Wedding Blog
Mr. Lime and I have been working on our song list. Well, I started it (with the help of past lists on Weddingbee and a few friends’ lists), and Mr. Lime put his all into it, rocking out and groovin’ with his headphones on into the wee hours of Sunday night/Monday morning while I snoozed away. Hey, I wake up about 3 hours earlier than he does.
You’ll see a sharp contrast between the ceremony music [traditional], cocktail hour [loungey], and the reception music [almost all hip hop with a little bit of gangsta rap and pop thrown in]. We did want to create a distinction between each part of the event, and moving people physically plus change in music is our method, rather than spending a ton on differing decor between places.
Our ceremony is pretty traditional, and we want it to be both worshipful and respectful toward the seriousness of the commitment we are making. Plus this square nerd had only listened to classical and liturgical music until, oh, about age 11. Yes, I am finally publicly admitting it. From my preteen years until the present, I’ve been pretty mainstream with a little underground hip hop and indie alternative thrown in.
As we age, we’re both turning to more mellow stuff, especially me. Going to design school with [albeit nerdy at my school] hipsters, working in a creative industry, and being wined/dined by vendors on the Westside has had its influence on me. I now turn to KCRW’s eclectic mix of electronica, jazz, indie artists, underground hip hop, and world music. This will influence the cocktail hour, although Mr. Lime did veto the more obscure stuff on my list. Most of it is obscure to him. Big Boo, with capital B’s. On the other hand, Mr. Lime’s been quite the [pop and some underground] music aficionado since, oh, about pre-birth. He’s on top of the 80s, 90s, and today! Since the reception is a celebration and party, we’re gonna party like it’s 1999!
The one thing we can agree upon is 90s hip hop. Luckily for us, that’s what will get most of our guests to hit the dance floor, too. Thanks to his club-promoting, “I’m with the DJ”ing past (his bestest friends all had turntables and actually used them at parties and clubs), Mr. Lime did put together a pretty good club, er party. It was all I could do to keep him from loading some DJing program onto his PC to mix a set (or two, or three, or the whole playlist) for me last night. Instead, we just skipped around on both of our Winamps and grooved in our desk chairs. Now hopefully our DJ has clean versions of all these songs, preferably on vinyl. Yes, he still spins vinyl, although he does have CD turntables and an iBook, too. This alone almost won Mr. Lime over.
Now that I’m done babbling, I present our list. Warning: Long! When your scrolling finger gets a cramp, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Mind you, this is our much edited and cut down list.
Ceremony
Prelude, Seating of Family, Lighting of Unity Candle:
J.S. Bach - Prelude No. 1 in C Major/The Well-Tempered Clavier
J.S. Bach - Air on the G String
Processional - Bridesmaids, Officiants:
J.S. Bach - Cantata No. 147/Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Processional - Bride:
Still deciding between the two most common.
Wagner - Bridal Chorus (Lohengrin)
Pachelbel - Canon in D
Hymn:
Beethoven - Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Recessional:
Again, deciding between a few common ones.
Mendelssohn - Wedding March (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
J.S. Bach - Keyboard Concerto No. 4: Allegro, I Allegro
I really wanted Widor’s Organ Symphony No. 5, Toccata, but that was vetoed as Mr. Lime thinks it sounds like just anyone banging on an organ.
Cocktail Hour, During Dinner
311 -Amber
311 - Love Song
The Bangles - Eternal Flame
Bebel Gilberto
Buena Vista Social Club
Coldplay
Common
Corinne Bailey Rae
Counting Crows
De La Soul
Death Cab for Cutie
Diggable Planets
Enrique Iglesias
Erykah Badu
Frank Sinatra
Foo Fighters - Everlong (acoustic)
Goo Goo Dolls
Jack Johnson
Jason Mraz
Jill Scott
Jars of Clay
Joao Gilberto
John Mayer
Keane
L’Hotel Costes/Stephane Pompougnac
Les Nubians
Louis Armstrong
Lucy Pearl
Michelle Branch
Moby
Mono
Musiq Soulchild
Nat King Cole
Natalie Cole
Norah Jones
Paperboy – Ditty
Paul Oakenfold
Pink Martini
PM Dawn
The Postal Service
Richard Marx
The Roots
Sade
Snow Patrol
Stevie Wonder
Suzanne Vega - Tom’s Diner
Switchfoot
Talib Kweli
Telepopmusik
The Roots
Thievery Corporation
Weezer - Island in the Sun
Reception
During Dinner:
See Cocktail Hour list.
Bridal Party Entrance:
Guns N Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
[still under debate]
Bride + Groom:
I have given Mr. Lime the pick on this one. We’re currently deciding between two similar songs.
Rocky Theme - Soundtrack
Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
Cake Cutting:
Two very different songs we have yet to decide upon, again.
