I woke up this morning with a song in my head, as I do, nearly every day.
The difference is that it was such an out of the blue song, and an oddity in the world of pop music that it prompted me to ask Google the question. How did Acker Bilk’d Stranger On The Shore become a number 1 hit song? If you haven’t heard it before it is a clarinet instrumental with a string arrangement behind it. It is a beautiful song, but it was #1 in 1962 when people like Bill Haley & His Comets and Chubby Checker were burning up the charts with their rock & roll, yet it had a sound of something that might have come out 10 or 15 years earlier. It turns out it was the theme song to a popular teen serial (something like Beverly Hills 90210, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys…) have I dated myself too much yet?
One Rare Bird!
Anyway, it became popular because it was a popular song from a source with a strong emotional connection. Just like any other song might. It was a first of many things, including the first, and only clarinet based instrumental to hit #1 on the Billboard Charts. It spent seven weeks atop the “Easy Listening” chart, which later became known as the Adult Contemporary chart. The tune became the second of three “one-hit wonders” named “pop single of the year” by Billboard (the others being 1958’s “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)” by Domenico Modugno and 2006’s “Bad Day” by Daniel Powter (Which was also driven by a popular TV show, 2 years after it was released!). Here is a link to the song on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJLJCctP6Rg
Do You…
Ever wake up with a song in your head? I’d love to hear about it. Did it trigger a happy memory? Sad memory? Maybe it caused you to think about someone you haven’t heard from or been in contact with for a while? Drop me a note. I would love to hear about your experience. Waking up with a song is a gift to me, I hope you receive the same gift. I would love to hear your story. Have a great day, and I look forward to hearing from you!
When you ask people what they remember most about weddings, their answers won’t be the flowers or decorations. What makes a wedding memorable is conditional upon everyone having fun. Regardless if it’s a wedding or a birthday party, a good time is measured by delicious food, great drinks, and even better music.
So to answer the question, your reception playlist is very important.
Essentially, you want everyone, including you and your partner, to have a fantastic time. While that sounds like a lot of pressure falling onto the couple, having an awesome reception playlist is not as difficult as you think.
First, This section deserves it’s own post and Mike has assured me one is on the way. Second, If you are going to DIY it, do yourself a favor and rent a professional sound system. Give M&M Entertainment a call or text at 207.450.4960 or email at mike@wickedgooddj.com to get the right system for your event. As for the list itself…
Thanks to music streaming apps like Spotify, creating and playing your own reception playlist is easier than ever. One suggestion from a blog post on Kennedy Blue is to make the playlist public to give guests the freedom of adding their own songs, so that there’s a little something for everyone at the reception. If you do go the Spotify route, it’s best to upgrade to a premium account to skip all the advertisements.
Play List Management
But managing your own playlist has major downsides which make hiring a DJ Service a highly recommended option. Although a wedding DJ is an additional expense, the service you pay for is not just music. Good DJ’s are also MC’s, keeping the whole event running smoothly. They keep guests informed as to when things are happening. Your DJ will facilitate each special moment and transition to the next, keeping things running on time. This allows you and your guests to enjoy the day worry free. Plus, DJs are great at reading crowds and changing the vibe to get more people dancing.
Even if you have a family member or friend taking care of the DIY playlist, you might need a few rehearsals to make sure things run smoothly. As previously mentioned on M&M Entertainment, you need to and should be taken care of on your wedding day; the less you have to think about on the big day, the better.
The Spruce shares all the typical music moments in a wedding, which is a great guide to follow when picking out all the personal, meaningful songs. As for the rest of the reception music, variety is key. Because your guests are all of various ages and have different musical tastes, it’s highly recommended to have tunes throughout the ages to appeal to everyone. Oldies are still goodies, after all. However, if you do have songs you absolutely cannot have played during your wedding, be sure to give that list to your DJ, or whoever is handling the music.
Even though the goal is to get all the guests dancing the night away, don’t be afraid to mix it up with some slow jams. Slow songs give them a break for food, drinks, picture-taking, and mingling. Slow songs will also let the lovebirds have a moment to themselves on the dance floor. Just make sure that the wedding ends on a high with a well-loved dance anthem. Guests should leave the reception with a smile on their face.
Don’t forget, it’s your wedding!
