# Please give me your thoughts on wedding music **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 19, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044 "2002-03-19T14:32:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/1 "2002-03-19T14:32:10Z")
I’m getting married in less than a month and we still haven’t picked out our wedding song. :eek: Time is running short. I have to let the DJ know what songs I want played for certain dances but I draw a blank when I try to think of songs I want. I’ve been searching the Internet and listening to songs but haven’t found anything I really like. My soon to be husband and I both like rock and country music. He’s a _huge_ AC/DC fan but I refuse to have our first dance be to the tune of Thunderstruck! So what songs would be good for the following dances? 1. Our first dance 2. Father/daughter dance 3. Mother/son dance 4. Money dance For our crowd pleasers I’ve selected the Hokey Pokey, the Chicken Dance, and I’m a Believer by Smash Mouth (My kids _love_ Shrek and dance like a couple of nuts when they hear that song. 🙂 I’m also thinking of having my groom and I have a dance with our kids… him with my daughter and me with our son. I thought this might be a special touch. What do you think? What would be a good song for us to dance to for this? Thanks sooooo much for your help!! ---
**Author:** ![Lucki\_Chaarms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lucki\_Chaarms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucki_Chaarms)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/2 "2002-03-19T14:37:27Z")
Here’s my thought: Don’t be afraid to be goofy, but be wary of being cheesy. OK: Thunderstruck, I’m A Believer, Another One Bites The Dust, etc. Not OK: Every Move You Make, That Brian Adams Robin Hood Song, I Hope You Dance, etc. Just an opinion though, it’s your day and by all means do what you want. LC ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/3 "2002-03-19T14:41:22Z")
I’ll be playing Ice Ice Baby at mine so I am not the one to ask!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/4 "2002-03-19T14:44:19Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m a Believer by Smash Mouth The Monkees!! it was the Monkees!! or their session musicians 😉 1. Our first dance Just remember what the song is actually about before you choose it 😉 I have played at a wedding where the Bride wanted “Love on the Rocks” as their first dance together. Might as well just play D.I.V.O.R.C.E. Other bad selections include “Every Breath You Take” by the Police and “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton 1. Father/daughter dance Anything except Serge Gainsbourg or Woody Allen playing Jazz. 1. Mother/son dance anything greek 😉 1. Money dance Money Dance? you have a Money dance? Can I suggest Money Money Money by Abba or the Theme from Benny Hill? Seriously, for the Father Daughter Dance, what is the daughters name? ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/5 "2002-03-19T14:44:25Z")
For the love of god and all that is holy, please don’t use _Wind Beneath My Wings_ or _Butterfly Kisses_. Everyone will thank you for that. We used _Wonderful Tonight_ for our first dance. And you can’t go wrong adding the Electric Slide and the Macarena to the crowd pleasers. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/6 "2002-03-19T14:46:41Z")
Once again the one song that is useful in any situation - _Sexy Motherfucker_. Seriously, why are you asking us what song you and betrothed should dance to? We can never know what music you two like and what songs may hold special meaning to you. Was there a song in the background when you met? What was the first song that you did dance to? Don’t feel that you have to choose some sappy song because others are expecting it. The song has to have meaning for the 2 of you or it is a hollow effort. ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/7 "2002-03-19T15:02:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\* > > The Monkees!! it was the Monkees!! or their session musicians 😉 \*\* I know it was the Monkees who did it originally silly! Smash Mouth sings it in Shrek though… that’s the group my kids will recognize and, believe me, they’ll go apeshit when they hear that song. It’s gonna be hilarious! > [@](#): > > \*\*Seriously, for the Father Daughter Dance, what is the daughters name? \*\* The Father/daughter dance is for me and my father. It should be interesting too because my parents don’t dance. Can’t wait to get my old man out there shake it! And I’m just looking for song _suggestions_. The final decision of what we dance to will be up to us, we just need ideas and possibly some song titles. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/8 "2002-03-19T15:24:13Z")
These mostly potentially qualify as cheesy. I wanted _When You Say Nothing At All_ by Ronan Keating, but it turned out that we didn’t have a traditional reception or a dance, so we just added it to the selection of songs playing throughout the night. My cousin and his new wife had their first dance to _From This Moment_ by Shania Twain. It seemed to be a nice choice (shame Shania Twain makes me want to stuff things in my ears). I think _I Swear_ by All 4 One is supposed to be a popular first dance track these days. Also, _Come What May_ from Moulin Rouge might do. _All I Want Is You_ by U2 might be slightly classier if a tad dated. Others: _Angel of Mine_ by Monica (scores high on the Cheeseometer) _I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You_ by Savage Garden _Even When I’m Sleeping_ by Leonardo’s Bride _Love Is All Around_ by Wet Wet Wet _You Were There_ by Southern Sons _Never Tear Us Apart_ by INXS (ahhh… the 80’s. There they are!) _Stuck With You_ by Huey Lewis _Memories Are Made Of This_ by Dean Martin. I’d call this choice “quirky”. _At Last_ by Ella Fitzgerald But you may find more helpful suggestions at this site: [http://www.weddingtips.com/wtfavori.html](http://www.weddingtips.com/wtfavori.html) Good luck! Let us know what you decide! ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/9 "2002-03-19T15:36:56Z")
as a first dance, “Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/10 "2002-03-19T18:31:31Z")
Actually, _At last_ is by Etta James, but it does indeed make a lovely wedding song. I think the reason a lot of those old standards are popular is because they are appropriate, low cheese factor, and won’t seem dated later on. Other similar choices are L-O-V-E Nat King Cole Fly me to the Moon Sinatra just about anything else by NKC or Sinatra The Way You Look Tonight (?) This Will Be Natalie Cole (faster and jazzier) There are a lot of others like these. Also, almost anything by James Taylor or Van Morrison works. When we get married (not for a while!), I’ll probably use At Last ,even though it’s the standard, and thus fairly common. For the father/daughter, I’m going to use My Maria by Brooks and Dunn. My father and I both love it, it’s kicky rather than sappy, and should a good dancing song! ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/11 "2002-03-19T19:29:37Z")
