Wedding Music Study 2021
Congratulations on your engagement! Now it’s time to start building the perfect soundtrack for your special day.
In its ninth year of publication, welcome back to Ambient DJ Service’s Wedding Music Study updated for 2021! musicmixologistwedding.com is your one-stop website for wedding playlists, song ideas and DJ mixes. Whether you’re a bride or groom seeking song ideas, or a DJ searching for fresh ideas, we hope that our detailed look into wedding music with over 2,500 field-tested songs will be a valuable resource.
Who is Ambient DJ Service? Ambient DJs is a New Jersey-based mobile DJ entertainment company founded by Gregg Hollmann and specializing in weddings. Music is our business – and our passion! We love curating playlists for weddings and assorted party themes. The music study that follows is a collaborative effort among our wedding DJ entertainment team.
You can connect with us online at www.ambientdj.com and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/ambientdjs. Enjoy our continuous DJ mixes at www.mixcloud.com/ambient_dj_service
Building an appropriate musical playlist for a wedding can be a daunting task. Special songs such as parent dances can be particularly challenging. Regrettably, there are many inferior musical playlists circulating the internet that were not compiled by working wedding professionals. To that end, we are sharing this Master List of our best song ideas for a wedding: from ceremony music, to the reception celebration with lists for Grand Entrance songs, First Dance, Father-Daughter Dance, Mother-Son Dance, Cake Cutting, Bouquet and Garter songs and Grand Finale songs. We also share our Top 100 Songs for a 2021 Wedding, 113 Themed Wedding Cocktail Hour playlists, 5 Songs NOT to play at a wedding, 8 Musical Programming Tips for a Wedding, sample dance sets and more. The majority of the songs in this blog were used by our actual clients, while the rest were selected with great care with regards to lyrics, mood and danceability. We generally exclude songs that are bittersweet in nature, but occasionally make exceptions to accommodate tracks that have become entrenched in American pop culture.
DJs Spinz, Gregg Ambient and Iron Mike from Ambient DJs
Take a listen to our wedding playlists with the included links on Spotify. We recommend using Spotify as a powerful online resource to help organize your wedding song ideas. Create a free Spotify account, build a playlist, and start adding your song candidates to it (note: the premium Spotify version at just $9.99 per month is even more powerful and is highly recommended for music lovers in particular). Caveat about Spotify – for many songs, it does not offer the clean radio edited song versions. For weddings in particular, we always recommend using clean versions.
The professional photos that are interspersed throughout the article hereafter have graciously been provided by our friends at Deibert Photography - a talented wedding photography studio based out of Philadelphia and servicing Philly, Bucks County, New Jersey and beyond. Deibert’s beautiful photos capture your love story and the joy of wedding day.
Now let’s get into the music! Note: for ease of use, click on the playlist you’d like to view in the Table of Contents below to instantly be taken to that section
Table of Contents
Ceremony Music - Classical (Selections are Processional Songs or Prelude Music Unless Otherwise Noted)
Canon in D – Pachelbel
Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major – Bach, performed by Yo-Yo Ma
Salut d’Amour, Op. 12 – Edward Elgar
Sleepers Awake – Johann Sebastian Bach
Sarabande – Johann Sebastian Bach
Air on a G String – Johann Sebastian Bach
Sheep May Safely Graze – Johann Sebastian Bach
Meditation – Jules Massen
Fur Elise - Ludwig van Beethoven
Nimrod (from Enigma Variations) – Edward Elgar
Four Romantic Pieces, Op. 75 (Allegro Moderato) – Antonin Dvorak
Spring (from The Four Seasons) – Antonio Vivaldi
Bridal Chorus (“Here Comes the Bride”) – Richard Wagner (* do not use for Jewish couples)
Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark’s March) – Jeremiah Clarke
Trumpet Tune – Henry Purcell
La Califfa – Sarah Brightman
Ave Maria – Sarah Brightman
Nella Fantasia – Ennio Morricone
Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy
Etude No. 2 – Philip Glass
Reflections - Toshifumi Hinata
Romance for String Orchestra, Op. 11 – Gerald Finzi
Gymnopédies No. 1 – Erik Satie
Highland Cathedral – Phil Coulter (Celtic selection)
Alla Hornpipe (from Water Pipe Music) – G.F. Handel (recessional)
Wedding March – Felix Mendelssohn (recessional) (* do not use for Jewish couples)
Scotland the Brave – Boston Pops Orchestra (recessional, Celtic)
To listen to these selections on Spotify, click here
Ceremony Music - Modern (Selections are Prelude Music or Processional Songs unless otherwise noted)
Perfect versus Canon in D (Piano & Violin) - Paul Hankinson
Lover (cover) - Paul Hankinson
A Thousand Years (cover) - The Piano Guys
Say You Won’t Let Go (cover) - Daniel Jang
Speechless - Dan + Shay
Afterglow - Ed Sheeran
Stand By Me - Florence & the Machine
Heartbeats - José Gonzáles
Best Part (f/ H.E.R.) - Daniel Caesar
Can’t Help Falling in Love (cover) - Amber Leigh Irish
Can’t Help Falling in Love (cover) - Haley Reinhardt
Can’t Help Falling in Love (cover) - Kina Grannis
Make You Feel My Love - Adele
Latch (Acoustic) - Sam Smith
I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers
Blinding Lights - Teddy Swims
I Only Have Eyes for You (cover) - Jamie Cullum
Yours - Russell Dickerson
Senorita (cover) - Daniel Jang
Sunflower (cover) - Vitamin String Quartet
Kingdom Hearts (cover) - Vitamin String Quartet
Love Me Like You Do (cover) - Brooklyn Duo
First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
Marry Me - Train
Bubbly - Colbie Caillat
Feels Like Home - Chantal Kreviazuk
I’m Yours - Jason Mraz
How Long Will I Love You - Ellie Goulding
Crazy Little Thing Called Love (cover) - Paul Canning
Ribbon in the Sky - Stevie Wonder
River Flows in You - Yiruma
Variations on the Kanon - George Winston
Fairytale - Enya
Nocturne - Rolf Løvland, Secret Garden
Halo - Beyoncé
Spend My Life With You - Eric Benét and Tamia
Angels - Robin Thicke
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Bittersweet Symphony (cover) - Vitamin String Quartet
God Bless the Broken Road (cover) - The O’Neill Brothers
Holocene (cover) - Vitamin String Quartet
Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
Seasons of Love (cover) - Stan Whitmire
Over the Rainbow - Iz
All You Need is Love - The Beatles (recessional)
Brand New - Ben Rector (recessional)
Good to Be Alive - Andy Grammer (recessional)
Something Just Like This - The Chainsmokers (recessional)
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) - Stevie Wonder (recessional)
You’re My Best Friend - Queen (recessional)
Wedding in Berlin - Pet Shop Boys (recessional)
I’ll Be There for You (cover) - Boyce Avenue (recessional)
Electric Love -BøRNS (recessional)
Love on Top - Beyoncé (recessional)
Head Over Boots - Jon Pardi (recessional)
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole (recessional)
I’m a Believer - Smash Mouth (recessional)
Now That We Found Love - Heavy D and the Boyz (recessional)
I Do - Colbie Caillat (recessional)
One Top of the World - Imagine Dragons (recessional)
Loving You Easy - Zac Brown Band (recessional)
I Choose You - Sara Bareilles (recessional)
You Make My Dreams (Come True) - Hall & Oates (recessional)
The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson (recessional)
(You Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher - Jackie Wilson (recessional)
Helpful Hints – Looking for a blend of classical and modern? Check out the strings arrangements of classic rock, modern rock, Indie rock and dance music performed by the Vitamin String Quartet (www.vitaminstringquartet.com). For special songs that were custom-written for weddings, visit T. Carter Music or Wedding Music Central.
