Reception music

Reception music is music performed by live musicians, a DJ, or an ipod throughout a wedding reception. This includes but is not limited to: the bridal party entrance, grand entrance, first dance, [father-daughter dance], mother-son dance, dinner music, dance music, bouquet toss, garter toss, cake cutting, and final song.

Contents

[edit] Cocktail Hour Music

  • "Always" by Bobby Darin
  • "L-O-V-E-" by Nat King Cole
  • "Kiss of Life" by Sade
  • "Thank You" by Dido
  • "Sweet Surrender" by Sara McLachlan
  • "The Way You Look Tonight" by Kenny G
  • "Comes Love" by Artie Shaw
  • "Fly Me to the Moon," "I've Got the World on a String," "Love and Marriage," "The Way You Look Tonight," "The Summer Wind," "I've Got You Under My Skin" by Sinatra
  • "'Till There was You" by The Beatles/McCartney
  • "I'll Be There" by The Four Tops
  • "As Time Goes By," "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante
  • "Our Love is Here to Stay" Billie Holiday
  • "Fools Rush In," "Now or Never" by Elvis
  • "This Will Be (an Everlasting Love" by Natalie Cole
  • "You are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker
  • "My Girl" by the Temptations
  • "Stand by Me" by Otis Redding
  • "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart
  • "What a Wonderful World" Louis Armstrong
  • "It Had to be You," "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes," "When You Wish Upon a Star" by Steve Tyrell
  • "You are the Sunshine," "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder
  • "Let Me Roll It," "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Wings
  • "Here, There, and Everywhere" by The Beatles
  • "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys

[edit] Bridal Party and Grand Entrance

After guests are seated at the reception, the bridal party and newly married couple are introduced. Variations include just the couple being introduced (without the bridal party) and parents, the bridal party and the couple being introduced all together.

Popular bridal party and grand entrance songs include:

  • "Ready For This" by 2 Unlimited
  • "Let's Get Ready to Rumble" by Jock Jams
  • "Beautiful Day" by U2
  • "Get The Party Started" by Pink
  • "Let's Get it Started" by the Black Eyed Peas
  • "TNT," "Back in Black," "Thunderstruck," "Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC
  • "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" by The Darkness
  • "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce
  • "Sexyback" by Justin Timberlake
  • "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and The News
  • "Our Time Now" by Plain White T's
  • "Hot in Herre" by Nelly
  • "Pump It" Black Eyed Peas
  • "Praise You" FatboySlim
  • "Glamorous" Fergie
  • "Welcome to the Jungle" Guns and Roses
  • "You Make Me Better" Fabulous ft. Neyo
  • School fight song!
  • "Party Like a Rockstar"

Some couples use movie or TV theme songs as their grand entrance songs:

  • "Gonna Fly Now" from Rocky
  • "2001 Space Odyssey" theme
  • "Imperial March" Star Wars
  • "Indiana Jones" theme
  • "Battlestar Gallactica" theme
  • "I'll Be There For You" theme from Friends

For a very creative bridal party entrance, check out IAM4UK's Knot bio. They entered to the The Price is Right theme!

[edit] First Dance

After the grand entrance, the newly married couple may have a first dance to a pre-selected song. The song may have a special meaning to the couple, or the lyrics of the song may resonate with them.

Popular first dance songs include:

  • At Last by Etta James
  • The Way you Look Tonight by Steve Tyrell
  • It Had To Be You by Harry Connick Jr.
  • By Your Side by Sade
  • "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones
  • Fallen by Lauren Wood (Pretty Woman Soundtrack)
  • Better Together by Jack Johnson
  • I Wanna Be Your Everything by Keith Urban
  • Lost In This Moment by Big and Rich
  • The Luckiest by Ben Folds
  • "Fly Me to the Moon" Frank Sinatra
  • "Lets Stay Together" Al Green
  • "My first, My Last, My Everything" Barry White (fast song)
  • "You're the Inspiration" Chicago
  • "From This Moment On" Shania Twain
  • "Wonderful Tonight" Eric Clapton
  • "Have I Told You Lately" Rod Stewart
  • "'Till There was You" by The Beatles/McCartney
  • "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante (a short one--very old fashioned)
  • "Our Love is Here to Stay" Billie Holiday (fast song)
  • "Fools Rush In" by Elvis
  • "You are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker
  • "Stand by Me" by Otis Redding
  • "Let Me Roll It," "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Wings
  • "Here, There, and Everywhere" by The Beatles
  • "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys
  • "Heavenly Day" by Patty Griffin

[edit] Father-daughter Dance

  • After the newly married couple's first dance, brides often choose to dance with their fathers. Depending on a family situation, brides have opted to dance with another significant male in the family i.e. a brother, new FIL or her step dad.

