The first dance

There are some songs that are perfect for your first dance, the song that you shall forever recognize as your song:

Your Song - Elton John

If - Bread

The Luckiest - Ben Folds

Everything - Lifehouse

Making Memories of Us - Keith Urban

Better Together - Jack Johnson

Then there are some that make you go "hmm..."

Bob Seger’s We’ve Got Tonight – a little desperate, if you will. “I know your plans don’t include me / Still here we are, both of us lonely / Longing for shelter from all that we see.”

Pick something a little happier for the crowd, you know.

Frank Sinatra’s Love & Marriage – In identifying the song, people’s minds immediately refer to the Bundy family before they get to Sinatra.

A Whole New World – because I love Disney so much

And then there are those that are completely unacceptable

Why don’t we get drunk and screw.

Inside your Heaven by Carrie Underwood. Because it sends shivers up my spine and I just do not like it. Yes, it’s selfish, I know.

Crash by Dave Matthews. Don’t get my wrong, I like Dave Matthews, but your first dance song really should not include the phrase “Hike up your skirt a little more” or mention a ball and chain…

Anything by Michael Jackson because shudder ESPECIALLY Butterflies: “All you gotta do is just walk away and pass me by / Don't acknowledge my smile when I try to say hello to you yeah / And all you gotta do is not answer my calls when / I'm trying to get through / To keep me wondering why, when all I can do is sigh / I just wanna touch you” Because it's Michael Jackson. Ew.

Songs that should be in bold in size 27 font on your Do Not Play List because even though you may have them on your iPod and you may sing aloud to them, it’s just not the right time or place, you know?:

You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling – WTF. It’s your damn wedding. You should have thought about that a couple of weeks ago.
Chicken Dance (or any other roller rink dance song – unless you’re having your wedding in a roller rink, then go for it…)
Another One Bites the Dust
Goodbye Earl
Achy Breaky Heart
Breakaway
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Goodbye to You
Believe by Cher
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
I Will Survive
I Will Always Love You

Comments

[janet]

please add to your PLEASE DON'T list: The Humpty Dance. My fiance has suggested it more than once for our wedding. Kill me!

[amieable]

Janet - your fiance has even suggested it to ME!

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" is a great song for singing drunken Karaoke in a dive bar, but wedding? No.

Make that a rule: anything you can see yourself singing while drunk in a bar is not suitable for a wedding.

[amieable]

Bebe - How do you feel about the bride or bridegroom being drunk at the reception? I think it is a definite "NO" but are there exceptions? Do you see members of the "happy couple" getting sloshed at their receptions?

[Audrey]

THANK YOU for mentioning "The Luckiest!" My husband and I love that song, and request it whenever we go to a wedding (if song requests are allowed, that is), but no DJ ever has it. They only Ben Folds song they ever have is "Brick." Why on earth would anyone want "Brick" played at a wedding?

[flower arrangements with calalillies]

I think that there are some pretty wild songs played at wedding ceremonies these days. I remember one wedding I went to. Whwn the bride and groom came into the room they played "let's get ready to rummmmmmble"
I don't know that just doesn't seem like the right song to play for a long lasting marriage.

[Edgar]

Oh there was also another wedding I went ot years ago. A sort of western type wedding if you get my drift. You'll never guess what the most requested song of the evening was.
Take this job and shove it.

[helenel]

Re: the Chicken Dance:

I was adamantly against it. The DJ talked me into it and I'm glad she did. Because really, a lot of the older ladies in attendance will not dance to much of the regular music, but they will /race/ to the dance floor when the Chicken Dance starts. And it made for some of the most hilarious parts of our wedding video.