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
First Dance Wedding Songs - Modern Selections
Conversations in the Dark - John Legend
Made to Fall in Love - Daniel Caesar
Speechless - Dan + Shay
Extraordinary Love - Austin Cain
Old Fashioned Love Song - The Fairdowells
Slow Grown - Ashton Lane
Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves
I Am Yours - Andy Grammer
Thinking About You - Ocie Elliott
Lover - Taylor Swift
Can’t Help Falling in Love - Haley Reinhardt
Coming Home - Leon Bridge
Best Part - Daniel Caesar (f/ H.E.R.)
All the Time - The Amours
Best Part of Me - Ed Sheeran (f/ YEBBA)
Millionaire - Chris Stapleton
You Make it Easy - Jason Aldean
Beautiful Crazy - Luke Combs
In Case You Didn’t Know - Brett Young
Yours - Russell Dickerson
The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
I’m With You - Vance Joy
All of Me - John Legend
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
Say You Won’t Let Go - James Arthur
How Long Will I Love You - Ellie Goulding
Best of Me - Anthony Hamilton
Angel of Mine - Monica
Everytime I Close My Eyes - Babyface w/ Kenny G.
Your Love is King - Sade
Whatever it Is - Zac Brown Band
You are the Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine
First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
I’ll Be Around - Garrett Kato
You Got Me Thinking - Joshua Radin
You and Me - Lifehouse
Tangled Up in You - Staind
I’ll Be - Edwin McCain
Holocene - Bon Iver
History in the Making - Darius Rucker
This is It - Scotty McCreery
So Close (from Enchanted) - Jon McLaughlin
Just You and I - Tom Walker
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
First Dance Wedding Songs - Classic Selections
Let’s Stay Together - Al Green
Can’t Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
At Last - Etta James
Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
Always and Forever - Heatwave
All My Life - K-Ci & JoJo
The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole
It Had to Be You - Harry Connick, Jr.
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
My One and Only Love - John Coltrane w/ Johnny Hartman
Little Trip to Heaven - Tom Waits
You Make Me Feel Brand New - The Stylistics
The Closer I Get to You - Roberta Flack
Magnolia Wind - Emmylou Harris with John Prine
When I Said I Do - Clint Black w/ Lisa Hartman
These Arms of Mine - Otis Redding
Crazy Love - Van Morrison
My Baby Just Cares for Me - Nina Simone
I Will - The Beatles
Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
Amazed - Lonestar
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
I’ll Stand By You - Pretenders
Love of a Lifetime - Firehouse
Faithfully - Journey
Heaven - Bryan Adams
I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman
Songbird - Eva Cassidy
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
True Companion - Marc Cohn
I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner
Is This Love - Bob Marley & the Wailers
Through the Fire - Chaka Khan
Here and Now - Luther Vandross
One in a Million You - Larry Graham
For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder
From This Moment On - Shania Twain
It’s Your Love - Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
I Cross My Heart - George Strait
I Swear - John Michael Montgomery
How Deep is Your Love - Bee Gees
I Just Want to Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb
Crazy for You - Madonna
Nobody Does it Better - Carly Simon
Lost in Love - Air Supply
Keep on Loving You - REO Speedwagon
Follow You Follow Me - Genesis
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
First Dance Songs for a Wedding - Used by Celebrities
Justin Bieber & Hailey Baldwin - “Best Part” (feat. H.E.R.) - Daniel Caesar
Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner - “Speechless” - Dan + Shay
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry – “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” – Whitney Houston
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanion – “Beauty & the Beast” (Tale as Old as Time) – soundtrack – into “If I Can’t Have You” – Yvonne Elliman
David Tutera and Joey Toth – “Rise Up” – Andra Day
Idina Menzel and Aaron Lohr – “Por una Cabeza” (from Scent of a Woman) – Gerardo Matos Rodriguez
Jennifer Aniston & Justin Theroux – “Chandelier” – Sia (live performance)
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt – “It Had to Be You” – Frank Sinatra
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia deRossi – “Ribbon in the Sky” – Stevie Wonder
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odum – “Angel” – Anita Baker
Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto – “On the Ocean” – K’Jon
John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette – “Forever in My Life” – Prince
John F. Kennedy and Jackie O. – “I Married an Angel” – performed by The Meyer Davis Orchestra at the Waldorf Astoria, NYC
Prince William and Princess Kate – “Your Song” by Elton John, performed live by Ellie Goulding
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama – “You and I” – Stevie Wonder
Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz – “First Day of My Life” – Bright Eyes
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Tosh – “Make You Feel My Love” – Bob Dylan
Shannen Doherty and Kurt Iswarienko – “My Baby Just Cares for Me” – Nina Simone
Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman – “No One’s Gonna Love You” – Band of Horses
Fergie and Josh Duhamel – “Sweethearts Together” – The Rolling Stones
Ivanka Trump and Jason Kushner – “This Years’ Love” – David Gray
Michael Bublé and Luisano Lopilato – “Everybody Loves Somebody” – Dean Martin
LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian – “When It Don’t Come Easy” – Patti Griffin
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban – “At Last” – Etta James
Shania Twain and Frederic Thiebauld – “I’m Your Man” – Michael Bublé
Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton – “No Doubt About It” – Neal McCoy
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes – “Songbird” – Fleetwood Mac
Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards – “Open Arms” – Journey
