The Best and Worst of Wedding Day Music – Indianapolis Wedding Photographer – What Music to Choose For Your Wedding?

There are a lot of songs that are played at the wedding reception that I know are favorites for various reasons. As the wedding season gets closer and closer some details start to come into play very quickly.  So I thought I would share my personal favorites for the different formal events during the wedding reception.  To give some background on my own music taste’s I will start by saying that I do not like country, so if it has the least little bit of twang to it then it is out.  That is really the only type of music that I really don’t care for.

I have also noticed that there is something about a bride and groom dancing together that can also take a song that is not on my list and turn it into a favorite.  The way they look at each other, the emotions between them, and the fact that this is really the first time that they have had to actually relax and enjoy each other can make a song work.

On a side note…yes, of course, there are the songs that I about cringe when I hear them being played.  I usually know whether this was the DJ playing this vs. the bride, but sometimes I am left wondering who made the decision to clear the dance floor. 🙂

The First Dance

The Father Daughter Dance

  • In My Life – The Beatles
  • Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
  • Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
  • My Girl – The Temptations
  • Father and Daughter – Paul Simon

The Mother Son Dance

  • How Sweet It Is – James Taylor
  • The Prayer – Andrea Bocelli (Please leave Celine Dion out of this)
  • Dear Mama – 2pac (just kidding…just seeing if you were paying attention)
  • A Song For Mama – Boys II Men
  • Unforgettable – Nat King Cole

The Bridal Party Dance

  • Boom Boom Pow – Black Eyed Peas
  • Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
  • Time of Your Life – Green Day
  • Hey Ya! – Outkast
  • Cupid Shuffle – Cupid
  • Yeah – Usher with Ludacris and Lil’ Jon
  • Thriller – Michael Jackson

The Bouquet Toss Song

  • Ladies Night – Kool and the Gang
  • Just a Girl – No Doubt
  • American Woman – Lenny Kravitz
  • Glamorous – Fergie featuring Ludacris
  • Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) – Beyonce

The Garter Toss Song

  • Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye
  • Hot In Herre – Nelly
  • You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
  • Sexyback – Justin Timberlake
  • I’m Too Sexy – Right Said Fred

The Cake Cutting Song

  • Sweetest Thing – U2
  • When I’m 64 – The Beatles
  • Sugar, Sugar – Archies
  • L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
  • Happy Together – Turtles

The Bridal Party Introduction Song

  • Beautiful Day – U2
  • Let’s Get It Started – Black Eyed Peas
  • Now That We Found Love – Heavy D. & The Boyz
  • I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas

Ok…now on to the songs that I really don’t care for personally.  That doesn’t mean that these are not great songs, but after hearing them 50 to 100 times each they tend to take on a whole new meaning.  I’ll try to explain the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear these songs, so hopefully I don’t ruin these for you too…

The Bucket List of Wedding Songs – (As in please kick the bucket…please)

  • Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith – I can only think of Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler in Armegeddon for this one.
  • Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers – Patrick Swayzee and Demi Moore in Ghost making a clay pot.
  • Anything by Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, or Mariah Carey
  • Chicken Dance
  • Macarena
  • YMCA
  • Hokey Pokey
  • Cha Cha Slide
  • Electric Slide
  • Any theme song from a movie such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Rocky, etc to bring the bridal party in…
  • Songs by Elvis or Frank Sinatra or anyone ever on American Idol

Here are a couple of other sites that have compiled their own WORST list…

There are lots of others, but honestly there are times when all of these songs could be played in the right way (my DJ friends will agree with me here) that these songs can get everybody on the dance floor and definitely improve the party.  But can we try not to make a habit of it? 🙂

Feel free to add some of your favorites or not-so-favorites to the comments at the bottom. 🙂

jessgraves-437

wiseweddingjs-24

wisephotographywedding1227-18

no comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

Protected by WP Anti Spam