Last but not least, don’t forget to include your own favorite dance tunes in there as well. The Knot said it best, revealing that “the most fun weddings are those at which the newlyweds are having an absolute blast.” “Set an example for everyone by getting your happy selves out there as soon as possible.” Obviously, the playlist should include songs that will get both you and your partner dancing, but something else to factor in for the newlyweds is comfortable shoes. Brogues for men and heels for women can be painful to dance in, and unhappy feet can really set the mood for the rest of the night. To avoid the pain, consider changing shoes for the reception. Another alternative for the bride is to apply heel hacks from a style guide on Pretty Me to lessen the pressure on her feet.
Whether you end up with a DJ or a DIY playlist, your reception playlist surely won’t disappoint with all these tips in mind!
Exclusively written for wickedgooddj.com By Allison Davis
This one time at Band Camp, Chad, a smooth sax player met Ashley and said “look at that cutie with the Flute over there.” One date, watching Finding Nemo, and she was hooked. Chad and Ashley were headed for a Journey that would land us right in the heart of Portsmouth on a Thursday afternoon with only their very closest family and friends.
One Day, At Band Camp
Chad and Ashley know how to laugh, play, and have fun together in a very rare and wonderful way. It’s almost as if it’s what they do for a living. They are so sweet and fun! Part of the reason they are this way is that they are very good at making the complicated seem simple. Their wedding day exemplified that.
Small Guest List, Large room. Let’s get creative!
With maybe 60 guests, they were able to make very creative use of the Portsmouth Harbor Events Center Ballroom. Lauren, their coordinator, took care of every detail to a T. The ceremony was in a section of the ballroom, completely separate from the cocktail hour. The cocktail hour was completely separate from the Ballroom, until the guests were invited in and seated. Almost like magic, the cocktail hour walls disappeared! The bar was now in the ballroom, and the guests were ready to receive the bridal party with open arms and rowdy cheers!
Simple Elegance
The ceremony was sweet and simple. The only flowers were those being held by the bride and bridesmaids, along with corsages for the groom and groomsmen. The bridesmaids walked in to Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. Ashley walked in to Canon in D. Their ceremony was brief, at 10 minutes or so, but heartfelt, and sprinkled with humor. Ashley’s uncle officiated masterfully. After presenting the Newlyweds, the happy couple exited to OneRepublic’s “Feel Again” Forming a receiving line that welcomed their guests to cocktail hour.
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The Reception!
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After a relaxing, yet upbeat cocktail hour, the guests took their seats as the cocktail hour room magically became part of the ballroom. Amanda Perkins from Amanda Rai Photography was there with her assistant ready to capture the introductions and festivities to follow. Chad and Amanda chose to make their entrance to the tune of Imagine Dragons On Top of the World!
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They went right into their first dance – Aerosmith’s I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – They are huge movie buffs, and while almost no one wants “wedding” and “Armageddon” in the same sentence, especially when talking about their own wedding, for Chad and Ashley it was a must! The song and movie had very special meaning to both of them.
Dinnertime fun
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Fun and sweet toasts followed by Chad’s Best Man Kevin, his brother Anthony and Ashley’s Maid of Honor Jasmine, and dinner was underway. During dinner the glass clinking began getting overwhelming, so we leveled up. Now everyone at a table had to sing a line or a verse of a song with the word love in it. That didn’t stop this fun and crazy bunch, in fact each table went around and did it! It was time for some serious action. This time, if they want to get Chad and Ashley to kiss, the whole room had to do the wave! They did it not just once, but twice!
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Let’s get this party Started!
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As dinner was wrapping up, we had a high energy centerpiece giveaway that brought them to their feet! Ashley danced with her dad to the acoustic version of Forever Young by Rod Stewart. Chad danced with his mom to Mom by Garth Brooks, and we kicked of the dancing with Beyond the Sea from Finding Nemo, the very first movie Chad and Ashley saw on their very first date together.
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And the crowd goes wild!
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This wedding was so much fun! Thank you Chad and Ashley for asking me to be a part of it!
We LOVED working with M&M Entertainment when planning our wedding. Michael started the interaction by replying to our inquiry almost immediately, and continued to stay in constant contact throughout the entire process. He made many helpful suggestions, not only regarding the music but for reception details as well, helping us create a timeline of events. During the event, the fire alarms went off and he was very helpful in guiding guests, and even more helpful restarting the party once everyone was seated again. My husband and I are incredibly thankful for all the effort and hard work that he put into planning our reception. If you have an event that requires the services of a DJ, we HIGHLY recommend Michael and his company. You get exactly what you pay for, which is someone with lots of experience who has been doing this for years, and knows how to make your dreams come true!
