Wedding Playlist 2012 Music For Your Wedding DJ: Is Old Top 40 New Again?

Looking forward to next year, there are a lot of songs that can be added to your wedding playlist 2012 without the worry of looking "dated."  There are quite a few wedding playlist 2010 songs that will even transfer over!  Still, with all the music I look at from my wedding playlist 2011 I can see so many songs that will last well into even the wedding playlist 2013.  So take a look at this past weekends wedding DJ playlist, and feel free to drag and drop some of this into your wedding playlist for your upcoming 2012 wedding music lists.

Sexy And I Know It                                           Lmfao

Party Rock Anthem                                            Lmfao

I Gotta Feeling                                                   Black Eyed Peas

Normally, I would have stuck with this top 40 wedding playlist, but believe it or not, the reactions weren't so great.  It's funny, I came out of the special dances, and you would never think going from mother son wedding songs to LMFAO would ever be a good idea.  Alas, I did what the client wanted.  I sold it, and it worked but died off quickly which is why I hit the Latin music right away, another client request.

La Carcacha                                                      Selena

La Vida Es Un Carnaval                                     Celia Cruz

Suavemente                                                        Elvis Crespo

(Oldies Motown Set of three songs here! You can get the full list at Wedding Songs Timeline Planner.  These are some standard wedding playlists tunes that I love using at just about every event...since they work so well!)

Look At Me Now(Extreme Warning Content)    Chris Brown F Lil Wayne And Busta Rhymes

Yeah (Clean)Warning                                         Usher F Ludacris & Lil Jon

Way I Are                                                          Timbaland F Keri Hilson

Boogie Shoes                                                     Kc & The Sunshine Band

Let's Groove Tonight                                          Earth, Wind & Fire

You Dropped A Bomb On Me                           Gap Band

We No Speak Americano                                  Yolanda Be Cool And Dcup

Latin Song 1

Latin Song 2

Latin Song 3

Some more Latin music was filled in here, three songs that rocked!  

Brick House                                                       Commodores
Play That Funky Music                                       Wild Cherry

Get Down Tonight                                              Kc & The Sunshine Band

An old classic disco wedding music set that just about every single wedding dj has put on their wedding dj setlist at one time or another.  These disco wedding reception songs simply mix right into each other, keeping the flow going strong!

6 Top 40 Dance Hits That Rock The Dance Floor The Entire Time!  Featuring Pit Bull, Black Eyed Peas, David Guetta and more!  NOW was the best time in the night to hit up the new dance stuff. And it worked.  Get the list at weddingsongstimelineplanner.com!

Kiss                                                                   Prince

Billie Jean                                                           Michael Jackson

Pump Up The Jam                                              Technotronic

Push It                                                               Salt-N-Pepa

When I Hear Music                                            Debbie Deb

Look Out Weekend                                           Debbie Deb

The above is a very cool 80's dance mix and filled the floor.  I did not include any 80s alternative playlist songs since this wasn't the crowd.  I will add an awesome Christmas Party playlist I recently used that really worked well, including the use of many 80's new wave tunes.

Only Girl (In The World)                                    Rihanna

Club Can't Handle Me                                        Flo Rida F David Guetta

Higher                                                                Taio Cruz F Travie Mccoy

Memories                                                           David Guetta F Kid Cudi

Fire Burning                                                       Sean Kingston

On The Floor                                                     Jennifer Lopez F Pitbull

Tonight                                                               Enrique Iglesias F Ludacris

My Way                                                            Frank Sinatra

Again, many of the above songs will translate well on a wedding playlist 2012 and I consider this to be one of the best dj playlist for wedding sets that I've come up with.  I didn't have too many love songs on this dj playlist and this is because I met with the couple long before the wedding day.  When we got together to do some wedding planning, we went over what wedding songs they wanted to include for their wedding reception.  We didn't just focus on their special dances like their father daughter wedding songs, but we looked at what would make the best wedding playlist for their particular wedding guest list. I refer back to that Christmas party list I will drop down here in a couple of days, because it was a completely different environment and would not be the best dj playlist for wedding success.  It worked for that party, but would not translate well into a wedding environment, even though many songs came right off of my wedding playlists 2010 and 2011. 

