Interview With DJ About Wedding Music

Chantale Pitts: I’d like to welcome Rob Salvati of the Music Man DJ Service to our show today. Welcome, Rob.

Rob Salvati: Hi, how’s it going?

Chantale: Good. Our topic is selecting music, from the ceremony to the reception afterward. You think it’s a key element in a wedding for setting a nice atmosphere.

Receptions normally start off with that very special first dance. What other special dances occur during receptions that requires the couple to select music?

Rob: It’s usually optional, but couples can select songs for a father/daughter dance, a mother/son dance, the wedding party dance, cake cutting, bouquet and garter, and the last song of the night. It isn’t uncommon these days for people to combine some of the dances to get to the dancing portion of the night.

I’ve also seen the first dance occur after the wedding party’s been called to the head table, right before dinner. That’s something that I like to suggest, because the photographers will be ready. You already have everyone’s attention, and it gets through some of the formal dances quicker to keep the party moving.

Chantale: Oh, that’s a great idea. I’ve never heard of that. That would be a wonderful option.

Now, the first song is an important dance, and obviously each year I’m sure there’s a key new hit song that makes brides and grooms choose their special dance, but is there a classic song that’s been popular over the years that you recommend to couples?

Rob: When it comes to the first dance and other formal dances, I think that this is the best time to pick a special song that’s important to you, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be a song that everyone at the wedding needs to know as a chart topper, or even needs to know at all. If it’s unique, people are going to remember the song as your wedding song and not everyone else’s wedding song as well.

This year I had one couple who selected all their songs using a Beatles themed wedding. I thought that was interesting because they personalized their songs. The formal dances are the only dances that don’t require the DJ to fill the dance floor. When a couple tries to pick the new hit songs, I find around 75% of the weddings to have the same special songs. That’s why it’s important to have a unique song, I find.

Chantale: That’s good advice. Really good advice.

Everyone’s preference in music is different. The bride may love rap. The groom is a country boy, but Mom and Dad are fans of jazz or classical. How can you accommodate everyone’s taste at a wedding?

Rob: I think that’s one of the hardest things for a DJ to do at such a diverse event like a wedding. It just takes experience for a DJ to build up a collection of music that works for all ages. There are certain patterns a DJ can follow, such as five fast songs, two slow songs, or also using three songs from a genre at a time. It’s just a matter of feeling out the crowd and figuring out what type of music the majority of the people are into, and also picking the most popular songs from different genres and singers.

The best practice is to have the most popular music for multiple genres. The DJ should also be knowledgeable in the history of music throughout the years, and also current fads in pop culture.

The most important thing for a DJ at a wedding is to keep the music upbeat and keep the crowd interested.

Chantale: Good idea. OK.

Sometimes couples may know the artist or maybe just key phrases in a song that they want. Can you offer tips for where couples can go to find the names of songs?

Rob: The best place to go for accurate song names would be an official music site, such as Billboard.com, which has the top Billboard every month for all styles of music. Even just a local music store, like H and B can give you some good song ideas. DJ’s and wedding sites are also good for song names, with accuracy.

I have a searchable list on my web site at MusicManDJ.ca. You can usually find formal dance suggestions, as well as which songs will help a couple pick their formal dance songs. I find that a DJ usually knows which song a person’s talking about, even if they only know some of the lyrics, so that’s usually not an issue when selecting songs.

Chantale: Good. I guess a knowledgeable DJ really helps out with that.

Rob: Right.

Chantale: How involved should a bride and groom be in selecting the music for their reception? Should they be selecting every song, from start to finish, for the night, or giving only a few must haves and must never play songs to the DJ?

Rob: I would definitely say that they should limit their song selection to no more than five or ten songs. That’s really important because you have to remember that the DJ you’re hiring does this for a living, so he understands the crowd reaction and what songs to play to get the best results.

