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Obviously these songs required a lot of thought as well. But some songs were far easier for us to come up with than others!
Grand Entrance: I love, love, love the entrance of the bridal party and bride and groom into the reception. While it really won’t be our “first time in public” as we will be at our cocktail hour, I think that the entrance has the potential to set the tone for the whole reception. I really like when people choose to use different songs for each pair in their party, but at 8 pairs, that would be a lot of music! I’m still not sure exactly how the timing will play out, but I’m hoping we can work in at least these two songs:
“I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas - now, I know this song has been ridiculously popular at weddings this year, but I just can’t help myself! It’s too perfect for us. 
“Celebration” by Kool and the Gang - it’s my parents’ unofficial wedding song, and no celebration is complete without this one for me. It really is just all about happiness and a great party atmosphere (even if it is a bit cliche. 
Our First Dance: This one was easy.
“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
Father Daughter Dance: This one was not so easy! Cheeseburger Dad and I thought long and hard about what this song would be (for almost a year!). You see, originally we hoped to find a Phil Collins or Genesis song to use (we used to listen to them together when I was little), but the majority of their songs are about romantic love or are just totally nonsensical for a wedding. Then we looked through the long lists of classic Father Daughter songs, which, while very nice, just weren’t us. I was looking for something a little less mainstream that still described our relationship. Cheeseburger Mom pushed hard for Sunrise Sunset, an amazing song from my favorite musical of all time, Fiddler on the Roof. While a beautiful song with a wonderful message, I thought it was a little too solemn for what I wanted to be a happy dance with my dad. So I turned to the internet. There’s a great post on the boards that led me to this post at Offbeat Bride. From there I developed a list of songs and then Cheeseburger Dad, Cheeseburger Mom and I picked our favorite.
“Father and Daughter”, Paul Simon
Mother Son Dance: I had asked Burger to think about this, and when he came up short, I went to Burger Mom for some ideas. She said she would think about it, and a few days later, she emailed me with a great choice! A cover of a classic rock song, and the lyrics are even changed to reflect a male child. Perfect.
“Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Sheryl Crowe
Cutting the Cake: We wanted something upbeat and fun (but not too “Pour-Some-Sugar-on-Me-Esque”). Originally, we were thinking “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies, but then I got an idea. You see, I loooooove me some Journey. Like love, love. We already have three Journey songs picked out to play during our reception at some point, but I thought the cake cutting could be one more place.
“Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” Journey
Soooo it’s not exactly traditional - or romantic, considering it’s about a guy who wants a girl who is with someone else, etc. BUT, have you ever listened to this song?! The beginning is bangin’. I love it. I think it’s sexy and playful (and it will get cut off before it gets into the meat of the less-than-lovey lyrics anyway), and a great way to put a non-traditional twist on the cake cutting tradition. Do you all think I’m nuts? Haha.
We chose our DJ, Eric of Nittany Entertainment, for a few reasons. He came with great reviews, his prices were right, and he was willing to be flexible with us. We respect his craft of course, but again, we have a pretty focused idea of how we’d like our reception to feel for our guests.
He pretty much gave us free rein over dinner, which was awesome! We really wanted dinner to feel like a party. Like, you know when you’re out to dinner and you hear a song that you haven’t heard in forever that just totally makes your night? Right, that.
We’re having a seated, four course dinner for almost 300 people, and that’s probably going to take a while. We started collecting songs years ago, so that we’d be able to pick our favorites when the time came. Originally, we had planned to nix tradition completely, but we didn’t want people to be too freaked out.
We’ll start the meal with some of the absolute wedding classics - Dean and Frank. Then we’ll transition into a lot of Motown numbers, some Beach Boys and Beatles. Next, we picked out some of our favorite classic rock songs including numbers by Elton, Billy, Bruce and Fleetwood Mac. Finally, we’ll be transitioning into the dancing portion of the reception with some more current tunes.
Here’s our dinner playlist arranged by song generation, not necessarily song order, as I figured Eric will probably adjust it as necessary. I’m hoping that these songs will really help to set the tone of our reception and start our guests evening off with a bang!
’50s
’60s
’70s
’80s
’90s
Must Play:
Strong Recommendations:
Dancing Songs
Lastly, we’ll be providing a Do Not Play List:
Wondering how those songs got on the DNPL? I used the list of “Frequently Requested Songs” at weddings from a DJ we decided not to go with. Do you see why?
