<p>Depending on what they want/need, they could choose songs for these categories:</p>
<p>Waiting For the Wedding Party to Arrive Songs
Father/Daughter Dance
Mother/Son Dance
Bride and Groom First Dance
Wedding Party Dance
Longest Married Couple Dance (or all married couples)
Cut the Cake Song
Throw the Bouquet Song
Remove the Garter Song
First Dance for Everybody
General good dance music (this is important)
Fun participatory dance songs
Last Dance for Everybody</p>
<p>This is completely aside from the music selections for the ceremony itself.</p>
<p>If you have a DJ or a band they should play to the crowd. HArd to know ahead of time what will get people up and dancing. Once the obligations are out of the way (first dance, etc.) its nothing but a celebration and the main thing is to keep everyone involved. </p>
<p>I played in a wedding band in the 70’s and 80’s, it was a great high school and college job. To this day I still dread the “must play” wedding songs of the day:
Longer
We’ve only just begun
Close to you
Tie a Yellow ribbon round the Old OAk Tree
Bad Bad Leroy Brown
Proud Mary </p>
<p>Funny how many of the 80’s tunes are still pulled out today like Brickhouse and Celebration.</p>
<p>My biggest piece of advice: Keep the festivities moving. When the wedding events (photography, first dance, bouquet/garter toss, toast) are staggered over a long time it kills the party aspect. A well paced reception keeps tings moving. From what I’ve seen in the hundreds of receptions I worked, photographers can be a killer. everyone is standing around while the wedding party is outside taking photos.</p>
<p>Most important is to relax and have a great time. Congratulations.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and feed the band…they will appreciate it!</p>
<p>we didn’t have dancing at our wedding, decades ago ( then again I was ill so I wasn’t in the mood anyway)-but I am taking notes in case I ever need this as a MOB.
:)</p>
<p>Thanks Everyone --this is fun!
Skyhook -good idea but you are WAY too organized for my family…
rhumbob - I am absolutely cringing at your 70-80s playlist!</p>
<p>OP–Now that I re-read your original post, I think your nephew simply wants to make sure he’s got a few songs for the dance that everyone will like to dance to. He’s just asking for your favorite dance songs.</p>
<p>I like upbeat, happy for weddings. And, since guests span many ages, songs that draw from many memories. Here are ten that I would add to a wedding turntable:</p>
<p>Donna Summer, I Feel Love
Sly & the Family Stone, Dance to the Music
Blondie, Rapture
The Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling
Adele, Rolling in the Deep
B52s, Love Shack
Lipps Inc., Funkytown
Martha & the Vandellas, Heat Wave
The Four Tops, Sugar Pie Honey Bunch</p>
<p>And, my favorite slow dance:
Dusty Springfield, The Look of Love</p>
Some obvious choices:</p>