You might think picking a first dance song is one of the easiest parts of planning a wedding but believe it or not, many couples struggle with this part!  Whether they are uncomfortable in the spotlight, unsure of their footwork or worried about picking the perfect song, keeping these few points in mind can alleviate a lot of the stress that comes from choosing the perfect first dance song.

Slow it down!  Unless you are gunning to have your first dance video become the next viral hit on the Internet, try to avoid songs that are so high-energy you won’t be able to slow down and enjoy this moment.  Your first dance will go much faster than you think, so do yourself a favor and choose a song that allows you to savor this precious moment.

But not too slow!  On the other side of the tempo coin, choosing a first dance song that is too slow can make it difficult to gracefully glide across the dance floor in the arms of your new spouse!  If you are unsure if a song you’re considering might be too fast or too slow, try it out in your living room!  Don’t worry, no one’s watching.

Wait… is this actually a love song?  When choosing a first dance song, I cannot begin to tell you how important it is to carefully read the song lyrics before making your decision!  While some songs might seem touching and sweet on the surface (think “I Will Always Love You”), they are best left off any potential first dance song lists.  Look up the lyrics to any songs you’re considering just to be sure.

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Here at WeddingWire, we’re always looking for the top wedding trends from around the country. So every week, we’ll ask a group of vendors from all over the U.S. the same question and share their (often very different!) answers. This week, we talked to a group of top DJs, from Boston to Seattle, South Carolina to South Dakota.

This week’s question: What is the most popular first dance song right now among your clients? Why do you think that particular song is so hot right now?

Burt Lawson of Fingersnappin’ Entertainment, Charleston, SC: “Then” by Brad Paisley

“I think this song has a lot of meaning, from the first time you met your true love, to spending the rest of your life with that person. The song resonates with a lot of couples and they feel like Brad Paisley is singing about them.”

Adam Brand of Cutting Edge Entertainment, Philadelphia, PA: “Everything” by Michael Buble

“I don’t think I’ve had any repeats in the past two years, with the exception of Michael Buble’s ‘Everything.’ It’s a fantastic song that has a lot of affection and meaning in the lyrics, yet it’s fast enough so the bride and groom can put on more of a show, have fun with the dance, and keep their guests’ attention.”

Shannon Powell of Liquid DJs, Miami, FL: “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star

“Our clients have always trended toward an offbeat sense of style. One song that stands out these days is Mazzy Star’s ‘Fade Into You.’ Its windswept, ethereal feel puts it somewhere between Jane’s Addiction, The Doors, and Patsy Cline. People know it, but have a hard time placing it – perfect for the couple that wants to stay off the beaten track.”

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‘Tis the season for the magic of the holidays to find its way into the lives of millions of people worldwide. The question is, should you allow the magic to slip its way into your wedding? Each and every aspect of your wedding can be styled with the flavor of the season, which happens to be Holidays. Invitations, decorations, colors, lighting, cuisine, deserts, and especially the music can be tailored and tweaked to fit just the right amount of the season into your special day. Of course, being a DJ, my post here will be primarily about music, whether you should include Holiday music into your reception and how much.

Before taking on this topic of Holiday music on your wedding day… I feel it necessary to preface by saying that I celebrate Christmas. I love this time of year! I realize that there are many people who don’t share the same excitement. I understand that there are people of many different backgrounds and of particular religions that don’t celebrate Christmas. While trying not to offend anyone here, I’d like to assume that you are reading this post because you do celebrate a major Holiday during this time of year.

I guess it doesn’t take a genius to realize that it is my recommendation to incorporate Holiday music into your wedding reception. If your wedding falls in the month of December, why not? It’s arguable that there may be some guests who’s religions don’t accept the ideas and traditions of Christmas, Chanukah, or Kwanzaa. Correct. However, if you think this way, you’d have to be careful about playing just about every song on your wedding day… for every song you play there is going to be at least one guest who doesn’t like it. And with 100 guests, there’s bound to be at least a few songs that will offend a few conservative guests. As a professional, I try to think about what’s being played and how it will be received, but I must think about the group as a whole rather than try to please each individual guests.