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan – “Last Night on Earth” – Green Day
Katherine Heigl & Josh Kelley – “Heavenly Day” – Patti Griffin
Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott – “Amazed” – Lonestar
Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher – “Love Never Fails” – Brandon Heath
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin – “Why Shouldn’t I? – Cole Porter
Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries – “Angels” – Robin Thicke
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
100 Songs for a 2021 Wedding (Open Format - Curated by DJ Gregg Ambient)
Afterglow - Ed Sheeran (wedding ballad)
Millionaire - Chris Stapleton (country)
Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves (country)
10,000 Hours - Dan + Shay w/ Justin Bieber (country)
Sunday Best - Surfaces (pop)
Adore You - Harry Styles (pop)
Birds - Imagine Dragons (pop)
Conversations in the Dark - John Legend (R&B)
Made to Fall in Love - Daniel Caesar (reggae)
Smooth Sailin’ - Leon Bridges (soul)
You are the Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne (folk rock)
You Make My Dreams (Come True) - Hall & Oates (80s)
Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra (Crooners)
Lover - Taylor Swift (pop ballad)
Smile - Katy Perry (pop)
What a Man Gotta Do - Jonas Brothers (pop)
Say So - Doja Cat (pop, TikTok hit)
Señorita - Shawn Mendes w/ Camila Cabello (pop)
Levitating - Dua Lipa f/ DaBaby (modern dance)
Experience - Victoria Monet, Khalid, SG Lewis (modern dance)
Blinding Lights - The Weeknd (pop)
Take on Me - a-ha (80s)
Like a Prayer - MadHouse (dance)
Only in My Dreams - Debbie Gibson (80s)
I Think We’re Alone - Tiffany (80s)
Head & Heart - Joel Corry f/ MNEK (EDM)
Ride It - Regard (dance)
Lose Control - MEDUZA, Becky Hill, Goodboys (EDM)
Roses (Imanbek Remix) - SAINt JHN (EDM)
The Business - Tiȅsto (EDM)
You Little Beauty - Fisher (techno)
Expressing What Matters - Disclosure (electronic)
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac (70s, TikTok hit)
Black Cow - Steely Dan (70s, yacht rock)
Body Like a Back Road - Sam Hunt (country)
Wagon Wheel - Darius Rucker (country)
Shot in the Dark - AC/DC (rock)
September - Earth, Wind & Fire (disco)
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Michael Jackson (80s dance)
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston (80s dance)
Celia’s Oye Como Va - Celia Cruz (Latin)
Vivir Mi Vida - Marc Anthony (salsa)
Danza Kuduro - Don Omar (Latin Dance)
Maria Maria - Santana f/ The Product G&B (Latin pop)
RITMO (Bad Boys for Life) (remix) - Black Eyed Peas w/ J Balvin and Jaden (Latin Dance)
MIA - Bad Bunny f/ Drake (reggaeton)
Savage Love (Laxed - SIren Beat) - Jawsh 685 w/ Jason Derulo (pop, TikTok hit)
24K Magic - Bruno Mars (pop, funk)
Truth Hurts - Lizzo (pop)
Take You Dancing - Jason Derulo (pop dance)
Summer Feelings - Lennon Stella f/ Charlie Puth)
Could You Be Loved- Bob Marley (reggae)
Cut Me Open - Cloak Dagger (Nu Disco)
Stupid Love - Lady Gaga (pop dance)
Miss a Thing - Kylie Minogue (disco)
Fresh - Kool & Gang (disco)
I Feel Love - Sam Smith (disco)
Lovely Day - Bill Withers (R&B / Soul)
Feels so Good - José James w/ Cecily (R&B)
Let’s Stay Together - Al Green (soul)
Boo’d Up - Ella Mai (R&B)
I Couldn’t Love You More - Sade (R&B)
Caught up in the Rapture - Anita Baker (R&B)
Umbrella - Rihanna (hip hop/R&B/TikTok hit)
Toosie Slide - Drake (hip hop)
Circles - Post Malone (hip hop)
Push the Feeling On - Nightcrawlers (90s dance)
Push It - Salt n’ Pepa (80s party classic)
It’s Tricky - Run-D.M.C. (80s party classic)
This is How We Do It (90s party classic)
Yeah! - Usher f/ Lil Jon (hip hop)
Let Me Clear My Throat - DJ Kool (90s party classic)
Motownphilly - Boyz II Men (90s party classic)
Informer - Snow (90s party classic)
When I Think of You - Janet Jackson (80s)
Emotions - Mariah Carey (90s)
I’m Gonna Get You - Bizarre Inc. (90s)
Call on Me - Eric Prydz (house)
Latch - Disclosure (house)
Dancing in the Moonlight - Jubel f/ NEIMY (electronic pop)
I Like Me Better - Lauv (electronic pop)
ily (i love you baby) - Surf Mesa f/ Emilee (electronic pop)
Dance Monkey - Tones and I (dance)
Higher Love - Kygo w/ Whitney Houston (dance)
Feed the Fire - SG Lewis f/ Lucky Daye (Nu Disco)
Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) - Backstreet Boys (Boy Bands)
I Want You Back - *NSYNC (Boy Bands)
Ocean Avenue - Yellowcard (alternative rock)
Mr. Brightside - The Killers (alternative rock)
Feel It Still - Portugal. The Man (alternative rock)
Mony Mony - Tommy James & the Shondells (oldies rock)
Twist & Shout - The Beatles (oldies rock)
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher - Jackie Wilson (soul)
Respect - Aretha Franklin (Motown / Soul)
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - Four Tops (Motown / Soul)
Cupid Shuffle - Cupid (Line Dance)
Cha Cha Slide - Mr. C. (Line Dance)
XO - John Mayer (Wedding Ballad)
Plenty Lovin’ - Steve Winwood (pop)
Love the Way - Jorge Santana (pop)
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
Father Daughter Dance Songs
I Loved Her First - Heartland
It Won’t Be Like This for Long - Darius Rucker
My Girl - The Temptations
Father and Daughter - Paul Simon
Never Alone - Jim Brickman with Lady Antebellum
Forever Now - Michael Bublé
My Wish - Rascal Flatts
When You Need Me - Bruce Springsteen
My Little Girl - Tim McGraw
Dance With My Daughter - Jason Blaine
Daddy Dance With Me - Krystal Keith
Daddy Dance With Me - Chris Keith
First Man - Camila Cabello
Cinderella - Steven Curtis Chapman
Tupelo Honey - Van Morrison
Walk With You - Edwin McCain
Stealing Cinderella - Chuck Wicks
Ready, Set, Don’t Go - Billy Ray Cyrus
You’re Gonna Miss This - Trace Adkins
Justin Fishin’ - Trace Adkins
Daddy’s Angel - T. Carter (* purchase from artist website)
Dad, You’re My Hero - Teresa James (* purchase from artist website)
Daddy’s Little Girl - Al Martino
Upside Down - Jack Johnson
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye
I’ll Be There - The Jackson 5
I’m So Proud - The Impressions
Wildflowers - Tom Petty
Because You Loved You - Celine Dion
Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle
Daughter - Loudon Wainwright III
Gracie - Ben Folds
Daddy’s Little Girl - The Shires
Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
Over the Rainbow - Iz
Tu Guardián - Juanes
Unforgettable - Natalie Cole
Daddy - Beyoncé
Ballerina Girl - Lionel Richie
Isn’t She Lovely - Stevie Wonder (note: edit out crying at the beginning of song)
Fathers & Daughters - Michael Bolton
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
Mother Son Dance Songs
Never Alone - Jim Brickman with Lady Antebellum
My Wish - Rascal Flatts
I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack
A Song for Mama - Boyz II Men
93 Million Miles -Jason Mraz
Days Like This - Van Morrison
Mama - LunchMoney Lewis
I’ll Always Love My Mama - The Intruders
Boy - Lee Brice
Loves Me Like a Rock - Paul Simon
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
In My Life - The Beatles
Humble and Kind - Tim McGraw
Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Simple Man (acoustic) - Shinedown
That’s What Mamas Do - Jason Matthews
Like Jesus Does - Eric Church
Don’t Blink - Kenny Chesney
There You’ll Be - Faith Hill
(They Long to Be) Close to You - Carpenters
Child of Mine - Carole King
It Happens in a Heartbeat - Teresa James (* may require purchase from artist website)
Song for My Son - Mikki Viereck (* may require purchase from artist website)
All to You - DJ Keo (* may require purchase from artist website)
On This Day - Christian Barnes (requires purchase from artist website)
You’ve Got a Friend in Me - Randy Newman
Through the Years - Kenny Rogers
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
The Perfect Fan - Backstreet Boys
Find Your Wings - Mark Harris
Circle Game - Joni Mitchell
Mae Querida - Tony Carreira
You’ll Be in My Heart - Phil Collins
Happy Everafter in Your Eyes - Ben Harper
Forever Young - Alphaville
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
Cake Cutting Songs
Cake (Challenge Version) - Flo Rida and 99 Percent
Cake by the Ocean - DNCE
Sugar - Maroon 5
Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles
Yummy - Justin Bieber
Ice Cream - Anna Lunoe
Ice Cream - BLACKPINK w/ Selena Gomez
Marry You - Bruno Mars
I Do - Colbie Caillat
Paper Rings - Taylor Swift
I Choose You - Sara Bareilles
Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer
Birthday Cake - Rihanna
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) - Marvin Gaye
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) - James Taylor
Sugar, Sugar - The Archies
This Will Be (an Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole
Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
Loving You Easy - Zac Brown Band
Make it Sweet - Old Dominion
Chapel of Love - The Dixie Cups
You’re My Best Friend - Queen
L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher
For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - Four Tops
When I’m Sixty-Four - The Beatles
Love is Strange - Mickey & Sylvia
Cut the Cake - Average White Band
Candy - Cameo
Sweet Thing - Mary J. Blige
Power of Love / Love Power - Luther Vandross
Love Light in Flight - Stevie Wonder
You Make My Dreams (Come True) - Hall & Oates
I Wanna Grow Old With You - Adam Sandler
Super Mario Brothers Theme - 8-Bit Arcade
Eat It - Weird Al
Cuts Like a Knife - Bryan Adams
Candyman - Christina Aguilera
Candy Girl - New Edition
Firecracker - Josh Turner
Honey Bee- Blake Shelton
Stuck Like Glue - Sugarland
Love and Marriage - Frank Sinatra
Everything - Michael Bublé
A Marshmallow World - Dean Martin
Dexter - Main Title - Rolfe Kent
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Ennio Morricone
It Could Be Sweet - Portishead
Spin Spin Sugar - Sneaker Pimps
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
Bouquet and Garter Songs
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper (bouquet toss)
Kings & Queens - Ava Max (bouquet)
Dear Future Husband - Meghan Trainor (bouquet)
Good as Hell - Lizzo (bouquet)
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - Beyoncé (bouquet)
Just a Girl - No Doubt (bouquet)
Jumpin’, Jumpin’ - Destiny’s Child (bouquet)
Country Girl (Shake it for Me) - Luke Bryan (bouquet)
Little White Church - Little Big Town (bouquet)
Haven’t Met You Yet - Michael Bublé (bouquet)
Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison (bouquet)
Run the World (Girls) - Beyoncé (bouquet)
Pretty Girl Rock - Keri Hilson (bouquet)
Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani (bouquet)
Move B*&ch - Ludacris and Friends (bouquet)
Girls, Girls, Girls - Motley Crue (bouquet)
Only Girl (In the World) - Rihanna (bouquet)
Where Them Girls At - David Guetta w/ Nicki Minaj (bouquet)
American Woman - Lenny Kravitz (bouquet)
Slow Hands - Niall Horan (garter removal)
Mission Impossible - Adam Clayton (garter removal)
Body Like a Back Road - Sam Hunt (garter removal)
Bad Things - Jace Everett (garter removal)
Legs - ZZ Top (garter removal)
The Stripper - David Rose (garter removal)
The Pink Panther Theme - Henry Mancini (garter removal)
Foxey Lady - Jimi Hendrix (garter removal)
You Can Leave Your Hat On - Joe Cocker (garter removal)
Theme from Jaws - John Williams (garter removal)
Hot Legs - Rod Stewart (garter removal)
The Man - Aloe Blacc (garter toss)
What a Man Gotta Do - Jonas Brothers (garter toss)
Death of a Bachelor - Panic! at the Disco (garter toss)
Suit & Tie - Justin Timberlake w/ Jay-Z (garter toss)
Milkshake - Kelis (garter toss)
Danger Zone (from Top Gun) - Kenny Loggins (garter toss)
Peter Gunn - Henry Mancini (garter toss)
Gonna Fly Now (from Rocky) - Bill Conti (garter toss)
Oh Yeah (from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) - Ferris Bueller (garter toss)
Bad Boys - Inner Circle (garter toss)
Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top (garter toss)
The Boys are Back in Town - Thin Lizzy (garter toss)
Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood (garter toss)
Big Pimpin’ - Jay-Z (garter toss)
Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf (garter toss)
Another One Bites the Dust - Queen (garter toss)
Let’s Get it On - Marvin Gaye (grand finale)
Come and Get Your Love - Redbone (grand finale)
You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate (grand finale)
