In the years I have a heavy wedding schedule, I'm always tempted to play "reception music BINGO and mark off whenever I hear "Isn't She Lovely" or "The Way You Look Tonight". These are great songs, some of the best, why else would so many people choose them? But if you're still actually reading my blog, there is a decent chance you want something a little different... something that would totally foil my ability to shout BINGO as soon as the DJ blasts Jock Jams for the bouquet toss (one of the cliches that IS simply a cliche, can we PLEASE try something new?) So, below are my ideas and suggestions to put your personal stamp on your reception music and get people out on the floor.
Bridal Party Entrance
Often a missed opportunity to give a nod to your friends that have put up with your antics for the last year of your engagement and show everyone else who's there precisely what these people mean to you.
Often a missed opportunity to give a nod to your friends that have put up with your antics for the last year of your engagement and show everyone else who's there precisely what these people mean to you.
Sappy Ideas (Sappy is good in this context):
In My Life by The Beatles or Celine Deon's Because You Loved Me. I know these seem cliche, but if you move to a different part of the show and give it a new meaning, the whole thing seems fresh, somehow.
Silly Ideas:
Wanna Be Startin' Something by Michael Jackson, Raise Your Glass by Pink, Give Up the Funk, Glory Days by Springsteen, Glad You Came... Honestly, it's hard to think of a BAD song here but I'd like to see more variety.
Getting People to Shake A Tail Feather
There is absolutely nothing I hate more at receptions (except maybe cash bars) than a DJ who tries to turn the evening into a four year old's birthday-- hula hoop, limbo contests, sing-a-longs, you wouldn't believe it. In my opinion, the best way to get people to dance is to pay music so infectious that people NEED to dance. A lot of the problem is generational-- sometimes it's hard for Great Aunt Bertha to get down to The Thong Song or Ke$ha's latest. Below are some of my tried and true favorites that have gotten my stoic and stolid father to bust a move on the dance floor-- we'll call it the Eric Williams Booty-Shaking Playlist.
Today it's about booty shaking, so I'm not putting ballads in there, that will have to come another time.
Shout
RESPECT
Man, I Feel Like a Woman (Shania Twain)
Any Way You Want It (Journey)
Don't Stop Believing (Journey)
Dancing Queen
Bad Romance (Gaga)
You Give Love A Bad Name (Bon Jovi)
Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi)
Bye Bye Bye (NSync)
Conga (Gloria Estefan)
Wanna Be Startin' Something (MJ)
Raise Your Glass (Pink)
Flashdance
Footloose
Funky Town (Lipps, Inc.)
Firework (Katy Perry)
Gettin' Jiggy Wit It (Will Smith)
La Vida Loca (Ricky Martin)
Material Girl (Madonna)
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Whitney Houston, but Glee did a great cover too)
I Want It That Way (Backstreet Boys)
Jump (For My Love) Pointer Sisters
Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars)
Marry You (Bruno Mars)
Miami (Will Smith)
Straight Up (Paula Abdul)
Tainted Love (Soft Cell)
Telephone (Beyonce)
Love Potion #9
Zombie Jamboree
Little Old Lady from Pasadena (Beach Boys)
Hey Ya (Outkast)
Walk Like an Egyptian ( Bangles)
Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
Burning Up (Madonna)
What I Like About You (Romantics)
Some Kind of Wonderful (Grand Funk Railroad)
Sweet Home Alabama (Skynard)
Blues Brothers (Soul Man)
Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
I Feel Good (James Brown)
Johnny B Good (Chuck Barry)
My Boyfriend's Back (The Angels)
Jailhouse Rock (Elvis)
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)
Vogue (Madonna)
We Got The Beat
Uptown Girl (Billy Joel)
We Found Love (Rihanna)
Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson or Alien Ant Farm)
Sexy And I Know It (LMFAO)
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger (Kelly Clarkson)