I think sidle is on the right track, here. I’d rather have something cool and timeless like “At Last” be my song than something my kids snicker at. Remember how we laugh at our Prom theme songs now? But for my money, I say if you don’t care, you don’t care. Tell you DJ to suggest something for each of these. Veto 'em if you hate 'em, but otherwise let him do the thinking for you. No need stressing about something that isn’t huge for you. I mean, if you already had “your song” that means a lot to you, it’d be a different matter entirely. There is no need to manufacture one just because other people do. We didn’t have a wedding dance or reception, and yes I _have_ had people gasp and ask how we managed without a “First Dance” to “Our Song.” Well folks, we’re still married. We managed. We both love music, but we don’t share a song that we consider “ours.” So be it. We did have music at our wedding, but I didn’t care about that either. I said the harpist could play something “weddingish” and she did. She goes to more weddings than I do, and knows a helluva lot more about music than I do, so I left it up to her. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/12 "2002-03-19T20:12:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kiki \* > \*\*My soon to be husband and I both like rock and country music. He’s a _huge_ AC/DC fan… \*\* Hm. I don’t know if this’ll make for good wedding music or not, but perhaps y’all would enjoy [Hayseed Dixie](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005CCB0/qid=1016568544/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_67_1/102-1456536-2769750). ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/13 "2002-03-19T20:12:47Z")
“Hokey Pokey” and “Chicken Dance” are OK, but I wonder about the rest. If you want a REAL wedding reception you need “Celebration,” “Proud Mary,” “Color My World,” “I Will Always Love You,” “There is Love” (Paul Stookey–you’ll know it when you hear it), “Anniversary Waltz” (for Granny and Gramps), “Endless Love,” “Bunny Hop,” the love theme from “The Godfather” (if you are Italian), “Hava Nagila” (if you are Jewish ;j ), “Butterfly Kisses” (I have successfully avoided it, but it makes a friend’s eyes well up so it MUST be good for this), “Sunrise, Sunset” (gets Mom and Dad crying), “Wind Beneath My Wings” (for that Dance with Dad), “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (for the Mom/Son dance) and “The Stripper” for that special moment of mortification when your new husband strips off your garter to the leers and appreciation of all. For maximum effect the songs should be sung by a cheesy Bill Murray clone. They’ll laugh, they’ll cry, and tradition will be upheld. Especially the one in which everybody has a nice time except you and your husband. Is it too late to elope? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/14 "2002-03-19T21:27:16Z")
Jim and I are getting married in August, so we’ve been working on our song list for awhile. We’ve come up with “Suddenly” by Billy Ocean as our first dance, and “Can I Have This Dance?” by Anne Murray as the second dance for our parents (our parents all love country, and it’s a good waltz, too). We chose “Suddenly” because we were both in high school in the eighties, and we both love that period of music. Some of our other short-list for first dance: Follow You, Follow Me - Genesis You Are My Shining Star - Manhattans Our Love Is Here to Stay - Natalie Cole Let’s Stay Together - Al Green I Don’t Know Much - Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt I could email you our whole list of 90 songs for you to peruse, if you like (we only included songs that would be appropriate for a wedding - no Sexy MF, although we both love that song :D) ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/15 "2002-03-19T22:24:25Z")
We almost did “At Last” for our first dance song, but then we figured we’re only 24 – we haven’t been waiting long enough to say “at last!.” So we used Sara Evans’ version of “I Could not Ask for More.” One thing to consider though – try not to choose a song that’s very long. I think ours was even a bit long: there’s only so much your high-flying mind will be able to think of to say to your sweety just then! A _beautiful_ first-dance song is “Something that we do” by Clint Black. Two good father/daughter dance songs: “Isn’t she Lovely” by Stevie Wonder (he wrote it for his baby daughter!) and “Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. FYI, there’s a bunch of lists at [www.theknot.com](http://www.theknot.com) of just this type of thing. I found them pretty helpful when I did this last October. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TMaxwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@TMaxwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TMaxwell)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/16 "2002-03-19T22:34:38Z")
two close friends of mine got married a couple years ago and used “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison as their wedding song. That song kicks a$$. Some other friends of mine used, “At Last” by Etta James (as was recommended above), which is always a good song for those types of occasions. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/17 "2002-03-19T22:55:07Z")
Slight hijack, but it’s kinda funny… We had a friend of the family sing at our wedding ceremony. She’s quite good and regularly gets paid to do this. She’s sung at countless ceremonies. So she sits down with my wife to pick a song, and says “I’ll take whatever makes you happy, but please, _please_ don’t pick _Sunrise, Sunset_ or _I Will Be Here_.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/18 "2002-03-19T23:14:41Z")
I can’t help you on the other songs but try this one for first dance: _One in a Million You_ by Larry Graham. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2002, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/19 "2002-03-20T04:07:59Z")
Of course I meant Etta James. Thanks, sidle. The brain was thinking “Etta”, but the hands typed “Ella”. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2002, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-give-me-your-thoughts-on-wedding-music/99044/20 "2002-03-20T14:45:37Z")
It doesn’t even vaguely answer the OP, but I’ve always been greatly in favour of using Darth Vader’s Imperial March as the bridal entry bit… My wife disagreed, though… 🙂