Are you having a lot of input into your wedding playlist? What do you think of our somewhat nontraditional picks?
My sister used Paul Simon’s song for her father-daughter dance, too, and it was really great! 
(She was also looking for a Phil Collins/Genesis song originally, since that’s what we grew up listening to) - and I used Offbeat Bride to find it! Very good choices! Love the mother-son dance, too!
We must be long lost best friends, because I LOVE everything you have and agree completely with the Do NOT Play List! LOL. Thanks for posting this!
Great pics! For how much time and effort you guys put into planning the music, you probably could have just created an ipod playlist and had a friend “dj”! We chose our DJ because we respected his musical taste and style because neither one of us wanted to make such detailed lists!
LOVE Deano-We used “Memories Are Made of This” (played by our band-they did a stupendous job), & I teared up a little. My husband loves “God Only Knows,” but it’s really starting to grow on me. (We also had “Dancing in the Moonlight”….as we danced in the moonlight.) Kool & EW&F are must-haves. We didn’t have a do not play list, but I think it’s a little different with a band. My sister’s date (and our good family friend) requested the Chicken Dance, & we had fun with it, but a bride doesn’t look very dignified doing it! Our band didn’t get around to Brickhouse, but I was going to do my Seinfeld Elaine dance if they had! A group line dance is kinda fun-we did the Cupid Shuffle & the Cha Cha Slide.) Your list is very similar to what we might have chosen if we’d had a DJ. You may want to be a little flexible, & let the DJ do his thing (using your song list) if you want to ensure people will get out & dance, as they know which songs work & which don’t. (Prob. not a problem with 300 guests though!)
Thanks for sharing - I always love seeing the lists of “Must Play” music and “Do Not Play” because I always find some songs on there that I would have forgotten!!!
September by Earth Wind & Fire is one of my favorites too!! It was a must play at our wedding. Great post by the way!!!
I am copying and pasting your Do Not Play list and sending it to my DJ! And bolding “Grease Lightening Remix” !!
I really love God Only Knows…considering using an instrumental version in our ceremony.
it’s funny how someone’s “absolutely not!” is someone else’s “absolutely!”….i have 18 first cousins on my mom’s side- and none of us would consider having a wedding reception WITHOUT house of pain’s “Jump Around”…hip hop generation we are.
Love your DNP list…! I will murder someone if the Electric Slide comes on at my wedding!
I’m most definitely with you on the do not play list. I also see that you have Love Shack listed twice, which is likely what I will do too because I really hate that song, and I want to emphasize to my DJ just how much I do not want him to play it!
Great lists! I agree with sooo many on the Do Not Play List
We are going to have a combined parent dance (Me with my dad and him with his mom to one song) and are doing to do “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts
Thanks for posting!
lol it’s always interesting to see what others want and are absolutely against. I agree with a good portion of your stuff, but I love country. and I hate the list under dancing songs. lol the rest are pretty good though. I love classic rock, and anything by the rat pack. Sweet Caroline is a must, as the boy is a diehard sox fan 
I LOVEEE father and daughter, but it makes me cry like a two-year old (even though it’s kinda upbeat) so I decided not to use it for fear of the ugly cry. My friend used it at her wedding, and I was bawling!
@KB: Oooooh, KB, Sweet Caroline is on my absolute must-play list too, it’s so much fun when it’s a live band!
I don’t have a Do Not Play list bc I like almost all music, a lot of the ones you have listed I love hearing at weddings…I’m a cheeseball like that! All your Def Play songs are awesome!
Wow, I think I’m going to copy some of your lists!
BTW, you put Love Shack on your Do Not Play twice!
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Mrs. Cheeseburger, Baltimore, MD/State College, PA Age and Occupation: 25, Medical Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Medical Student Engagement Date: June 28, 2008 Wedding Date: March 2010 Venue: Catholic Church Ceremony & Hotel Reception About Me: I'm a passionate girl from Pittsburgh, currently living in Baltimore for school, who loves Penn State, seeing movies, football, thunderstorms, black and white photos, Christmas, good beer, my amazing friends and family, and of course, my mister! We met, fell in love, got engaged, and will be married at our alma mater (go lions!) in a traditional Catholic ceremony followed by a hotel reception with lots of DIY details. It means so much to have our families and friends meet at our favorite place on earth to celebrate our love for one another - I truly couldn't ask for anything more!
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