I bring this up because you need to know it is CRUCIAL you don't hire a DJ who "specializes" in Xmas parties, Birthday parties, Corporate events, etc.  Who can specialize in everything anyway?  Do doctors specialize in podiatry, proctology, AND general medicine?  Of course not!  Neither should your disc jockey. Hire someone who SPECIALIZES in weddings!  Yes, I do DJ Christmas parties, but I am NOT one that specializes in them.  Weddings is where I excel!  So be cautious of those who will pretend to be the best in everything and go for the wedding professional instead.

Signs You Are Looking At A Bad DJ! Plus, My Latest Wedding Playlist!

For those of you planning your wedding out there, I hope you find this helpful as you decide which DJ to hire.  It is very difficult to choose a DJ because you do not have an opportunity to see the actual product, the actual product being their abilities to get your guests involved, their actions to make your wedding fun, and, of course, their skills in mixing a great wedding DJ playlist--one that will satisfy everyone, young and old, while keeping the dance floor packed.

I have an easy way for you, the happy bride and groom, from making a mistake and hiring a DJ who most likely has no talents in the above mentioned areas.  Take a look at this ad I received today via email:

Wow, right?  What a deal, huh?  Not only do you get a DJ, but you get Uplighting, and a Video Montage, all for $1170!  First problem: Why is a DJ (music and entertainment) providing Uplighting (a design aspect)? How does this help get your guests involved and get them dancing?
Second problem, why is a DJ providing video services (the Video Montage)?  To see the problems with this, all you need to do is turn it around.  "I am ABC Videography and I will shoot your wedding with two cameras, provide you with a video montage, AND on top of all of that, I will be your top-notch wedding DJ!"

The answer is obvious.  This company is lacking so much in their entertainment abilities, they have to add these extras and upgrades to make themselves have at least some kind of value for you. 

In other words, they are sooo BAD at DJing , they need to add "stuff" so they can get business!  And in some other words, their clients will probably end up saying after their wedding, "Man, our DJ was awful, but at least we got that pretty uplighting and nice video montage!" 

If you run into a company trying to either give you or sell you upgrades, run away.  Or, better yet, ask them this:  "What about your entertainment skills with my friends and family?  What do you do to get my guests involved in the celebration?"  If they have some fun and unique ideas (that are not the Macarena!), then awesome!  Not only do you get a great DJ but you get some extras, too.

Otherwise, tell that "DJ" to leave the lighting design to a lighting designer and the video montage to the videographer and stick to what they are supposed to be focusing on--your wedding entertainment!

A GREAT WEDDING PLAYLIST!

So here is the latest from moi!  On Sunday night (a Sunday night, mind you!) I had a packed dance floor all night until 11:30pm.  I know, 11:30...whoop-dee-doo.  But many people have to go to work on Mondays, so if you can keep a wedding going past 10pm, you are doing something right with your wedding music!  Like all wedding playlists I create, I want to make sure I please all the wedding guests, so you will hear wedding songs that parents will like all the way to music from a wedding playlist 2010 and beyond to a wedding playlist 2011!  Of course, wedding playlists 2010 are sooo last year, lol.  Still, when you are in the middle of wedding planning with a couple, you want to stick with music that you know will work.  These wedding reception songs will include a lot of music from my top 40 wedding playlist because this was what they mainly wanted.  There was nothing from my 80s alternative playlist ideas and only one or two love songs.  Hey, it's their wedding so I made sure they were happy with their wedding reception and me, their wedding DJ!

Stand By Me                                            Ben E. King

My Girl                                                    Temptations

Respect                                                    Aretha Franklin

Billie Jean                                                 Michael Jackson

I Gotta Feeling                                         Black Eyed Peas

I Gotta Feeling (Instrumental)                    Black Eyed Peas

Omg                                                        Usher F Will.I.Am

Disturbia                                                  Rihanna

Disturbia (Instrumental)                             Rihanna

Right Round                                             Flo Rida F Kesha

I Only Have Eyes For You                       Flamingos

Tik Tok                                                    Ke$Ha

Poker Face                                              Lady Gaga

Dynamite                                                  Taio Cruz

Dynamite (Instrumental)                            Taio Cruz

Dj Got Us Fallin' In Love                            Usher F Pitbull

In My Head                                              Jason Derulo

All I Do Is Win                                        Dj Khaled F T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg