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With Father’s Day approaching, I thought it might be an appropriate time to offer some suggestions to brides that are thinking about a special dance with their dad. A while back, I provided a list of songs that work well for a groom and his mom, which you can find here. Allow me to present some things to consider when thinking about this spotlight dance on your wedding day.

First, I realize that many brides won’t have the privilege or the pleasure of sharing a dance with their father. I’d be happy to offer suggestions based on your individual situation. There are ways to pay tribute to your dad and/or express your appreciation to other significant people in your life. For this article, I’d like to assume that your father will be there on your wedding day, and you are looking forward to this dance.

When beginning your search for songs to dance with your Father, you should first decide whether this dance is ‘from you to him’ or ‘from him to you’. Once you decide this, your song selection will naturally narrow itself to songs with lyrics appropriate for either situation. Also, certain songs will feel more fitting based on whether they are sung by a male or female artist. Another aspect of the perception of the dance which you might want to consider in the early stages is your dad’s opinion. You might want to see if your father has a preference of songs or ideas about the dance. I am sure there are some fathers who have been anticipating this day much longer than the bride has… believe it!

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We all know that the music makes the party—but what’s making the music this year? With the introduction of newer than new technology, there is a plethora of ways to make a medley out of any and all kinds of music sources. In 2010, look for less of the boring background music and more of this:

Customized Tunes: Budget-friendly and dead-on with your favorite music, just bring your own ipod and have a sound technician there to set it all up and monitor the volume. What better way to get exactly what you want?

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photo: studiotonline.com

To some, the choice of wedding songs is easy.  Many feel it isn’t important.  There are couples who believe the song they choose for their first dance together as husband and wife is one of the most important musical decisions for the day.  There are many aspects of this dance that a couple can consider, but one of the most common discussions I hear is about the popularity of the prospective songs.

My advice is to choose a song not based on it’s popularity.  Rather, you should select a song based on it’s significance.   If the decision is important, so should the song be important to you both.  Your first dance together as husband and wife doesn’t need to be some deeply romantic moment. I have had plenty of couples choose light hearted songs because it was them.

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When asked to write a post pertaining to our lucky grooms, I pondered for a long time about what to write.  When it comes to the entertainment or music, I am fortunate to be in contact with the groom nearly as much as the bride.  It seems as though grooms know their place is not picking out colors, dresses, flowers, etc. They understand that if there is one area of the wedding planning for which they want and can be involved, it’s picking the music.  (Please take no offense from my generalization… some couples do ALL the planning together… which is awesome!)  If I had a dime for every time I heard a bride say, “The music is the ONE thing he wants to be a part of,” I would be rich!

Grooms, under what category might you fall?

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So you’ve decided to have your wedding on the big holiday weekend…  you might feel uneasy about whether to tie in the “theme” for your celebration or how far should you go with incorporating the idea of America’s independence.  I am sure that some of our other aces will explore the idea of using colors, flowers, attire, etc.  I’d like to talk about how the music can be an effective way to incorporate the theme.

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fMRI image detailing the connections between the music, memory and emotion centers in the brain: Petr Janata / UC Davis

Ever heard a song from the past and found yourself emotionally transported back to that time?  It’s a part of the extraordinary power of music.  And it’s a critical consideration when you pick the key music and songs for your wedding.

The connection between music and memory is is both well known and documented.  It’s also of particular interest to me, more on that in a future post.  So when I read a glowing review of “The Music Instinct: Science and Song” (Wednesday, 9-11 p.m. ET on PBS)  I plugged it straight into my DVR.  According to the Wall Street Journal, “there isn’t a boring minute here,” and it could clearly impact the way you pick your most important wedding songs.

So you’ve given your DJ a list of songs, inclusive of your choice Michael Jackson tunes… now what?  Have you thought about whether it would be appropriate to play Michael Jackson at your wedding, only days after his sudden death?  I have.  I actually thought about it long and hard.   Michael Jackson’s music, any DJ will tell you,  has been part of the “must haves” in any serious library.  Motown, R&B, Pop, Rock… his music spans many genres and has been the soundtrack for many periods of peoples’ lives.

What should you do now?  Would it be morbid to play his music, disrespectful?  Not in the least bit.  Remember, he was an artist and would want it no other way.  He wrote and performed his music for people to enjoy.  By playing the songs, you would be honoring his career, not disrespecting it.

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