Popular father-daughter dance songs include:

  • The Angel In My Arms by Wedding Music Central
  • My Girl by the Temptations
  • Stand By Me by Ben E. King
  • What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
  • Unforgettable by Natalie and Nat King Cole
  • You Are the Sunshine of My Life by Stevie Wonder
  • The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra
  • Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle
  • Little Miss Magic by Jimmy Buffet
  • Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder
  • I Loved Her First by Heartland
  • My Wish By Rascal Flats
  • "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder
  • "In My Life" by The Beatles
  • "Lullabye" by Billie Joel
  • "Father and Daughter" by Paul Simon
  • "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion
  • "Song For My Daughter" by Mikki Veirick
  • "Always be Your Baby" by Natalie Grant
  • "Daddy" by Beyonce
  • "Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross
  • "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
  • "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac
  • "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw
  • "Thank Heaven for Little Girls"

[edit] Mother-Son Dance

After the father-daughter dance, a groom might have a dance with his mother during the reception.

Some couples choose to combine the Father-Daughter Dance with the Mother-Son Dance, and have a Parents' Dance. To keep it more traditional, father and bride might dance alone for the first half of the song, and mother and groom join in after a minute or two. In this case, the song selection should be general enough to cover both.

  • "The Man You've Become" by Wedding Music Central
  • "Mama" by Boyz II Men
  • "You are the Sunshine of My Life" by Stevie Wonder
  • "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts
  • "Baby Mine" from Dumbo
  • "Simple Man" by Lynryd Skynryd
  • "May Each Day" by Andy Williams
  • "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
  • "Loves Me Like A Rock" by Paul Simon
  • "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton and "Have I Told You Lately" by Rod Stewart are nice songs but may be more appropriate for bride & groom--have a listen!

[edit] Dinner Music

  • See Cocktail Hour Music.

[edit] Dance Music

Dance music is music played during and after the reception dinner, in an attempt to get guests to dance.

Popular dance songs include:

  • "Brown-eyed Girl" by Van Morrison
  • "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond
  • "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra
  • "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor
  • "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce
  • "I Want to Rock and Roll All Night" by Kiss
  • "Build Me Up Buttercup" by The Foundations
  • "SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake
  • "September" by Earth Wind & Fire
  • "Got To Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye
  • "Jungle Boogie" by KC & the Sunshine Band
  • "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson
  • "Hey Ya!" by Outkast
  • "Jump Jive An' Wail" by Brian Setzer Orchestra
  • "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners
  • "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure
  • "Lets Get Married" Jagged Edge
  • "Lets Stay Together" Al Green
  • "Keep on Loving You" REO Speedwagon
  • "Billie Jean," "Beat It" Michael Jackson
  • "Don't Stop Believing" Journey
  • "No Mountain High Enough" Gaye, Terrell
  • "I'm a Believer" Smashmouth
  • "My first, My Last, My Everything" Barry White
  • "Wild, Wild West" Escape Club
  • "Love Shack" B-52's
  • "Shook Me All Night Long" AC/DC
  • "Gimmie Three Steps" Lynyrd Synryd
  • "Mo Money, Mo Problems" P. Ditty
  • "Humpty Dance" Digital Underground
  • "Man, I feel Like a Woman" Shanaia Twain
  • "Take on Me" Ah Ha
  • "I Think We're Alone Now" Tiffany
  • "Can't Get Enough (of Your Love)" Bad Company
  • "Yeah," "Caught Up" Usher
  • "Stayin' Alive" Bee Gees
  • "Hot in Herre" Nelly
  • "In Da Club" 50 Cent
  • "Youngin"' Fabulous
  • "Livin' on a Prayer," "Bad Medicine" Bon Jovi
  • "Heart of Rock and Roll" Huey Lewis and the News
  • "Can't Touch This" MC Hammer
  • "Footloose" Kenny Loggins
  • "Your Love" The Outfield
  • "Red, Red Wine" UB40
  • "Jessie's Girl" Rick Springfield
  • "Tainted Love" Softcell
  • "Nothin"' NORE (edited)
  • "She Wants to Move" N.E.R.D.
  • "Up In Here" DMX
  • "Hypnotize" Notorious BIG
  • "Working for the Weekend" Loverboy
  • "You're the Inspiration" Chicago
  • "From This Moment On" Shania Twain
  • "Wonderful Tonight" Eric Clapton
  • "SHOUT!" Isley Brothers
  • "Try a Little Tenderness" Otis Redding
  • "Twist & Shout" byThe Beatles
  • "Big Pimpin'" Jay-Z
  • "Johnny Be Good" Chuck Berry
  • "In the Mood" Glenn Miller
  • "Sweet Home Alabama" Lynyrd Skynyrd
  • "Two Princes" Spin Doctors
  • "Blister in the Sun" Violent Femmes
  • "Friends in Low Places" Garth Brooks