Blurred Line - Robin Thicke (grand finale)
Marvin Gaye - Charlie Puth w/ Meghan Trainor (grand finale)
Worth It - Fifth Harmony (grand finale)
Body - Loud Luxury (grand finale)
Stupid Love - Lady Gaga (grand finale)
I’m Too Sexy - Right Said Fred (grand finale)
I’m Too Sexy (Touch This Skin) - Black Stereo Faith (grand finale)
Sensual Seduction - Snoop Dogg (grand finale)
I Wanna Sex You Up - Color Me Badd (grand finale)
Pony - Ginuwine (grand finale)
Hot in Herre - Nelly (grand finale)
Buss It - Erica Banks (grand finale)
Cherry Pie - Warrant (grand finale)
The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson (grand finale)
Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO (grand finale)
Wild Thing - Tone-Loc (grand finale)
Versace on the Floor - Bruno Mars (grand finale)
Love on the Brain - Rihanna (grand finale)
Whoomp! There It Is - Tag Team (grand finale)
Maniac - Michael Sembello (grand finale)
Grind With Me - Pretty Ricky (grand finale)
Please Me - Cardi B and Bruno Mars (grand finale)
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
Grand Entrance Songs for Wedding Reception
New Love - Silk City w/ Ellie Goulding, Diplo and Mark Ronson
Easy Love - Sigala
24K Magic - Bruno Mars
Shut Up and Dance - WALK THE MOON
Levitating - Dua Lipa w/ DaBaby
Kill the Lights (Audien Remix) - Alex Newell w/ Jess Glynne
Lose Control - MEDUZA, Becky Hill, Goodboys
Ride It - Regard
Losing It - FISHER
Get Down Tonight (5&Dime Edit) - Rough Traders
Rain on Me - Lady Gaga w/ Ariana Grande
Good as Hell - Lizzo
Higher Love - Kygo w/ Whitney Houston
Shot in the Dark - AC/DC
We Will Rock You - Queen
Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N’ Roses
Level Up - Ciara
Forever - Chris Brown
Can’t Stop the Feeling - Justin Timberlake
Feel So Close - Calvin Harris
Bring Em Out - T.I.
My House - Flo Rida
Booty Swing - Parov Stelar
All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem
Inspector Norse - Todd Terje
Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis
Closer - The Chainsmokers
Turn Down for What - DJ Snake w/ Lil Jon
Good Life - Kanye West
Star Wars (Main Title) - John Williams
Best Day of My Life - American Authors
On Top of the World - Imagine Dragons
All I Do is Win - DJ Khaled
Levels - Avicii
Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
Game Over - Martin Garrix
Love on Top - Beyoncé
Let’s Go Crazy - Prince
Top Gun Anthem - Harold Faltermayer
Marry You - Bruno Mars
Time of Our Lives - Pitbull w/ Ne-Yo
Danza Kuduro - Don Omar
Pump it Up! - Danzel
Now that We Found Love - Heavy D and the Boyz
You Make My Dreams (Come True) - Hall & Oates
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole
When Love Takes Over - David Guetta w/ Kelly Rowland
Thunderstruck - AC/DC
I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
The Final Countdown - Europe
Let’s Get Married (ReMarquable Run Remix) - Jagged Edge
Sirius (Chicago Bulls Theme Song) - Alan Parson Project
Space Jam - Quad City DJ’s
Heavy Action - Johnny Pearson
FOX Football Theme - Twilight Trio
Get Ready for This - 2 Unlimited
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
Grand Finale Song for Wedding Reception
Save the Last Dance for Me - Michael Bublé
(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
Losing It - FISHER
Show Me Love - Steve Angello and Laidback Luke
Clarity - Zedd w/ Foxes
Save the World - Swedish House Mafia
One More Time - Daft Punk
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Piano Man - Billy Joel
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Wagon Wheel - Darius Rucker
Tennessee Whiskey - Chris Stapleton
Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks
I Don’t Want This Night to End - Luke Bryan
Die a Happy Man - Thomas Rhett
Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Elton John
Theme from New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
Empire State of Mind - Alicia Keys w/ Jay-Z
Take Me Home Tonight - Eddie Money
Sandstorm - Darude
And She Said - Lucas Prata
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
Don’t Stop the Party - Pitbull w/ TJR
Feel This Moment - Pitbull w/ Christina Aguilera
Glad You Came - The Wanted
Bye Bye Bye - *NSYNC
Your Love - The Outfield
This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - Talking Heads
Goodnite, It’s Time to Go (Goodnight Sweetheart) - The Spaniels
Shower the People - James Taylor
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
At Last - Etta James
Closing Time - Semisonic
We are Young - fun., Janelle Monae
Save Tonight - Eagle-Eye Cherry
Home - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Send Me on My Way - Rusted Root
Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen
Don’t Stop Believin’ - Journey
Last Dance - Donna Summer
Last Dance (Masters at Work Remix) - Donna Summer
Please Don’t Go - K.W.S.
To listen to these songs of Spotify, click here
Top Country Songs for a 2021 Wedding
Millionaire - Chris Stapleton
Wagon Wheel - Darius Rucker
Nobody But You (Duet) - Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani
10,000 Hours - Dan + Shay w/ Justin Bieber
One Beer - HARDY w/ Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson
Drink in my Hand - Eric Church
Body Like a Back Road - Sam Hunt
Beer Never Broke My Heart - Luke Combs
Die a Happy Man - Thomas Rhett
You Make It Easy - Jason Aldean
Tennessee Whiskey - Chris Stapleton
Beautiful Crazy - Luke Combs
Everything’s Gonna Be Alright - David Lee Murphy
Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves
I Don’t Want This Night to End - Luke Bryan
Kiss Somebody - Morgan Evans
In Case You Didn’t Know - Brett Young
Crazy - Patsy Cline
H.O.L.Y. - Florida Georgia Line
Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band
Meant to Be - Bebe Rexha w/ Florida Georgia Line
Country Girl (Shake It for Me) - Luke Bryan
Kinfolks - Sam Hunt
Good Vibes - Chris Janson
Forever and Ever, Amen - Randy Travis
Don’t Rock the Jukebox - Alan Jackson
I Walk the Line - Johnny Cash
Boot Scootin’ Boogie - Brooks & Dunn
Pontoon - Little Big Town
Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus
Copperhead Road - Steve Earle
Family Tradition - Hank Williams, Jr.
