Songs You Will be Hearing at 2011 Summer Weddings!

We all know how music can make or break a wedding...better yet the party...but how do we know what songs are going to make your guests BUST A MOVE? Well it's hard to say, really, as every wedding/party/event has it's own vibe and guests. But choosing the type of music you want your DJ or band to play is an important detail as you have a better insight on what your guests like to party too.

Most DJ's and bands also have a great way of feeling out the crowd and finding ways to keep the dance floor packed and moving. Personally, I have worked with fantastic DJs that really know how to make a party a party and keeps the tunes coming and the dance floor hopping! But it is important to give your DJ or band some background on what your guests are like and what they may be in to music wise! I realize you can't make everyone happy with your music choices, but I guarantee you will help elevate the party to the atmosphere you are hoping to achieve by giving some background on your peeps.

With that said I am listing the songs you will hear at almost every wedding in the 2011 Summer Wedding Season. Hope this helps you with your own party playlist! Here's my "guaranteed to hear songs" and my suggestions on when they should be played:

Non-Traditional Ceremony Recessional: Lady Gaga - The Edge of Glory

Grand Entrance: Taio Cruz - Dynamite

First Dance: Lady Antebellum - Just A Kiss

Father/Daughter Dance: Rascal Flatts - I Won't Let Go

Mother/Son Dance: Adele - Love Song

Bouquet Toss: Beyonce - Run The World (Girls)

Garter Toss: Far East Movement - Like A G6

Cake Cutting: Flo Rida - Sugar

Other Songs You Will Hear This Summer on the Dance Floor at Weddings and Parties

Jennifer Lopez - On the Floor



Britney Spears - Till the World Ends



Ke$ha - We R Who We R



Cee Lo Green - Forget You



Enrique Inglesias - I Like It



Rihanna - S & M



Lady Gaga - Born This Way



Nikki Minaj - Super Bass



Bruno Mars - Just the Way You Are



Chris Brown - She Ain't You



P!nk - Raise Your Glass



Justin Bieber - Baby

Love is Love, Period. The Best Love Songs Ever Written.

In celebration of the 18,000 same-sex couples who legally got married in California between 6/16/08 at 5:01pm and 11/5/08 12:00pm, and to the thousands of other couples who love but are denied the right to marry...I have compiled a list of the best love songs ever written. This list was made by asking my monthly question to my friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Happy Anniversary to the same-sex couples, like myself, who legally got married on this date last year (06/17/08), the first day GLBT couples could legally get married in California. Here's to hoping that marriage equality will be restored in the future to California...and throughout this nation.

Now, the 100 best love songs ever written (according to me and my friends and in no particular order):

1. One in a Million You - Larry Graham
2. I Could Fall in Love - Selena
3. I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
4. You're My First, My Last, My Everything - Barry White
   
5. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith
6. Always and Forever - Heatwave
7. You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
8. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
   
9. Hero - Enrique Inglesias
10. At Last - Etta James
11. Something - The Beatles
12. Have You Ever - Brandy
13. Baby, Baby - Amy Grant
14. Someone To Watch Over Me - Michael Feinstein
15. How Do I Live - LeAnn Rimes
    
16. Baby I Love Your Way - Peter Frampton
17. All I Want is You - U2
18. By Your Side - Sade
19. Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney
    
20. Everything - Michael Buble
21. When You Say You Love Me - Josh Groban
22. All My Life - K.C. and JoJo
23. When I Fall in Love - Nat King Cole
24. Your Song - Elton John
25. My Love - Justin Timberlake
    
26. Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
27. I'll Be - Edwin McCain
28. Amazed - Lone Star
29. Leather and Lace - Stevie Nicks
    
30. Body and Soul - Tony Bennett
31. Ikaw (Translated from Tagalog, You) - Regine Velasquez
32. Back at One - Brian McKnight
33. What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
34. Wonderful Together - Eric Clapton
35. Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart
36. Open Arms - Journey
37. Just the Way You Are - Billy Joel
38. I Melt With You - Modern English
    
39. Crazy For You - Madonna
40. Come What May - Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor
41. Lovin' You - Minnie Ripperton
    
42. Your Body is Wonderland - John Mayer
43. Fields of Gold - Sting/Eva Casssidy
44. Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
45. Why - Annie Lennox
    
46. Time and Tide - Basia
47. Always - Atlantic Starr
    
48. If - Bread
    
49. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
50. My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
    
51. Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Gardens
52. The Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston
53. Faithfully - Journey
54. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
55. I Do (Cherish You) - 98 Degrees
56. Endless Love - Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
57. Everything I Do - Bryan Adams
58. Sweet Love - Anita Baker
    
59. Suddenly - Billy Ocean
60. Inna Godda Divida - Iron Butterfly
61. You've Got A Friend - Carole King/James Taylor
62. Breathe - Faith Hill
63. Wahine 'Ilikea - Dennis Kamakahi
64. I Wanna Grown Old With You - Adam Sandler
65. We've Only Just Begun - The Carpenters
66. Power of Two - Indigo Girls
67. More Than Words - Extreme
68. Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
69. Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
70. Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
71. When I Think of You - Janet Jackson
    
72. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
73. The Closer I Get To You - Roberta Flack and Donnie Hathaway
    
74. Love Song - The Cure
    
75. Wicked Games - Chris Isaak
76. I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton John
    
77. Beautiful - James Blunt
78. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
79. Save The Best For Last - Vanessa Williams
80. I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton/Whitney Houston
    
81. Now and Forever - Richard Marx
82. Here and Now - Luther Vandross
83. Always on my Mind - Elvis Presley/Willie Nelson
    
84. (I've Had) The Time of My Life - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
85. You Are The Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
86. Vision of Love - Mariah Carey
87. On Bended Knee - Boyz II Men
88. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
    
89. No One - Alicia Keys
90. Lucky - Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
91. In My Life - The Beatles
    
92. Let's Stay Together - Al Green
93. Hey There Delilah - The Plain White T's
94. Angel of Mine - Monica
95. Get Here - Oleta Adams
96. Never Tear Us Apart - INXS
97. Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
98. Head Over Heels - Tears for Fears
99. Kissing A Fool - George Michael
100. All Out of Love - Air Supply
     

Just like these songs about love, we all have our own love story, and no one's love is better than the other. Love is Love and we should all be lucky to experience it (and marry as two consenting adults if we so chose)...it's definitely the greatest thing of all.

If I've forgotten your favorite love song, please add them in the comments.

-Percy

Photo of John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney by Bella Pictures taken on 06/17/08, San Francisco, California

Photo of Ross and Percy by Cesar Juarez taken on 06/17/08, Santa Barbara, California

Music to Our Ears (Re-Post...well sort of)

Last September, I posted Music to Our Ears Blog, which included my top five songs in seven categories. The categories are:

Bride and Groom Grand Entrance
First Dance Songs
Father/Daughter Dance
Mother/Son Dance
Cake Cutting
Bouquet Toss
Garter Removal and Toss

To see the names of each of the songs, in the seven categories, please visit the original blog by clicking here.

Since then I have been asked where they can find the songs or if there was a simple place they can hear the songs I suggested. So I have compiled a playlist on Project Playlist and you can access it right here on this blog. Have fun listening to my song choices. I hope it helps in planning the right music for your reception!

The only songs that I could not find was Dionne Warwicks version of 'I wish you love", Sounds of Blackness' "A Place in My Heart" and a full length version of Gloria Estefan's Everlasting Love.

-Percy

Playlist from Project Playlist

TIPsy Tuesday: The Right Music For Your Ceremony

How many times have you gone to a wedding only to hear the same boring, un-meaningful music that the couple chooses for their ceremony? Well it's time to stop the madness! Don't get me wrong, I love hearing Bach's Air on a G String...but come on folks does that really signify you as a couple?

There is so much music out there and there is nothing better than to see a couple choose music for their ceremony that really reflects them. Plus there are musicians that can turn a rock anthem to a moving piece played by a string quartet. A couple of my favorite examples of this is U2's With or Without You and Gordon Lightfoot's If You Could Read My Mind as interpreted by Scala & Kolacny Brothers, "a youth choir from Aarschot, Belgium, roughly sixty teenage girls, directed by two talented brothers." They have turned these rock masterpieces into an ethereal dream like songs that is perfect for any wedding.

Another one of my favorite songs for weddings at the moment is Jason Mraz's I'm Yours (From the Casa Nova Sessions), found on his new album We Sing We Dance We Steal Things (Bonus Track Version found on iTunes). This is one of my all time favorite songs, but the acoustic version he released is perfect for either a processional or recessional. To take the words from Mr. M-Z, "And It's our God-intended right to be loved love loved love love."

I think couples should start thinking about music that carries "them" from the the ceremony to the reception. It makes it more of a couture event rather than a cookie cutter wedding. So couples, as you plan your grand day, don't leave the music to tradition. Start your own traditions and choose songs that have meaning to you as a couple. There is nothing better than hearing music that pulls on your heartstrings as you walk down the aisle. Trust me, it will be memorable not only for you but your guests as well.

-Percy

Photo from Jason Mraz

Music to Our Ears

I often am asked what songs should be played for certain elements of a wedding reception, so I have compiled my Top 5 Songs for the below categories. Hope this helps in choosing just the right song for you. Even though I am suggesting these songs, there is nothing better than choosing your own play list that reflects you as a couple. Additionally, by choosing meaningful songs, it really helps to play up the uniqueness of your special day.

