
___Just Got Paid by Johnny Kemp ____I Want Her by Keith Sweat
Abba: ___Dancing Queen ___Take a Chance on Me
Donna Summer: ___Hot Stuff ___Last Dance
KC & the Sunshine Band: ____ Boogie Shoes ___Get Down Tonight ___That's The Way ___Keep it Coming Love
Stevie Wonder: ____ I Wish ___Superstition ___Higher Ground ____Reggae Woman
OTHER________________________________________________________________________
ARENA ROCK ____"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by the Darkness
Sweet: ___Ballroom Blitz ___Little Willy ____Fox on the Run
Journey: ____Don't Stop Believing ____Open Arms ____Faithfully ____Any Way You Want It
AC/DC: ___You Shook Me All Night Long ___Back in Black ___T.N.T. ___Thunderstruck ___Hells Bells
Bon Jovi: ____Living on a Prayer ___You Give Love a Bad Name ___Bad Medicine
Def Leppard: ____Pour Some Sugar on Me ____Photograph
Bob Seger: _____Old Time Rock and Roll
Poison: ___Talk Dirty to Me ___Nothin' But a Good Time
G N'R: ____Welcome to the Jungle ___Paradise City ____Sweet Child O' Mine
Billy Idol: ____Dancing with Myself _____Rebel Yell ____Mony Mony ____Hot in the City
Blink 182: ____All the Small Things ____What's My Age Again?
Sum 41: ____Hell Song ____Fat Lip
Reel Big Fish: ____Take on Me ____Beer ____Harvey Danger "Flagpole Sitta"
Simple Plan: ____I'd Do Anything ____Can't Keep My Hands off of You
Offspring: ____Pretty Fly for a White Guy
MISC:
____"Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond ____"Jesse's Girl" by Rick Springfield
____"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen ____"The Fox" by Ylvis ___"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
____"Take on Me" by A-Ha ____"Tainted Love" by Soft Cell ____"Rattle My Bones" by Suburbs
___ "You Make My Dreams" by Hall & Oates ____"My Sharona" by the Knack
____"Grease MegaMix" ___"Footloose" by Kenny Loggins
____"Groove is in the Heart" by Deee Lite "Jump in the Line- Shake Senora" by Harry Belafonte
____"Cecelia" by Simon and Garfunkel ___"Alice" by Smokie
____ "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meatloaf
____"American Pie" by Don McLean
IRISH FEEL: "Shipping up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphies _____"Drunken Lullabies" by Flogging Molly
____"Come on Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners ____"500 Miles" by the Proclaimers
___Birdie Dance (Chicken Dance) ____Polka ___Ein Prosit Sing Along
___Dance with Grandfathers to "Grandpa, Tell Me Bout the Good Old Days" by the Judds
___Take turns dancing w/the bride to "I Knew the Bride When She Used to Rock and Roll" by Nick Lowe
___Hokey Pokey ____Bunny Hop ____Freeze Dance ____Conga Line
At what time will guests arrive?
Will I have access to the room at least 2 hours before guests arrive?
What does your contract with the venue state regarding the time music must end?
Do they have a deadline for having all equipment removed? Will I have access to lighting controls, or is it
something only the venue staff is allowed to do?
Social hour music is usually Sinatra-style jazz standards and big band for a classy, upbeat mood. A recent
request was for Al Wilson, Lou Rawls, Stylistics, Commodores and Temptations instead of the usual Michael
Buble/Dean Martin/Sinatra/Bobby Darin/Natalie Cole mix. Do you have a preference for social hour music?
GRAND ENTRANCE: I'll need to learn how to pronounce all of the names, and gather the music before hand.
The timing of the Grand Entrance should be determined by the catering staff who will tell us when the food
will be ready. This might not be known until the middle of social hour... The best way to time the entrance is 5
minutes before food is served plus time for any pre-dinner speeches and any prayer.. (not toasts- usually
parents do welcome speeches at this time). The ORDER of appearance starts with the wedding party
members furthest out from the bride and groom, moving inward, so the Best Man and Maid of Honor come in
just before the Bride and Groom. One way to help me learn the name pronunciations is to leave me a voice
mail with the list, so I can play it back a few times and transcribe from there - 952.239.4115
GRAND ENTRANCE FOLLOW UP: I usually bring a microphone to someone who says a brief welcome. Will I be
instructing the guests to wait for their tables to be dismissed by a staff person before going to the buffet?
Will I be announcing a special task guests will need to do in order to get you to kiss during dinner?
There are many ways to make dinner time more upbeat and fun with special stunts guests need to do when
the glasses start clinking (For example, when they clink, I pick a table number, and then that table must get up
and dance for 20 seconds to a funny song).
Cake Cutting Timing: If the cake needs to be cut by helpers and placed onto plates after you do the cake
cutting, it should be done early, such as right after the Grand Entrance, before the prayer. It takes 3-4
minutes for a photographer to capture the cake cutting, and sometimes longer. Would you like me to draw
attention to it and play a song such as
___"How Sweet it is to be Loved by You" (James Taylor) ___ "Sugar Sugar" (Archies)
___"Sugar" by Maroon 5, ____"Pour Some Sugar On Me" ____ "Yummy Yummy Yummy" or
___"Sugar (Gimme Some)" (clean version) by Trick Daddy OTHER:______________________________
If the cake will not require prep time to be able to be served, it should be done right after the toasts, followed
by 10-15 minutes for guests to get the dessert, then the "Shoe Game" would happen just before the first
dance, either on the dance floor or at the head table.
