Still, I was thrilled because I love helping out new DJ's or other DJ's who are interested in moving into the wedding market. So I thought to myself, "How can I help this cat (he wasn't an actual cat, although he did frequently lap milk from a saucer) be prepared with some wedding playlists for 2013 and beyond?"
Then it hit me. Yes, the saucer of milk. He threw it at me. Seriously, though, I realized I can help him and any other DJ's, engaged couples, normal people throwing parties, abnormal people of the feline persuasion having a party, and so on. What I put together below is a wedding playlist that transcends through all years, future past, and especially present.
HOW?
What I made was a wedding dj setlist that any person can cut and paste their favorite songs and replace any that are on the list, as long as they keep those songs in the same genre.
For instance, you can remove any of the songs of today and put your song ideas into the slots that are made up of songs from any top 40 wedding playlist from any year. Whether the songs come from a wedding playlist 2011 or a wedding playlist 2012, it doesn't really matter. And if your building a 2014 wedding playlist, it will still work!
Why does this work? It's because, first and foremost, it follows the number one rule for the best wedding playlist and that is to play only three songs per genre in a row. Also as you probably know, many wedding songs just last forever and ever. They will never go away. Sure, some have died (THANK GOD), such as the YMCA and the Chicken Dance (notice they are NOT on the list?), but most don't.
Currently, crowds are loving the 80's rock era, with Def Leppard, Guns & Roses, and the like, packing the dance floor. Why is this? I have no idea! All I know is that the wedding music set list below reflects this current trend. Suppose swing music starts to grow again in popularity. Just swap out the rock for the swing and you'll be set.
Maybe you'll need to add a lot more from your 80s alternative playlist one day. If so, just swap out the genres and hit the hot music of your time.
Obviously, these are dance songs, not father daughter wedding songs or mother son wedding songs. Those are usually played before the main dancing and will be taken care of during your wedding planning sessions with your DJ.
This List Sucks!
Yeah, I know. All the cool disc jockey hipsters will tell you how LAME this list is and that they wouldn't be caught dead following this list. What they don't understand is if they play their 60 minute techno/house/dubstep set, they will have an empty room within 20 minutes or so.
Now, any professional "wedding DJ" understands the genius of the list and knows that, at a wedding reception, it would kick some serious dance floor.
This is the best dj playlist for wedding dancing and crowd retention because it crosses most generations and doesn't linger on any particular area of wedding reception songs.
Adaptation
This specific list will work for a typical wedding crowd where more than half of the guests are the bride and groom's age and the others are more toward the parents ages. It leans more toward the latest top 40 music, while still hitting the other genres.
So, will your parents have more guests in attendance than you? No problem. Cut a Top 40 set and add whatever your crowd will like. Songs like Brown Eyed Girl, Down On The Corner, and Honky Tonk Woman might fit that bill.
"We love country!" No problem. Switch out a set or two with some two-stepping tunes!
"Like, OMG, dude, we love Duran Duran!" Cool. Add some new wave in place of the weakest music for your group.
"Jess, Mon! We be diggin' da Reggae!" Den, drop da ragga beat in place of da rockin' sheet, mon!
Do you "dig it?" Are you getting it? I hope so. But always, always, always keep those sets 3 to 4 songs so you don't chase away your other guests.
I Can Do It!
No, you can't. Unless you are a professional DJ with wedding experience, you will probably run into many issues as you try to swap songs, change sets around, add other genres, let alone simply implementing the following set as is. DJ's see and understand what I've done with the list. They know why I grouped songs with similar BPM together, why I lead out from one set and into another with certain songs, and so on. They know what to do if they start a Top 40 set and no one dances. Do you?
My advice is, as always, HIRE A PROFESSIONAL WEDDING DJ! Not just "a DJ" either.
Do you think the dj playlist below would work for your wedding? Let me know!
| Artist | Title | Time | Genre |
| TEMPTATIONS | MY GIRL | 2:57 | oldies |
| ARETHA FRANKLIN | RESPECT | 2:27 | oldies |
| KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND | BOOGIE SHOES | 2:52 | disco |
| EARTH, WIND & FIRE | LET'S GROOVE TONIGHT | 5:37 | disco |
| GAP BAND | YOU DROPPED A BOMB ON ME | 5:06 | disco |
| LMFAO | PARTY ROCK ANTHEM | 4:23 | top 40 |
| PITBULL F NE-YO | GIVE ME EVERYTHING | 4:07 | top 40 |
| BOB SINCLAR F BIG ALI & DOLLAR MAN | ROCK THIS PARTY | 4:11 | top 40 |
| AL GREEN | TIRED OF BEING ALONE | 2:48 | ballad |
| COMMODORES | BRICK HOUSE | 3:41 | disco |
| WILD CHERRY | PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC | 4:53 | disco |
| KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND | GET DOWN TONIGHT | 3:10 | disco |
| MICHAEL JACKSON | DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH | 6:04 | disco |
| AC DC | YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG | 3:30 | rock |
| LYNYRD SKYNYRD | SWEET HOME ALABAMA | 4:39 | rock |
| BOB SEGER | OLD TIME ROCK AND ROLL | 3:14 | rock |
| FLO-RIDA | GOOD FEELING | 4:07 | top 40 |
| DAVID GUETTA F KID CUDI | MEMORIES | 3:34 | top 40 |
| LMFAO | SEXY AND I KNOW IT | 3:19 | top 40 |
| RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS | UNCHAINED MELODY | 3:38 | ballad |
| FRANK SINATRA | WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT | 3:23 | Swing |
| GLENN MILLER | IN THE MOOD | 3:39 | Swing |
| BEATLES | TWIST & SHOUT | 2:33 | oldies |
| ANIMAL HOUSE SOUNDTRACK | SHOUT | 4:04 | oldies |
| KANYE WEST F T-PAIN | GOOD LIFE WARNING | 3:31 | top 40 |
| CHRIS BROWN F LIL WAYNE & BUSTA... | LOOK AT ME NOW | 3:47 | top 40 |
| USHER F LUDACRIS & LIL JON | YEAH | 4:15 | top 40 |
| VIOLENT FEMMES | BLISTER IN THE SUN | 2:23 | 80’s |
| CURE | JUST LIKE HEAVEN | 3:32 | 80’s |
| DEPECHE MODE | JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH | 3:31 | 80’s |
| Slow song of your choice | ballad | ||
| CHRIS BROWN | YEAH 3X | 4:03 | top 40 |
| FLO RIDA F T PAIN | LOW WARNING | 3:53 | top 40 |
| COBRA STARSHIP F SABI | YOU MAKE ME FEEL | 3:34 | top 40 |
| BRITNEY SPEARS | TILL THE WORLD ENDS | 4:00 | top 40 |
| GUNS N' ROSES | SWEET CHILD O' MINE | 5:52 | rock |
| ROMANTICS | WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU | 2:56 | rock |
| PRINCE | KISS | 3:46 | dance |
| MICHAEL JACKSON | BILLIE JEAN | 4:57 | dance |
| MADONNA | HOLIDAY | 4:00 | dance |
| JENNIFER LOPEZ F PITBULL | ON THE FLOOR | 3:53 | top 40 |
| BLACK EYED PEAS | I GOTTA FEELING | 4:09 | top 40 |
| TAIO CRUZ F TRAVIE MCCOY | HIGHER | 3:43 | top 40 |
| MAROON 5 F CHRISTINA AGUILERA | MOVES LIKE JAGGER | 3:27 | top 40 |
| JOURNEY | DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' | 4:10 | ballad |