When a bride and groom select the majority of the songs for the night, they’re basically doing the job of the DJ, and I usually find that the songs the DJ picks will always get better results for the amount of people dancing. Another thing that isn’t always realized is that a standard wedding usually only fits 60-80 songs for the dancing portion of the night, so a request list tends to fill up pretty quickly.

I would suggest a “Must Play” list and a “Do Not Play” list. You can make the “Do Not Play” list larger if you prefer, as long as you give the DJ some flexibility in what to play. Another good idea is to give an artist name that your family may enjoy to help the DJ read the crowd.

Chantale: Good idea. That DJ’s always that main player, that expertise you’re looking for.

So, how far in advance should you book a DJ?

Rob: Normally, people will book between six months to a year before their weddings. I would suggest something within that timeframe. Anything sooner and you may have trouble finding a good DJ for your wedding, just because of the fact that weddings are a limited business.

Normally, people only get married on Saturdays, and often in the spring or summer. So that puts wedding DJ’s in high demand, because there are usually not enough professionals to go around come June or July.

On top of that, wedding planning can be a full time job. Couples don’t realize all the work involved until they experience it themselves. So, you always want to give yourself enough time because just a few months isn’t enough time to plan a wedding if you also have a full time job and you’re in the moving process, as most couples are who get married.

Chantale: Right. Great advice.

Now, what other advice can you offer for couples looking for a DJ. What quality does a good DJ have?

Rob: The best qualities to look for in a DJ, without having heard them play before, are how they present themselves, I would say. Usually a website is the first indication to tell how serious the DJ takes his business, and how organized the business is before even meeting with the DJ. You can tell how much work is involved when you look at their site. If the site’s incomplete or not working it may also say something about the business.

On top of that, other important facts to consider are how knowledgeable the DJ is regarding different styles of music. The DJ should be outgoing, well spoken, and able to read the crowd. You should make sure they’re using professional grade equipment, and that they have a large selection of purchased music.

Response time is important as well, because it indicates how the DJ will handle your event when it comes to your actual event time. Those would be the most important things to look for, I find.

Chantale: Thank you, Rob. I think you’ve given everyone good guidelines that they can follow in selecting music for their special day. Best of luck in your wedding venues this year with the Music Man DJ Service.

Rob: Thank you very much.

Chantale: Thank you, Rob. Bye-bye.

