Song order for wedding reception?

Question

Well I got one thing out of the way and now another. I was asked to DJ a friends wedding. I have never done this before. I am playing the rocky theme or crazy in love by Beyonce for their introduction. Now I have all kinds of 50's,60's, 70's, 80, 90's. to present day music. I just dont know how to break it down to play sets amongst everything I have. I mean do I start it out fast right after they do their first dance or what. I was going to start it out with some oldies from the 60's or 50's like the twist, rockyn robin, soul man, and then I am stomped what to do next. Do I play a slow song from that era or the 80's or do I keep the fast pace up for awhile andplay something on the radio now like low by florida or shake it or damaged or do I do 80's or 90's like baby got back. I am clueless here. Please help

Answer 1

after your spotlight songs (first dance, father/bride, mother/groom), it works great to do a classic oldies slow song for the first open dance floor (my girl, stand by me, unchained melody).  i usually make it ladies choice just because usually you can fill the dance floor no problem. and since the floor is full, afterward you hit them right off the back with a wedding classic.  SHOUT!  that gets their atttention.  then hit them with 1, maybe 2 more HUGE hits from the day (shake your booty,  staying alive, play that funky music).  don't just stop with one, you want to start it with a bang.  after about 3 non-stop hits, maybe throw in a classic 80's power ballad for the 20-something crowd (Journey, REO Speedwagon, Firehouse).  while you have the younger crowd out there, thats when you hit them with Flo'Rida or something in that sort.  NEVER play a modern top 40 song in your first set.  that early you are going to have about 80% older crowd and the last thing they want to hear right off the back is "i like big butts and i cannot lie".  

this is just a taste of how i like to do it.  most of all, learn your music. get a top 200 wedding music list, AND USE IT.  it's a published list for a reason (see link), and just play by ear.  don't have a pre-set play list.  you need to learn to read your crowd and play to their taste.  

FYI,for the introduction, i would not do "crazy in love", again, no new stuff early in the night.  Rocky theme works, but if you want a good rockin intro use Gary Glitters "rock n roll part 2" or Alan Parsons Project "Sirius"

Answer 2

if I were you I would go to a popular hotel in you area this Saturday and ease drop on a wedding...it might be really helpful for you. plus if the couple didn't provide you with a play list you can get specific music ideas. just make sure to play the stupid songs that get people on the dance floor. at a recent wedding we went to the DJ played a game called snowball where during the first 2 songs after the official dances (first as Mr. and Mrs., bride/father, groom/mother) he said snowball 2 or 3 times each and each time those on the floor had to go select someone from the audience to dance with until the next time he said it.  it started with just the bridal party and ended with almost everyone out there and there weren't a lack of dancers for the rest of the evening!

Answer 3

Of course you have the whole slew of songs at the beginning of their first dance, parents dances, wedding party dance, etc. Then I would do what you said - start out fast with the oldies, maybe some group songs (e.g., Hokey Pokey if they want these), and keep it in the older decades. Mix some slow songs in, but I would only do 2 at a time or so. About midway through or so, the crowd may start to clear, with mostly the older people leaving first. Wait until this point to start playing the newer music. It can be more offensive to older people or kids. I'd do about 3-5 fast songs and 2 slow songs or something like that. And, look at how your crowd is reacting. If no one is dancing to the slow songs, then keep the fast music going longer if you don't have to have everything preset. Have fun! And talk to the couple and see what they want.