You Never Even Called Me By My Name - David Allan Coe
I Swear - John Michael Montgomery
I Cross My Heart - George Strait
Islands in the Stream - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) - Big & Rich
Man! I Feel Like a Woman - Shania Twain
Redneck Woman - Gretchen Wilson
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
Ambient DJs’ Spanish music ace Andre Ovalle aka “DJ Dre Ovalle”
Top Latin Songs for a 2021 Wedding
Enjoy this collections of Spanish floor fillers compiled by Ambient DJs’ Latin music specialists. The mild vulgarity of the reggaeton tracks by Daddy Yankee and Bad Bunny is more than eclipsed by these tracks’ immense dance floor popularity in our opinion.
Celia’s Oye Como Va - Celia Cruz (Cha Cha)
Ven Devórame Otra Vez - Lalo Rodriguez (salsa)
Cali Pachanguero - Grupo Niche (salsa)
Vivir Me Vida - Marc Anthony (salsa)
Amores Como el Nuestro - Jerry Rivera (salsa)
Rebelión - Joe Arroyo (salsa)
Lloraras - Oscar D’León (salsa)
Aguanile - Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe (salsa)
Bendiciones - Bad Bunny (trap)
La Playa - Myke Towers (trap)
Dákiti - Bad Bunny w/ Jhay Cortez (trap)
Diosa - Myke Towers (Afrobeat)
La Mejor Versión de Mi - Natti Natasha and Romeo Santos (bachata)
Loco Contigo - DJ Snake w/ J Balvin (reggaeton)
Caramelo - Ozuna (reggaeton)
Amor A Primera Vista - Los Angeles Azules, Belinda, Lalo Ebratt, Horacio Palencia (cumbia)
Adoro - Bronco (regional)
Qué Tal Si Eres Tu - Los Tigres (regional)
Como La Flor - Selena (cumbia)
Bidi Bidi Bom Bom - Selena (cumbia)
Tu Amor Me Hace Bien (salsa version) - Marc Anthony
Tu Con El - Frankie Ruiz (salsa)
Gasolina - Daddy Yankee (reggaeton)
MIA - Bad Bunny w/ Drake (reggaeton)
Danza Kuduro - Don Omar w/ Lucenzo (pop dance)
La Dueña Del Swing - Los Hermanos Rosario (merengue)
Tu Sonrisa - Elvis Crespo (merengue)
Guallando - Fulanito (merengue)
Let’s Get Loud - Jennifer Lopez (pop dance)
Bailando - Enrique Iglesias w/ Sean Paul and Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona (pop)
To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
5 Songs Not to Play at a 2021 Wedding
Disclaimer - don’t take any of our picks below too seriously. Often, the most beloved songs at weddings are also the most hated. They are controversial and stir up disagreement. As DJs, we enjoy playing songs that delight our clients and guests.
Don’t Stand So Close to Me - The Police. Tongue in cheek ‘social distance’ themed songs were cute for a couple of weeks. COVID fatigue has set in, and guests want to forget about the pandemic.
Ignition (Remix) - R. Kelly. The Pied Piper of R&B continues to face legal problems for alleged sexual crimes with minors. Playing R. Kelly at your wedding can invoke angry crowd reactions.
WAP - Cardi B and Meg the Stallion. WAP (“Wet Ass P*$sy) was the most memorable song of 2020. Given the insanity and angst from the COVID pandemic, WAP was the ultimate guilty pleasure. The song was heavily requested at weddings in 2020 and guests went bonkers with delight. That said, we recommend a return to more appropriate and family-friendly fare in 2021.
Tap In - Saweetie. Playing this ratchet song could have your adult guests ‘tapping out’ early from your wedding reception.
The Box - Roddy Ricch. This wildly popular hip hop song has cringeworthy lyrics. Avoid.
Want to cross check our recommendations? To listen to these songs on Spotify, click here
113 Themed Wedding Cocktail Hour Playlists
Listed below, in chronological order, are Ambient DJs’ 100+ Themed Wedding Cocktail Hour Playlists:
Click on the title of the playlist to be transported to the appropriate playlist. Some playlists have more detailed descriptions and accompanying continuous DJ mixes, while others simply link to a Spotify playlist:
The Alternative Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Craft Beer.
The Quintessentially Mixed Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ AQ. Signature Drink - Long Island Iced Tea.
The Good Vibes Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Pina Colada.
The Head to Shoulder Dip Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gary G. Signature Drink - Hairy Navel.
The Retro Soul Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Ciroc Havana Coconut Martini.
The Smooth Sail Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Mike K. Signature Drink - Malibu Bay Breeze.
The Back to the Eighties Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Midori Sour.
The Beach Themed Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Spinz. Signature Drink - Red Stripe Beer.
The Classic Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Garrett B. Signature Drink - Tanqueray & Tonic.
The International Excursions Wedding Cocktail Hour (Vol. 1) - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Sangria.
The Country Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - The Manhattan.
The Crooners Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Jack Daniels on the Rocks w/ a splash of Water.
The Chanteuse Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - The White Lady.
The TV Themes Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Coca Cola with a side of Popcorn.
The Christmas Wedding Cocktail Hour (Vol. 1) - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Eggnog.
The Boardwalk Empire / Great Gatsby Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Rum Punch for a Crowd.
The Classic R&B Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Ciroc Blue Ocean.
The James Bond Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - The Vespa Martini.
The Valentines Wedding Cocktail Hour (Vol. 1) - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Godiva Chocolate Martini.
The Miami Vice Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Cuba Libre.
The Super Happy Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - The Bob Marley.
The Brazilian Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - The Caipirinha.
The New Jersey Homegrown Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Boat Beer.
The French Connection Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - 2010 Chateau Canon-la-Gaffeliere St. Emilon.
The Disco Love Wedding Cocktail Hour (Volume 1) - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Sloe Gin Fizz.