Here's To Us (Halestrom)
Hungry Like a Wolf (Duran Duran)
So Emotional (Whitney Houston)
Love You Like a Love Song (Only really like the Glee version)
What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction)
Pinball Wizard (The Who)
Starships (Nicki Minaj)
Me Against the Music (Britney)
Only The Good Die Young (Billy Joel)
River Deep, Mountain High (Ike and Tina Turner)
Everything (Michael Buble)
Hollywood (Buble)
Sway (Buble)
Silly Love Song (Paul McCartney)
Somebody to Love (Queen)
Walkin' on Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves)
Jump (Van Halen)
My Life Would Suck Without You (Kelly Clarkson)
Fire (Springsteen)
Jessie's Girl (Rick Springfield)
Dream On (Aerosmith)
Cryin' (Aerosmith)
Pink (Aerosmith)
Safety Dance (Men Without Hats)
Getting People to Shake A Tail Feather
There is absolutely nothing I hate more at receptions (except maybe cash bars) than a DJ who tries to turn the evening into a four year old's birthday-- hula hoop, limbo contests, sing-a-longs, you wouldn't believe it. In my opinion, the best way to get people to dance is to pay music so infectious that people NEED to dance. A lot of the problem is generational-- sometimes it's hard for Great Aunt Bertha to get down to The Thong Song or Ke$ha's latest. Below are some of my tried and true favorites that have gotten my stoic and stolid father to bust a move on the dance floor-- we'll call it the Eric Williams Booty-Shaking Playlist.
Today it's about booty shaking, so I'm not putting ballads in there, that will have to come another time.
Shout
RESPECT
Man, I Feel Like a Woman (Shania Twain)
Any Way You Want It (Journey)
Don't Stop Believing (Journey)
Dancing Queen
Bad Romance (Gaga)
You Give Love A Bad Name (Bon Jovi)
Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi)
Bye Bye Bye (NSync)
Conga (Gloria Estefan)
Wanna Be Startin' Something (MJ)
Raise Your Glass (Pink)
Flashdance
Footloose
Funky Town (Lipps, Inc.)
Firework (Katy Perry)
Gettin' Jiggy Wit It (Will Smith)
La Vida Loca (Ricky Martin)
Material Girl (Madonna)
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Whitney Houston, but Glee did a great cover too)
I Want It That Way (Backstreet Boys)
Jump (For My Love) Pointer Sisters
Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars)
Marry You (Bruno Mars)
Miami (Will Smith)
Straight Up (Paula Abdul)
Tainted Love (Soft Cell)
Telephone (Beyonce)
Love Potion #9
Zombie Jamboree
Little Old Lady from Pasadena (Beach Boys)
Hey Ya (Outkast)
Walk Like an Egyptian ( Bangles)
Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)
Burning Up (Madonna)
What I Like About You (Romantics)
Some Kind of Wonderful (Grand Funk Railroad)
Sweet Home Alabama (Skynard)
Blues Brothers (Soul Man)
Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
I Feel Good (James Brown)
Johnny B Good (Chuck Barry)
My Boyfriend's Back (The Angels)
Jailhouse Rock (Elvis)
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)
Vogue (Madonna)
We Got The Beat
Uptown Girl (Billy Joel)
We Found Love (Rihanna)
Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson or Alien Ant Farm)
Sexy And I Know It (LMFAO)
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger (Kelly Clarkson)
Here's To Us (Halestrom)
Hungry Like a Wolf (Duran Duran)
So Emotional (Whitney Houston)
Love You Like a Love Song (Only really like the Glee version)
What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction)
Pinball Wizard (The Who)
Starships (Nicki Minaj)
Me Against the Music (Britney)
Only The Good Die Young (Billy Joel)
River Deep, Mountain High (Ike and Tina Turner)
Everything (Michael Buble)
Hollywood (Buble)
Sway (Buble)
Silly Love Song (Paul McCartney)
Somebody to Love (Queen)
Walkin' on Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves)
Jump (Van Halen)
My Life Would Suck Without You (Kelly Clarkson)
Fire (Springsteen)
Jessie's Girl (Rick Springfield)
Dream On (Aerosmith)
Cryin' (Aerosmith)
Pink (Aerosmith)
Safety Dance (Men Without Hats)