Peter Cetera - Glory of Love
The Wonders - That Thing You Do
First Dance:
Luther Vandross - Here and Now
Invite bridesmaids, groomsmen, bride’s mom + brother, groom’s parents to join after first 2 mins. (after first chorus).
Cut song at 3:30. [It’s a long, 5 minutes and change.]
Bouquet Toss:
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun
No Doubt – Just a Girl
Garter Toss:
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust
No-Money Money Dance:
[I think some call it a Wish Dance. We just want a chance to dance/talk to guests one on one, without the whole money thing as it’s not commonly done in my circle but it is commonly done in his. Please suggest names better than "Wish Dance!"]
98 Degrees - I Do
Berlin - Take My Breath Away
Boyz II Men - On Bended Knee
Boyz II Men - Hey Lover
Debbie Gibson - Lost In Your Eyes
DJ Sammy - Heaven (Candlelight remix)
Edwin McCain - I Could Not Ask for More
Keith Sweat - I’ll Give All My Love
Luther Vandross & Mariah Carey - Endless Love
Mandy Moore - I Wanna Be With You
Monica - Angel of Mine
Richard Marx - Now and Forever
Roxette - It Must Have Been Love
UNV - So In Love With You
Last Dance:
‘N SYNC - This I Promise You [Yes, our cheeseball sides coming out. Boy bands were in their heyday when we first started dating.]
Open Dancing - Slow:
See No-Money Money Dance list.
Open Dancing - Fast:
112 - Only You (remix)
50 Cent - In Da Club
A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario
Afrikaa Bambaataa - Planet Rock
Another Bad Creation - Iesha
Another Bad Creation - Playground
Bel Biv Devoe - Poison
Beyonce - Crazy in Love
Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
Britney Spears - Toxic
Busta Rhymes - Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See
Chingy - Right Thurr
Christina Aguilera - Ain’t No Other Man
De La Soul - A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturday
De La Soul - Buddy
Dilated Peoples - This Way
Freestyle [mixes, not artist] - Don’t Stop the Rock, etc.
Gangstarr - Full Clip
Guerilla Black - You’re the One
Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
Ice Cube - Friday
Jagged Edge - Where the Party At?
Jay-Z, featuring Linkin Park - 99 Problems
Jermaine Dupri - Money Ain’t a Thang
Jurassic 5 - The Influence
Justin Timberlake - Sexyback
Juvenile - Back that Thang Up (obviously, clean version)
Kanye West
Kelly Clarkson
Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz - Get Low
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
LL Cool J - Headsprung
Ludacris - Southern Hospitality
Mack 10 - Nothin’ but the Cavi Hit
Mary J. Blige - Everything (remix)
Matisyahu - King Without a Crown
Montell Jordan - This is How We Do It
Nas - If I Ruled the World
Nelly - E.I.
Nelly - Hot in Here
Next - Wifey
Notorious B.I.G. - Goin’ Back to Cali
Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize
Outkast - ATLiens
Outkast - Hey Ya
Outkast - Rosa Parks
Outkast - The Way You Move
Paperboy - Ditty
Planet Patrol - Play at Your Own Risk
Raphael Saadiq and QTip - Get Involved
R. Kelly - Home Alone
Snoop Dogg - Ain’t No Fun
Snoop Dogg - Beautiful
Stevie B - Spring Love, etc.
SWV - Anything
SWV - Right Here
Talib Kweli - Get By
Tha Dogg Pound - Let’s Play House
Tha Dogg Pound - Respect
The Roots - Seed 2.0
Timbaland, featuring Magoo - Luv 2 Luv U
TLC - No Scrubs
Tupac - California Love
Tupac - 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
Twinz - Round and Round
Usher - Yeah
Usher, featuring Alicia Keys - My Boo
Warren G - Regulate
Will Smith - Summertime
Ying Yang Twins - Salt Shaker
Young MC - Bust a Move
Do Not Play:
Chicken Dance
Cotton Eye Joe
Electric Slide
Macarena
Reggaeton
Rhianna - Umbrella
YMCA (anything by Village People)
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Share this post: Bach to Bel Biv Devoe
I am with you on the Do not play list. I refuse to look back and see a pictures of someone doing the electric slide!
which mono? French or Japanese?
Thank you sooo much for this. Great list. (love how you singled out Rhianna - Umbrella, by the way!)
I’m going to do a search to check out past lists from bees too.
Your list is looking pretty good. I am so with you on that Rhiana Umbrella song…….. uggggh…. I loathe that song. It just happens that my fiance is a Dj and I swear that people request that song all the time. She and I just don’t get it.
Miss Butterscotch - One major reason why is because neither of us know how to do it ;). But yeah, it’s just not us, even if we knew how.
Dre - French.
Great list! It’s funny how in sync we are with the ceremony music - my maids are walking to Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring and my processional is Canon in D. Both will be played on the organ and violin. After a little coersion on my part, my fiancee and I agreeed on Widor’s Toccata for our recessional. We want to blow the doors off the church!