The Super Funky Soul Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Funky Cold Medina
The Acid Jazz Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Gimlet
The 70s Soft Rock Wedding Cocktail Hour (Vol. 1) - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Miller High Life
The New York State of Mind Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Bronx Martini
The Disney Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Vibrant Orange Juice Frosty
The Summer Pop Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Spinz. Signature Drink - Jameson & Ginger Ale
The Colorful Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Shot of Goldschlager
The Inspiring Women of Music Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Brandy Alexander
The Psychedelic Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Death in the Afternoon
The Surf’s Up Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Italian Surfer
The 90s Grunge Rock Wedding Cocktail Hour - by Guest Bloggers Pash & David. Signature Drink -Whiskey Sour
The “Nice and Easy” Wedding Cocktail Hour - by Team Ambient. Signature Drink - Dirty Martini
The All Beatles Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink -Bass Ale
The Savannah Southern Charm Wedding Cocktail Hour - by Guest Blogger Cindy Brown. Signature Drink - Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade Mojito
The Classy Covers Version Wedding Cocktail Hour - by Team Ambient. Signature Drink - Tecate Beer
The Giants of Jazz Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Jazz Martini
The Smooth Jazz Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Kahlua & Cream
The Vintage Soul Wedding Cocktail Hour - by Guest Blogger DJ Ali Gruber. Signature Drink - Old-Fashioned
The Acquired Taste Wedding Cocktail Hour - by Guest Blogger DJ Toad. Signature Drink - Fernet Branca
The Jamaican Love Song Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Jazz. Signature Drink - Hummingbird
The Motown Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Spinz. Signature Drink - The Last Word
The All-Broadway Wedding Cocktail Hour - by Guest Bloggers Kris Longwell & Wesley Loon. Signature Drink - Fuzzy Greyhound
The 50 Shades of Grey Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Bollinger La Grande Annee Rose (1999)
The Hip Hop Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Cristal Champagne
The Tropical Trade Winds Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Marti Gras. Signature Drink - Barbados Rum Punch
The Reggae Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Sully. Signature Drink - Red Stripe Beer with a Dirty Banana Cocktail
The Mellow Country Rock Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Cherry Bourbon & Cola
The Space Travelers Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Astronaut
The Freestyle Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Dark & Stormy
The African Safari Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Castle Lager Beer
The Sunset Sessions Wedding Cocktail Hour - by Guest Blogger DJ Troy Michael via Hawaii. Signature Drink - Mojito
The 70s Soft Rock Wedding Cocktail Hour (Volume 2) - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Scotch on the Rocks.
The Bar Life Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Margarita.
The New Orleans Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Hurricane
The Classy Covers Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Spinz. Signature Drink - Southern Revival
The Blues Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Marti Gras. Signature Drink - Blonde Manhattan
The 80s 90s Something Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Bottle of Zima
The “Lush” Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Cloak Dagger. Signature Drink - The Botanist cocktail
The Boys Bands Wedding Cocktail Hour (Volume One) - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Bubble Martini
The New Years Eve Style Wedding Cocktail Hour Playlist - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne
The Valentines Day Wedding Cocktail Hour (Volume 2) - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Frangelico on the Rocks
The New Age Wedding Cocktail Hour (Volume 1) - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Maple Breakfast Stout
The 420 High Times Wedding Cocktail Hour Playlist - “Joint Team Collaboration”. Signature Drink Summer Shandy beer
The Bossa Chilla Wedding Cocktail Hour Playlist - by DJ Dre Ovalle. Signature Drink - Royal Peach Tea
The Fourth of July Wedding Cocktail Hour Playlist - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Bottle of Budweiser beer
The Vineyard Vibes Wedding Cocktail Hour Playlist - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Bottle of 2012 St. Eden Vineyards Chardonnay
The 60s Gold Wedding Cocktail Hour Playlist. Signature Drink - by DJ Gregg Ambient - Zombie
The 1990s R&B Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Espresso Martini
The “Cool, Relax” Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Statle. Signature Drink - Basilico
The A List B-Side Wedding Cocktail Hour - by Guest Blogger Darrell Gartrell. Signature Drink - Black Russian
The Stone Cold Soul Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Laid Back
The Bar Rock Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Bloody Mary
The Disco Love Wedding Cocktail Hour (Volume 2) - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Singapore Sling
The Far East Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Suntory Whiskey on the Rocks
The Doo-Wop Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Tom Collins
The Spa Sessions Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink -Serendipi-Tea
The Fashion Show Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Negroni
The All Trumpet Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Sparkling French Martini
The Fine Day to Say “I Do” Wedding Cocktail Hour by DJ Linda Leigh. Signature Drink - Aperol Spritz
The International Excursions Wedding Cocktail Hour (Volume 2) - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Aguardiente Sour
The 80s Power Ballad Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Bartyles & James Wine Cooler
The Indie Folk Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Marti Gras. Signature Drink - Hippie Juice served in a mason jar
The DJ’s Choice Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar craft beer
The Retro Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Nicholas Kaminski. Signature Drink - Pear Barbotage
The Yacht Rock Wedding Cocktail Hour (Volume 1) - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Sex on the Beach
The Noc Boots Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Cloak Dagger. Signature Drink - Toki Highball
The Philadelphia Freedom Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient.. Signature Drink - Poor Richard’s Tavern Spice Ale
The Indian Electronic Lounge Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Kingfisher Beer
The Viva Las Vegas Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - La Paloma Cocktail
The Sixties Soul Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Iron Mike. Signature Drink - Brown Derby
The Sunset Beach Party Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Ted Ganung. Signature Drink - Pineapple Mojito
The 90s Pop Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Cosmopolitan
The Sax Man’s Choice Wedding Cocktail Hour (Vol. 1) - by DJ Joseph Grillo - Sentimental Melody
The Valentines Day Wedding Cocktail Hour (Vol. 3) - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Pomengranate Martini
The Mixologists Choice Wedding Cocktail Hour by Team Ambient. Signature Drink - LaMarca Prosecco
The Yacht Rock Wedding Cocktail Hour (Vol. 2). by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Erath Pinot Noir Rose
The Smooth Electronic Vibes Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Electric Lemonade.
The Speakeasy Sessions Wedding Cocktail Hour (Vol. 1) - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Suntory Toki Whiskey
The French Cafe Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drinks: Mimosa, or Death in the Afternoon (Absinthe Cocktail).
The Mardi Gras Wedding Cocktail Hour - by Joseph Grillo. Signature Drink - the Sazerac
The “Groove On” Wedding Cocktail Hour - by Guest Blogger Terry J. West. Signature Drink - Apple Mojito.
The Tiki Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - the Zombie.
The Mobile Cigar Lounge Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Basil Hayden Bourbon Old-Fashioned and your favorite cigar.
The St Germain Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Easy Street (a St Germain based cocktail).
The Brick City Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Pink Pepper Gin Tom Collins.
The Thanksgiving Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Stone Fence Cocktail (an apple cider & rye based cocktail).
The Christmas Jazz Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Reindeer Cocktail (a champagne and vodka based cocktail).
The Pier Village Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJs Iron Mike and Gregg Ambient. Signature Drink - Pear Martini.