Toast Timing: It is best to wait for all guests to have food before starting it. If I am served last, then I use that
as my cue to walk up to the head table and ask if they are ready to start. I then bring them my cordless
microphone and I go back, bring down the dinner music, and introduce the person starting the toasts using
my second microphone. Will there be a champagne pour to wait for?
Toasting Tips: Will you use my microphone or the one provided by the venue? Will there be person making a
video who will need an audio source from me? I will need to know who will have the last word on the
microphone. Usually the groom says a thank you as the last phase of the toasts. Will you do this? Will any of
the people making a toast want to sing a song with a backing track I play? Will anyone want to do a slide show
during their toast? Will you be leaving for sunset photos at an undetermined time?
Cake and Coffee Time: Will young children be present? Will they have a designated person to entertain them
during dinner and just before the dance beings? Would you want me to play any music for kids to dance to
before the dance begins? Will you be going out to visit with each table before the dance begins?
The Pre-Dance, Stand-Up Shoe Game is usually a 3-4 minute event that I do while you are on your way to the
first dance...see the video demo under the "Routines" tab below in the menu on the right, at the bottom of
this page.
Would you like the Shoe Game?
To help customize the Shoe Game, let me know details about the bride and groom in advance, with a list of
things the groom does and a list of things the bride does. Also consider giving blue and pink napkins for the
wedding party to wave around for any of the answers where you disagree or hesitate to answer. We could
gather wedding party members behind you and they could chime in with their versions of the answers to the
questions by raising napkins, etc.
DANCE PLANS: Before the First Dance, I will need a helper to make sure the people involved in the 2nd, 3rd
and maybe 4th spot light dance will be standing by on the edge of the dance floor, so we won't need to wait
for them to push through a crowd. Is there a personal attendant or coordinator who will assist with that (and
later on for finding the bride for the bouquet toss and the groom for the garter removal...and the best man
and maid of honor for the dollar dance?)
SPOTLIGHT DANCE REVERSE ORDER OPTION: Starting with the Father/Daughter, then Mother/Son, then the
Bride and Groom 3rd, in order to build interest and allow the photographer to establish the best angles
-Should I arrange the first 3 dances in this "reverse order?
TRADITIONAL ORDER:
First Spotlight Dance: "Let's welcome__________________to the dance floor for their first dance as a married
couple."
Let me know the song title, artist and version of the song you'd like for your first dance.
Second and Third spotlight dances are usually a Father/Daughter then Mother/Son dance.
The 4th dance is usually a crazy new upbeat hit song where the wedding party starts out then I say "snowball"
half way through so they run out and get seated guests to come back to the dance floor with them. You could
also skip the wedding party dance and go to a slow dance for everyone.
DANCE FLOOR PHOTO OPTION: After the spot light dances, would you like me to gather all guests onto the
dance floor for a group photo and start the dance music immediately so they are all up on the floor?
May I have some info about who I might "pick on" during dinner and dance time? This could be a table
number, or a table with a key name associated with it, or a group of friends from a particular school, job, etc.
TIMING OF THE ANNIVERSARY DANCE / BOUQUET / GARTER / DOLLAR DANCE: Sometimes we need to do these
right away before the photographer leaves. At what time will the photographer leave?
I prefer to play at least 10 dance songs before going into the special routines.
____Anniversary Dance Routine:
I ask all married couples to dance-and gradually eliminate them
until the couple that has been married the longest remains on the floor. I then run out and interview the
oldest couple on the cordless microphone and ask their name, how many years they have been married and
what advice they have for the new couple.
____Bouquet Toss: After the Anniversary Dance, the dance floor is cleared, so the timing is perfect to get the
single ladies out there and toss the bouquet. I usually play Beyonce "Put a Ring on It" as they come out.
Your choice:________
I also would like to have the toss bouquet brought to the DJ table before the dance, so it is not misplaced.
(Add that to your check list of things to bring to me early in the day, which might also include the final
payment).
Once the bouquet is caught, I will shout out "Who Caught It?" and stop the music to hear what you say the
name is. I will then use that name in a "follow up routine". There are several optional routines, but I prefer to
have her lift the bouquet and start a conga line. Would that be OK?
____Garter Removal: I have a "sexy approach" routine with special music so the groom will need to try out
different songs as he walks toward the new bride so we can see his "sexy walk" - I set this up so the bride is
in a chair on one end of the floor and he starts on the opposite end. Would that be OK?
____Garter Toss: I play a TV Football theme as we gather bachelors to catch the garter. If you prefer to
auction it, I can act as auctioneer as well.
____Dollar Dance Options: I keep it entertaining by keeping the lights changing color and inserting little
snippets of funny songs here and there. Suggestion: Ask the Best Man and Maid of Honor to keep the pace
up, and quietly remind each person going through that they should not start a long conversation...some say
the "Turnstyle" approach with 20 seconds per dance is best. On the other hand, if you want to take time and
allow everyone a conversation opportunity, you could make it more entertaining by showing a "growing up
slide show" just during the time the dollar dance is going on.
____Shout outs: Who should I thank at the end of the night (usually parents and wedding party members)?
At what time will I be starting up the "Send off" phase? Sometimes it involves a fast song and a slow song.
Do you have a family tradition for the last songs of the night?
___Will a core group of dancers be staying right up to the end because they are staying somewhere in
walking distance or getting on a shuttle picking them up after the music stops?
EXTRAS: Are you adding any room up lights, monogram projection, gobo projection
(autumn leaves, snowflakes, etc)
video / slide show projection, karaoke, or ceremony services?
VIDEO PROJECTION PLANNING: Time, Place, Length, Audio, Format all need to
be discussed.
Did you hire me to DJ your ceremony? See the link to the "CEREMONY" tab on the right:
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