[edit] Do not play list

A do not play list is a list of dance songs specifically banned from being played. Many couples provide their bands or dj's with a do not play list.

The most common songs on do not play lists are usually "cheesy" group dances:

  • "Chicken Dance"
  • "Hokey Pokey"
  • "Macarena" by Los del Río
  • "YMCA" by the Village People
  • "The Electric Slide" by Marcia Griffith
  • Hot Hot Hot (Conga)
  • C'Mon 'N Ride It (Train Dance)
  • Cha Cha Slide

Non group dance songs also make some "do not play" lists:

  • "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot (popular for some weddings, banned at others!)
  • "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" by Big & Rich
  • "Redneck Woman"
  • "Brick House"
  • "Love Shack"
  • "A Whole New World"

Many of these are objectionable due to massive overplay.

"Do not play" lists may also include songs that carry particular significance from past dating relationships.

[edit] Bouquet Toss Song

A bride may choose to toss her bridal bouquet, traditionally to the single female guests, during the reception. Sometimes a florist provides a toss bouquet so the bride does not have to toss her bridal bouquet. Some brides have used break-away bouquets that break into many mini bouquets and contain wishes or fortunes on each mini bouquet. Other brides completely nix the bouquet toss.

Popular Bouquet Toss songs include:

  • Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer
  • Independent Women by Destiny's Child
  • This One's for the Girls by Martina McBride
  • Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
  • Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison
  • Bootylicious by Destiny's Child
  • Lady Marmalade by Pink, Mya, Lil' Kim, Christina Aguilera
  • Milkshake by Kelis
  • "Maneater" by Nelly Furtado

[edit] Garter Toss Song

After the bride tosses the bouquet, her spouse may remove the garter from her leg and toss it to single male guests at the wedding. These days some brides and grooms are opting out of the bouquet toss and garter toss.

Popular garter toss songs include:

  • Mission Impossible Theme
  • Bad Boys Theme
  • "Let it Go" from the Broadway Soundtrack from 'The Full Monty'
  • (For a teacher) "Hot for Teacher" by Van Halen
  • "Lets Get it On" by Marvin Gaye
  • "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen
  • "Legs" by ZZ Top
  • "You Can Leave Your Hat On" by Marc Broussard
  • "You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate
  • "Pink Panther" theme
  • "Kiss" by Prince

[edit] Cake Cutting Song

A Cake cutting song is a song played during the cutting of the wedding cake.

Popular Cake Cutting Songs:

  • When I'm Sixty-Four by the Beatles
  • "Grow Old With You" from the Movie Soundtrack from 'The Wedding Singer'
  • "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" by James Taylor
  • "Happy Together" by The Turtles
  • "Love and Marriage" by Frank Sinatra
  • "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash
  • "Pour Some Sugar on Me" Def Leppard
  • "Banana Pancakes" by Jack Johnson
  • "Sweet Dreams are Made of This" by Eurythmics
  • "Sugar" by Billie Holliday
  • "Cut the Cake" by Average White Band
  • "Like it Up" by Kiss
  • "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" by the Four Tops
  • "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies
  • "Ice Cream" by Sarah McLachlan
  • "Love You Madly" by Cake

[edit] Last Dance Song

The last dance song is the final dance song of the evening.

Popular last song selections include:

  • Closing Time by Semisonic
  • Time of Your Life by GreenDay
  • Last Dance by Donna Summer
  • I've Had the Time of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
  • I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady
  • All My Life by KC & JoJo
  • Save The Last Dance by The Drifters
  • "The Last Dance by Frank Sinatra

Or go out with a bang with high-energy songs:

  • "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC

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