A few weeks ago I went to the DJ’s website where we update our list of songs for our wedding. I added about 10 songs I know we want to hear. I figured that’s all we needed to do, and the DJ would figure out the rest.
Selena, however, believes that we need to provide a list of more music than could be played at the ceremony to limit the scope to songs we know we would want to hear, and the DJ will play from that. She’s in the other room right now going through her ITunes and compiling a list. She’s up to three pages (front and back) so far.
So, now I don’t know. Can anyone out there who has experience planning a wedding or DJing a wedding provide some insight as to which approach is preferred by the DJ and which approach best serves us?
We gave our DJ a couple (like 3 songs) that we had to hear (ie. first dance, mother/son and father/daughter dance and one song that we loved)and then told the DJ what type of songs that we wanted (old school R&B, 80′s rock, etc) and what songs specifically we didn’t want (no chicken dance, bunny hop, etc). The rest we left it up to him. I guess it depends on how much you trust your DJ and how much control you want. If you don’t trust them and want total control, I would make a longer list. Hence, I would go with Selena’s 3 page list versus your 10 songs…
Hi Greg & Selena. Bill and I compiled a few lists. The first was songs that we wanted for events at the reception (announcements, cutting the cake, first dance, etc). The next list was of songs that were MUST PLAYS when it came time to dance. The third list was of songs that we would like to hear if possible. The 4th list was of songs that we absolutely did not want to hear. The last list was a group of artists that we liked to hear during the cocktail hour and dinner. I think that it turned out well.
My only advice is to not use our terrible DJs! Seriously though, I might give them more than 10 songs because it would be no fun if they got the wrong idea about your tastes. It may be even more important to give them a list of songs that you don’t want to hear (i.e. chicken dance or hokey pokey). Good luck with it!
I’d like Greg to note that every time someone brought up a song that you don’t want to hear, the chicken dance came up.
Haha- Selena, how’s that birthday card doin’? Did it accidentally break and fall in the trash can? That’d be a shame : )
Haha Lizzie’s DJs were hilarious. Does anyone remember the 5 bizarre minutes when they tried, so very hard, to play the Chicken Dance and every time their system would go down. Poor Kiara finally agreed to do the dance and it was a no go.
That birthday card, (that Kitty references) was a gift from my sister, that when it opened, played a song form Hannah Montana. This was only trumped by the card my dad gave her that when it opened played the Chicken Dance.
Gee, I don’t really have experience planning a wedding but I’ll try.
As you know, our DJ ROCKED! We were only allowed to give him 10 songs total, and he got to most of them, but checked in with us at the reception so we could decide which ones we could cut.
He played a few surprises that we loved. If you can get some references from other couples that have used them, I’d ask to see what they thought. If it’s someone who needs guidance, give them a big list. If not, be sure to tip them a lot of money in the beginning. Maybe that’ll help.
You DJ was awesome, Kelly Q. I picked up his card while we were at your wedding. I wish we could go with him, and take all the worry out of it, but I think we’d have to fly him down to the Keys and put him up. We’ll just have to go with someone local.
Do you really tip the DJ in advance? What percentage? These are the etiquettes of getting married that are still blind-siding me.
Greg & Selena,
I know I’m late on this reply, but definitely go Selena’s route or else they’ll play really bad music that you don’t want to hear. I hate sappy sappy songs and they played quite a few at our wedding, so please make a huge list and submit it.
[...] this year were also wedding related, including describing the Hurricane concerns, inquiring for the best wedding tunes (Cha Cha Slide explicitly excluded), determining when to open wedding gifts, exploring the sand [...]