This list is HOT! My sister and I just sat on the phone together reading it. We both feel music sets the tone and would be happy guests if we were at your wedding. Great work.
Wow what a list! Our DNP list was the same with the addition of the tootsie roll also.
My ceremony music was very similar too with Air on a G String, Canon in D & Bridal Chorus & Wedding March. Originally i wasn’t too sure about the last 2 just because I had heard them so often and was looking for something a little different. My mom sealed the deal when she told me “but this time it’s being played for you” and I loved it.
I
now that’s an extensive list. i like a lot of the groups/songs you’ve listed though i must admit that i do heart rihanna’s umbrella…i didn’t at first but dammit if i wasn’t singing “ella ella eh eh” at various points during the day.
i don’t know what happened to my post ;( I love your list, especially because you are using some of the greats: Suzanne Vega, Peter Cetera, Richard Marx, Boyz II Men, and of course Debbie Gibson! ha! Your dance list is fab too….sounds like its gonna be a great party 
Why didn’t you post this list before my wedding? It would have saved me time making my own
Oh… my… God! Do you actually have Another Bad Creation in MP3 format?!? If so, could you please, please e-mail me those two songs! I have been looking everywhere for them for YEARS!
Also, I just wrote a post called “Ain’t No Fun”!
I am so jealous of you brides who can have hip hop receptions! I was forced to play mostly country. We originally thought that by doing our own music we could play whatever we wanted but we quickly (smartly) came to the sad realization that nobody would dance to hip hop at our wedding. Oh well, at least we got to choose what country songs were played! Great list Miss Lime!
Awwww yeah! Your party is going to be poppin’ with a list like that! I’m about to download DITTY right now. I’d forgotten about that song!
I’m so glad the weddingbee readers agree the list is good and sounds like a fun party. Mad props to Mr. Lime :).
Mrs. Pumpkin, Mr. Lime does have those mp3’s, so email me as a reminder, and I’ll ask him tonight if he’s willing to share.
Jaggy, you might be able to hear all those greats if you open your window wide enough ;).
wow! that’s an awesome list! and i’ve yet to hear cotton eye joe played at a wedding reception - hahaha! that one cracked me up!
Sounds like a fun wedding to me. My only suggestion, if you’re going to have some older/elderly couples, to play a couple of songs they would like to dance to–could be fast ones too. And I had the same “Don’t Play” list, but I was begged–BEGGED–by the many kids at our wedding to allow the DJ to play the Chicken Dance, so I relented. I wanted the kids to have a good time–and they, along with a bunch of adults with no shame, had a blast. Some of our best pictures of the day are of the kids dancing the Chicken Dance. So, keep an open mind.
Although–Peter Cetera?? 
Hey, to each their own. Our first dance was to “Love is in the Air,” the ballroom mix from the movie “Strictly Ballroom.” Several people, on hearing my plans to use it, said “what??” But, it’s a really danceable song, as you can imagine, and the movie means something to us. When everyone jumped in at the end and danced, it was really fun…and just like the end of the movie! The important thing is to use songs that mean something to you two, not just because everyone else does. So have fun with your choices!
Miss Lime, funny thing….while I was reading your entry, Luther Vandross’ Here and Now came on the radio! Good choices in your song selection!
rhianna, umbrella - too funny!!
Maybe call the wish dance the “Free-For-All Dance.” Then you’re giving the impression that it’s open to everyone and you’ll put people at ease that are not used to the money dance. And you can smile to yourself about having a money dance that isn’t really a money dance with ‘free’ in the name. 
your list is AMAZING….
i love your list in general but i LOVE LOVE LOVE your reception/CH music..Buena Vista Social Club? Bebel, Les Nubians, Hotel Costes??!!!! i LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great choices! I’m not sure how long your entire cocktail hr/reception will be but this list seems too long for everything to get played. You might want to mark some “must plays” and leave the others up to the discretion of your dj.
I LOVE that you’re considering “The Wonders” (the Oneders, like number one, kind of like the beatles. But won’t people call us the On-eaters? haha GREAT movie!) Looks like a great mix!
WONDERFUL list!! Our open dance music is predominately old school hip hop and a few other things here and there. Your list gave me more ideas. Thanks!!
Do you have any older tunes for the parents and grandparents? Motown might be just the ticket to round it out so they feel included…
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Mrs. Lime, Los Angeles
Age and Occupation in 06: 25, Design
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, IT
Engagement Date: July 7, 2006
Wedding Date: August 5, 2007
Venue: An historic estate
About Me: Between work and wedding planning, I try to squeeze in napping, drawing, random spurts of craftiness, tennis, and eating lots of Sprinkles cupcakes, dark chocolate, and noodles of all kinds. Mr. Lime and I have spent our adult lives growing up together, and we're very excited to finally be getting married!
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