Rob: Take care.

~~~~~~~~~

Source: This interview was conducted by MyDreamWedding.ca, The host for this interview about “Selecting the Music” was Chantale Pitts. Their guest was Rob Salvati of “The Music Man DJ Service”. A special thanks goes out to My Style Wedding 3D wedding planning software for sponsoring this wonderful event.

MyDreamWedding.ca is Canada’s premier wedding blog about unique wedding ideas.

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Top 100 Wedding Songs

WEDDING SONGS

Are you looking for that perfect wedding song? Look no further! We have a list that will give you ideas for your ceremony music, reception music, and the all important wedding dance. We have ideas for the bride’s dance with her father, and the groom’s dance with his mother. We even have a list of ethnic wedding songs to give your wedding some personality and flair. Explore our list, and feel free to add your suggestions at the bottom of this post.

Listen to our wedding music songs!

CEREMONY MUSIC
Many religious institutions have special requirements for church wedding music, so please check.

1. Agnus Dei – Michael W Smith
2. Air (Water Music Suite) (Handel)
3. Allegro Maestoso (Water Music Suite 2) (Handel)
4. Always by Bon Jovi
5. Annie’s Song by John Denver
6. Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Handel)
7. Beautiful by Gordon Lightfoot
8. Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion
9. Breathless by Kenny G
10. Bridal Chorus (Lohengrin-Wagner)
11. Canon in D Major (Pachelbel)
12. Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
13. Evergreen by Barbra Streisand
14. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams
15. Follow Me by John Denver
16. From This Moment On by Shania Twain
17. Give Me Forever (I Do) by James Ingram and John Tesh
18. Hawaiian Wedding Song by Elvis Presley
19. Hornpipe (Water Music Suite) (Handel)
20. Longer by Dan Fogelberg
21. Lord I Give You My Heart by Michael W Smith
22. Loving You by Holly Cole
23. I Believe In You and Me by Whitney Houston
24. I Do (Cherish You) by Mark Willis
25. If by Bread
26. I Wanna Be Your Everything by Keith Urban
27. I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman
28. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach)
29. Just The Way You Are by Diana Krall
30. Morning Has Broken – Cat Stevens
31. My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
32. Ode To Joy (Beethoven)
33. One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story
34. Pie Jesu by Sarah Brightman
35. Prayer by Celine Dion
36. Prelude in C Major (Bach)
37. Sometimes When We Touch by Dan Hill
38. The Gift of Love (traditional)
39. The Keeper of the Stars by Tracy Byrd
40. The Lord’s Prayer by Sister Janet Mead
41. The Sweetest Thing by Juice Newton
42. The Wedding Song (There Is Love) – Mary McGregor (Peter, Paul and Mary)
43. This I Promise You by Ronan Keating
44. This Very Moment by KC and JoJo
45. Time In A Bottle – Jim Croce
46. Trumpet Voluntary (Jeremiah Clarke)
47. Wedding Day at Troldhaugen (Grieg)
48. Wedding March (Mendelssohn)
49. We`ve Only Just Begun by The Carpenters
50. When I Said I Do by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman
51. You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban

WEDDING DANCE
If you are looking for the perfect song for the first dance, bridal party dance, the bouquet toss, the garter toss, the cake cutting, or dollar dance, this list is sure to have something you love.

1. At The Beginning by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis
2. All My Life by KC and JoJo
3. Always and Forever by Heatwave
4. Better Today – Coffey
5. Cha Cha Slide by Mr. C The Slide Man
6. Cherry Pie by Warrant
7. Close To You by The Carpenters
8. Come What May by Air Supply
9. Could Not Ask For More by Edwin McCain
10. Dance Me To The End of Love by Leonard Cohen
11. Dance With Me by T Carter Music
12. Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend by Marilyn Monroe
13. Everlasting Love by Love Affair
14. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams
15. Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
16. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You – Rod Stewart
17. Heaven by Bryan Adams
18. I Am So In Love With You by BassHunter
19. I Cross My Heart by George Strait
20. I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing by Aerosmith
21. I Have To Say I Love You In A Song – Jim Croce
22. I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack
23. I Just Call You Mine by Martina McBride
24. I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden
25. I Love You by Celine Dion
26. I Need You, I Love You by Mark Anthony
27. I’ll Be by Edwin McCaine
28. I Swear by John Michael Montgomery
29. It’s Raining Men by Gerri Halliwell
30. It’s Your Love by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
31. I Wanna Grow Old With You (from the Wedding Singer) by Adam Sandler
32. Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne
33. Leahy-Wedding Day Jig by Natalie McMaster
34. L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole
35. Loved Her First by Heartland
36. Love of My Life – The Wedding Song by Darla Day
37. Nobody Loves Me Like You Do by Anne Murray and Dave Loggins
38. Nothing Else Matters by Metaliica
39. She Believes In Me by Kenny Rogers
40. Shower Me With Your Love by Surface
41. Sugar, Sugar by The Archies
42. That’s Amore by Dean Martin
43. The Rose by Bette Midler
44. The Stripper by David Rose Orchestra (garter toss anyone?)
45. (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
46. The Wedding Song by Kenny G (instrumental)
47. This One’s For The Girls by Martina McBride
48. Together Forever by Rick Astley
49. Wedding Song by Bob Dylan
50. We`ve Only Just Begun by The Carpenters
51. What A Wonderful World by Rod Stewart
52. When You Say Nothing At All by Ronan Keating
53. Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler
54. You`re In My Heart by Rod Stewart

MOTHER AND SON WEDDING SONGS

1. A Mother`s Song – by T Carter Music
2. A Song For Mama by Boyz II Men
3. Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston
4. The Man You`ve Become by Molly Pasutti
5. There You’ll Be by Faith Hill
6. You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban

FATHER DAUGHTER WEDDING SONGS

1. Daddy`s Angel by T Carter Music
2. Daddy’s Girl by Red Sovine
3. And Then They Do by Trace Adkin
4. Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle
5.Daddy’s Hands by Dolly Parton and Holly Dunn
6. I’ll Always Be Your Daughter by Lynn Leonti and Jim McShane
7. My Little Girl by Tim McGraw

ETHNIC SONG LIST
Arabic Wedding Songs
Indian Wedding Songs

How do I Create a WOW factor for My Wedding?

I guess the best place to start is to figure out what a WOW factor is! When was the last time you experienced something and said WOW. That’s a WOW factor, and chances are it was something UNEXPECTED or something OUTSTANDING.

Every WOW factor is either UNEXPECTED or OUTSTANDING in some way. But when you put UNEXPECTED and OUTSTANDING together, that really creates an extreme WOW factor.

Watch this short video to learn more:

Wedding Planning Timeline – Overview

Simplified Wedding Planning Schedule

FREE:  download a .pdf version of our Simplified Wedding Planning Schedule

10 months before wedding
□  Pick wedding theme/style
□  Plan budget
□  Make tentative guest list
□  Set wedding date & time
□  Book ceremony & reception location
□  Select members of wedding party

9 months before wedding
□  Pick wedding colours
□  Book DJ/Band & ceremony musicians
□  Book wedding day transportation
□  Book photographer and videographer
□  Book florist
□  Meet with ceremony officiant

8 months before wedding
□  Select bridal gown
□  Select bridesmaids’ dresses

7 months before wedding
□  Save-the-date cards need to go out to out-of-town guests
□  Any guests coming from countries where Visas are required will need an invitation

6 months before wedding
□  Register gift choices
□  Finalize guest list
□  Order wedding invitations
□  Plan hotel and transportation for out-of-town guests
□  Order wedding cake

5 months before wedding
□  Wedding-night hotel suite for bride and groom
□  Plan honeymoon
□  Select and order wedding favours

4 months before wedding
□  Order groom’s attire
□  Select groomsmen’s attire
□  Send out-of-town guests invitations
□  Select wedding bands

3 months before wedding
□  Send out invitations to in-town guests
□  Finalize and book menu for rehearsal dinner
□  Finalize menu for reception

2 months before wedding
□  Purchase gifts for wedding party & parents
□  Plan reception seating
□  Plan itinerary for out-of-town guests
□  Finalize arrangements with DJ/Band, Ceremony Musicians, Florist, Cake Baker, Photographer and Videographer
□  Confirm times with ceremony and reception sites

3 wks before wedding
□  Call guests who have not responded
□  Get marriage license
□  Get name-change forms (if needed)
□  Confirm all hotel accommodations

1-2 wks before wedding
□  Have rehearsal & dinner
□  Have bridesmaid’s lunch
□  Have groomsmen’s’ day out
□  Confirm wedding day transportation
□  Confirm guest count with caterer
□  Confirm time and location with Officiant, Florist, Cake baker, Photographer, DJ/Band, and Videographer

20 Free Wedding Planning Video Series

What will The Bridal Coach do for you?

This is what The Bridal Coach will do for you:

• Help you define the vision of your perfect wedding, and help you realize that vision
• Provide you with educational, fun, and entertaining videos which makes your wedding planning choices easy
• Easy SmartBride™ Action Plans which fit your specific needs and desires
• One-on-one coaching with your personal wedding consultant
• Live ‘coaching hour’ where you can ask your wedding planning questions
• Members forum where you can share with other brides and get your questions answered by a certified wedding planner
• Make you happy, proud and confident that you have realized your perfect wedding day.