Wedding Information from DJ Dave Wood

Congratulations on your wedding!

Remember, the most important thing is that the party should be done the way you want.

Music:

You can either be general or very specific about the music. Some couples give me a list of all the music they want played, while others just mention genre such as Hits, Disco, Motown, etc. The main thing I need to know is what types of music you DO NOT want played (if any). Some folks love the Macarena and the Electric Slide, but others can't stand them. I will play the music according to your wishes. Feel free to send a list of songs if you want. I will check my collection and let you know if there are any I don't have. Unless something is really obscure, I can usually find it quickly and easily. Remember that a four-hour party allows time for about 50 or 60 songs (approximately). As we get closer to the date, we will also discuss formalities like the introductions and the order of events. You can do things traditionally, or change things to suit your personal taste. I am flexible and I will do my best to make your wedding day special. The music is continuous, whether you like it active and lively throughout, or whether you would like some quiet moments in between. The tone of the party is set by you. If you have any preferences, let me know. Otherwise, I will take requests from your guests and provide a great selection of music to get your party started right and keep it going strong!

Internet Resources:

Here is a website featuring the top “party songs”:

www.mobilebeat.com

Here is a searchable database of songs:

www.thebpmbook.com

Click on BPM DATABASE and you can search for songs by title or artist.

Finally, here is the Billboard website:

www.billboard.com

Click on CHARTS, then TOP 100 for the 50 latest hits.

If you prefer to think in terms of genre, consider some of these categories:

Cocktail, Background, or Dinner Music:

Jazz, Sinatra, Swing, Latin, Instrumental, Male or Female Vocal, etc.

Party Music:

Top 40, Oldies, Swing, 40s Big Band, 50s Rock and Roll, 60s Motown, 70s Disco, 80s Dance/New Wave, Classic Rock, Latin (Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Reggaeton), Country, Italian, Jewish, Reggae, Ska, Progressive, Techno, Hip Hop, etc.

I’m sure I left some out, but I think you get the idea. Feel free to ask about or suggest any others.

General Information:

I will direct the party any way you want me to. Following are some suggestions to help your planning. I will change or modify any of these to suit your wishes. If you plan a non-traditional wedding, I’ll be glad to assist. For a traditional wedding, there are several parts to the reception for you to consider.

The Introductions:

Usually, I would invite the guests to take their places, then ask them to stand and welcome the guests of honor. Usually, I introduce the parents first, then the bridal party in the order they walked down the aisle, with the bride and groom last. On the other hand, in some weddings just the bride and groom are introduced. Some couples do not have introductions at all. This is a matter of personal taste.

The First Dance:

As soon as the couple reaches the dance floor, the first dance begins. The couple may choose to dance alone for the entire song or I can invite the parents and bridal party to join, followed by all of the guests. I usually play a second slow song to give everyone a chance to dance. At one time, it was customary to have the bride switch and dance with her father during the first dance. Now, it is more common to have a separate father/daughter dance and a mother/groom dance, which are often done after the meal.

The Toast:

The Toast can either be done in the beginning right after the first dance, during the meal, or along with the cake cutting. It's best to discuss this with your caterer or party planner. I will provide a wireless microphone for any speeches. You may also wish to have additional toasts by the maid of honor, father of the bride, or any close friends or relatives.

The Blessing:

Some couples have a blessing before the meal. Again, I will provide a wireless microphone, if desired.

Cake Cutting:

The most common way to do this is to have everyone gather around and sing The Bride Cuts the Cake. Others prefer to have quiet music with narration by the DJ. Still others feed each other cake quietly, without any fanfare, just quiet background music.

Bouquet and Garter:

After the cake cutting, I call all the single ladies to the dance floor. On the count of three, the bride throws the bouquet. Afterward, I call the single men to watch the groom remove the garter. Then the groom throws the garter. Finally, the man who caught the garter places it on the leg of the lady who caught the bouquet. There are many variations on this custom.

For availability and pricing information, email or call Lois and Gary at Music Associates: lnorkin@aol.com