Bride and Groom Grand Entrance:

1. Now That We Found Love - Heavy D and the Boyz
2. Crazy In Love - Beyonce
3. The Look of Love - ABC
4. Everlasting Love - Gloria Estefan
5. Love and Pride - King

First Dance Songs:

1. I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
2. One In A Million You - Larry Graham
3. The Time of My Life - David Cook
4. Kiss of Life - Sade
5. One Sweet Day - Mariah Carey

Father/Daughter Dance:

1. I Loved Her First - Heartland
2. Dance With My Father - Celine Dion
3. Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
4. Through the Years - Kenny Rogers
5. My Wish - Rascal Flatts

Mother/Son Dance:

1. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You - Rod Stewart
2. Mama - Il Divo
3. I Wish You Love - Dionne Warwick
4. Baby Mine - Bette Midler
5. A Place In My Heart - Sounds of Blackness

Cake Cutting:

1. Sugar Sugar - The Archies
2. Kiss Me - Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy
3. How Sweet It Is - James Taylor
4. Beautiful Day - U2
5. Love You Madly - Cake

Bouquet Toss:

1. Gonna Catch You - Lonnie Gordon
2. Labels or Love - Fergie
3. Point of No Return - Expose
4. Lemme Get That - Rihanna
5. It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls

Garter Removal and Toss:

1. Girls Girls Girls - Motley Crue
2. Foxy Foxy - Rob Zombie
3. SexyBack - Justin Timberlake
4. Give It Up To Me - Sean Paul
5. Go - Tones on Tails

This list was fun to compile, I could have listed my Top 10 in each category, but the list would have been to long. So for you brides and grooms out there I hope this list will inspire your own soundtrack. Have a great time!

-Percy

Photo by Gloria Plunkett

Culture Shock

Why is it that weddings from other countries are so much more colorful than those here in the US? I wonder if people from other cultures would think ours to be a little drab. I think it's time for Americans to finally let go of the traditional white and penguin suits and mix it up with some cross cultural aspects at their shindig!

How awesome would it be to be dressed more colorfully at your nuptials, or at least inject some color into it...you know I love bright happy colors. Pastels and soft colors are so passé. Take for instance this Indonesian wedding that has wonderful tones of pink and turquoise with loads of gold details...Well maybe a little less gold, though it is making a comeback. They aren't afraid of colors and in the big scheme of things, it actually looks good together.

I guess what I am saying is that color is in and I am starting to finally see it here in the US. Brides and grooms are starting to look outside of the traditional box and finding ways to have their nuptials stand out.

One bride that I have worked with went to the extent of mixing the cultures by changing the theme to her reception almost every hour. She started in the traditional white gown, nice white gloved seated dinner and the traditional toasts and dances. By the end of dinner she had donned a Sari, lights transformed the ballroom to a middle eastern feel with lots of reds and gold’s, belly dancers graced the dance floor and a buffet table serving middle eastern desserts were rolled out as the band rocked out to Bollywood style music. By the end of the evening, she had changed again to a Mexican inspired gown, the colors in the ballroom turned into cool blues - reminiscent or sultry evenings in Cabo San Lucas or Havana and the music changed to a Latin Cubano hip hop session. Cigar stations were rolled out, mojitos started to flowing, and Mexican inspired strolling ice cream vendors serving cones to the crowd. This was definitely a "Cross Culture" success - and the bride and the groom were both Caucasian.

I guess what I am trying to say is don't be afraid to infuse some different cultures into your day - even if it is just the music, it makes your wedding even more exciting and memorable for your guests and it’s a way for you to celebrate the world's diversity. At any rate have fun figuring out what part of the world you want to incorporate into your special day. Who knows it may inspire you in other ways.

-Percy

Photo from ABC News

First Dance...Not the Last.

The first dance seems to be a right of passage for married couples. In modern times, it has reincarnated itself as a way to highlight the couple, some adding their own personality to the traditional dance, by foregoing the slow dance and adding some surprise hip-hop or ballroom moves to this sentimental moment.

Wikipedia states, "Traditionally, the first dance is the Waltz." Well we all know that most couples are not waltzing, since ballroom dancing is no longer a widespread skill, but is making a comeback thanks to Dancing with the Stars. Couples often go to dance studios or hire choreographers to help them with their first dance, and others just have a gift to bust-a-move.

The one question I often get is how to you pick just the right song for it. Well my answer to my clients is to pick a song that signifies you and your love one, or a song that reminds you of each other. It does not necessarily have to be a slow song...if Baby Got's Back has special meaning for you, then go ahead with your bad self and breakout your best MC Hammer moves. There are no limits to your choice of music or genre of dance. Feeling a little bold maybe, you can do a pas de deux from Swan Lake or even a vogue dual to Madonna's 4 minutes (may explain timing in the bedroom and that could be a bad thing).

At any rate, here are my top 10 favorite songs at the moment for the first dance - and yes, they are all slow songs, because I'm a sap!

1. (tie) You and I Both and I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
2. One in a Million You - Larry Graham
3. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Leona Lewis
4. No One - Alicia Keys
5. Fields of Gold - Eva Cassidy
6. My Funny Valentine - Melinda Doolittle
7. At Last - Etta James
8. La Vie En Rose - Edith Piaf
9. How Deep is Your Love - The Bird and The Bee
10. The Way You Look Tonight - Michael Buble

Regardless of what song you choose or what genre of music, make sure that your song resonates with the two of you. It's a special moment and there is nothing like making your first dance as a couple a meaning and spectacular time for the two of you.

-Percy

Photo from Party Time Productions