Ambient DJs’ General Manager Mike Bacon, aka “DJ Iron Mike” on the set at Lord & Taylor
Tips for Musical Programming at a Wedding
After engaging the services of a wedding DJ for your special day, a key task in the planning process is picking music for your wedding reception. Some couples are very “hands on” with the playlist, while others give a general direction to their DJ, trusting his or her expertise.
Assuming a four hour reception and 18 songs per hour, you would have a playlist of 72 songs. How many songs should you pick in advance? Our recommendation would be to prepare a list of up to 20 “must play” songs, plus another 20 “play If possible” tracks. That leaves an additional 20 tracks for your DJ to select. However, the DJ will pick these additional songs within your genre parameters. For example, if you love 90s dance music but dislike country music, the DJ would keep the mix within these guidelines.
In picking specific songs for your wedding reception, listed below are seven tips:
Select a variety of musical styles. Your wedding reception will feature a wide range of guest ages, most likely from teenagers to older adults. You would be wise to select songs that cater to the various age brackets, so all guests feel like they are a part of your special day.
Start your dance sets with recognizable oldies. For the initial dance set after your first appetizer course, begin with classic genres such as 60s Rock, Motown, or Disco, to gain the trust of older guests. By doing so, they are more likely to go with the flow for your modern dance selections later in the night!
Use non-danceable selections for cocktail hour or dinner music. If you enjoy non-danceable genres such as indie rock, use these selections for the atmospheric cocktail hour or dinner music. For open dancing after dinner, this eclectic fare will likely fail and result in a thin or empty dance floor.
For open dancing, gravitate towards mainstream selections. After dinner, the DJ needs to quickly mobilize your diverse group of guests and create a packed dance floor. It is sound advice to use songs that are recognized by most guests! For example, young adults will recognize a classic party jam like “Shout” from the movies, while adult guests will have heard today’s super-hits by the likes of Bruno Mars, Rihanna or Jennifer Lopez on the radio.
Consider using line dances as icebreakers. Yes, there has been a trend in recent years towards “non-tacky” DJ entertainment with minimal or no line dancing. You know, the usual suspects like the Electric Slide and Cupid Shuffle. That said, for the right crowd, line dances can quickly pack a dance floor with guests of all ages. The DJ can then guide this packed dance floor to the music that you really want to hear.
Include several ballad sets. Wedding receptions are celebrations that should feature a combination of romance and fun. We recommend two or three ballad sets of two songs each. Incorporating slow dancing makes sense because; first, this allows your shy and older guests to join the action. Second, ballads are a welcome relief from extended sets of high tempo dancing. We recommend programming ballads in pairs because typically a couple will not get to the dance floor until the middle of the first song.
Have a detailed discussion about music with your wedding DJ. Professional wedding DJs are highly experienced with musical programming and can provide suggestions that will enhance the quality of your event. Show the DJ your playlist and ask for their candid feedback. Have a detailed discussion with the DJ about your guest demographics that may provide clues on what music will work. Discuss your policy on fielding guest requests, line dances, and your expectations for the dance floor action. If you envision a mellower party, don’t be afraid to let the DJ know that a frenetic dance floor is not your goal.
Keep it Clean - Clean is classy! We recommend using only clean, radio-edited song versions even if it’s late in the evening and all of the children have gone to bed. Professional DJs carry clean versions while hobbyists may not which could result in cringe-worthy moments at your once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
Wedding Music Power Sets
A newer feature of the wedding study is sharing several wedding DJ power sets to give you a sense on how we might structure sets at a wedding reception. These sets are limited to 3-5 songs.
Set: 90s Power Hour
Hip Hop Hooray – Naughty by Nature
Jump – Kriss Kross
Jump Around – House of Pain
It Takes Two- Rob Base & EZ-Rock
Poison – Bel Biv Devoe
Set: Hot Latin Dance Set
Despacito (remix) – Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber
Lloraras – Oscar D’León
RITMO (Bad Boy for Life) - Black Eyed Peas with J. Balvin
Fireball – Pitbull
Danza Kuduro – Daddy Yankee w/ Lucenzo
Set: Back to the 80s
Kiss – Prince
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Don’t You Want Me – The Human League
Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
Take on Me – a-Ha
Set: Reggae/ Tropical / Soca / Calypso
Murder She Wrote – Chaka Demus & Pliers
No Games - Serani
Here Comes the Hotstepper – Ini Kamoze
Gyal You A Party Animal – Charly Black
Temperature – Sean Paul
Set: Motown Memories
My Girl - The Temptations
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Heatwave (Your Love is Like) - Martha & The Vandellas
Set: Country Throwdown
Man, I Feel Like a Woman – Shania Twain
Body Like a Backroad – Sam Hunt
Country Girl, Shake it for Me – Luke Bryan
Chickenfried – Zac Brown Band
Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker
Set: Classy Crooner Dinner Music
That’s Amore – Dean Martin
Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra
Quando, Quando, Quando – Michael Bublé w/ Nelly Furtado
The Girl from Ipanema – Stan Getz w. Joao Gilberto & Astrud Gilberto
Desafinado – George Michael w/ Astrud Gilberto
Set: Alternative Rock Sing-a-Longs
Mr. Brightside – The Killers
All the Small Things – Blink 182
Stacy’s Mom – Fountains of Wayne
Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down – Fall Out Boy
Ocean Avenue – Yellowcard
Set: Line Dance Fever
The Cha-Cha Slide – DJ Casper
The Cupid Shuffle – Cupid
Apache – Sugarhill Gang
Rapper’s Delight – Sugarhill Gang
Low - Flo Rida
Set: EDM Expressions
House Arrest - Sofi Tukker w/ Gorgon City
Head & Heart - Joel Corry f./ MNEK
Lose Control - MEDUZA, Becky Hill, Goodboys
The Business - Tiesto
Clarity - Zedd f/ Foxes
Set: Bollywood Bangers
Mundian to Bach Ke - Panjabi MC
Kala Chasma - Amar Arshi & Friends
Bala - Tony Montana Music
Lamberghini - The Doorbeen
Ghungroo (from “War”) - Arjit Singh
About Ambient DJ Service
If you find these lists and ideas useful, please share them with a friend by posting on Social Media. We are a mobile DJ entertainment company servicing New Jersey, New York, Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware with an expertise in weddings. If you are planning a wedding in these areas, please keep us in mind for your special day! Connect with us at gregg@ambientdj.com or p 609.672.1270.
For more info and to read our wedding reviews, visit us on the web at www.ambientdj.com. Check out our free DJ mixes at www.mixcloud.com/ambient_dj_service