A Bay Bay                                              Hurricane Chris

Poison                                                        Bell Biv Devoe

Thriller                                                  Michael Jackson

Journey With Jean                                   Dj Sizzahandz

Livin' On A Prayer                                 Bon Jovi

Way I Are                                              Timbaland F Keri Hilson

Circus                                                  Britney Spears

Just Dance                                        Lady Ga Ga F Akon

Break Your Hea                                  Taio Cruz F Ludacris

Rock That Body                                Black Eyed Peas

Closer                                                Ne-Yo

I Like It                                             Enrique Iglesias F Pitbull

Beautiful                                        Akon F Colby O'donis And Kardinal Offishall

Gettin' Over You                          David Guetta And Chris Willis F Fergie And Lmfao

World Hold On                                    Bob Sinclair

Somebody To Love                            Justin Bieber F Usher

Down                                                  Jay Sean F Lil Wayne

Shake It                                                   Metro Station

Shout                                                     Animal House Soundtrack

Just The Way You Are                            Bruno Mars

Because Of You                                        Ne-Yo F Kanye West

Teenage Dream                                      Katy Perry

One More Time                                      Daft Punk

Like A G6                                           Far East Movement F Cataracs And Dev

California Gurls                                    Katy Perry F Snoop Dogg

Only Girl (In The World)                        Rihanna

Evacuate The Dancefloor                        Cascada

Club Can't Handle Me                              Flo Rida F David Guetta

Dashboard                                                 Modest Mouse

At Last                                                        Etta James

You will notice a few interesting things about this wedding dj setlist.  If you are a DJ, you will ssee how close many of these songs are in BPM. Yes, I beat mixed all night long!  Man, it was fun!  Hey, again, it is what they wanted!  If you are a professional disc jockey or even an amateur, this is a great dj playlist for you to refer to if you plan on mixing (or practicing your mixing).  This was the best wedding playlist for my clients, Daniel and Lisa.  Most couples will be specific about their special dance songs, like the father daughter wedding songs and the mother son wedding songs, but for open dancing, they are usually "open."  Not this time.  Every one of these songs were on their list they gave me.  I made it work by doing the homework and setting it up to have the best mix possible.  Hope you likey!

Wedding Playlist 2011 Wedding DJ Playlist For Rap & Top 40!

Here we go!  I just worked a "younger crowd" last night, and here is their top 40 wedding playlist and if you are into rap and top 40, this will be the wedding dj playlist for you.  The reason why I label this as a wedding playlist 2011 is because a lot of these songs will be used for many, many months to come. You will see some that are more wedding music and some that are more for the club.  Many of these tracks will not work for some wedding playlists due to the fact that they lean heavily on the hip hop.  Yes, they are not REALLY "wedding songs" that would work for your father daughter wedding songs, lol, but this is more for the late night, let's party and dance part of the wedding!

Some of these are borrowed from wedding playlists 2010 that I have used all year.  Many will have your wedding dj looking at you sideways!  A club disc jockey may have used many of these, but when it comes to doing your wedding planning, add these songs carefully.  Enjoy!

All I Do Is Win -- Dj Khaled F T Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg And Rick Ross
Love In This Club -- Usher F Young Jeezy


If you want love songs, this is probably the only one that comes close!

Young Forever -- Jay -- Z F Mr. Hudson
How Low (Adult) -- Ludacris F Shawnna
Watcha Say -- Jason Derulo
Bedrock (Adult) -- Young Money F Lloyd
Kiss Me Thru The Phone -- Soulja Boy Tell'em F Sammie
Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It -- Dem Franchize Boyz

By the way, this wedding playlist is basically in the order that I played them.  i was having a good time beat matching to keep the wedding reception feeling more like a club atmosphere.  Not a lot of announcements and such. 

Memories -- David Guetta F Kid Cudi
Sugar -- Flo Rida F Wynter
I Like It -- Enrique Iglesias F Pitbull
Gimme That -- Chris Brown F Lil Wayne
Drop It Low -- Ester Dean F Chris Brown
My Chick Bad (Adult) -- Ludacris F Nicki Minaj
Not Afraid (Adult) -- Eminem
Like A G6 -- Far East Movement F Cataracs And Dev
We No Speak Americano -- Yolanda Be Cool And Dcup
Shake My (Adult) -- Three 6 Mafia F Kalenna
You're A Jerk -- New Boyz
Outta Your Mind (Adult) -- Lil Jon F Lmfao
Tik Tok -- Ke$Ha
Sexy Chick -- David Guetta F Akon
Pro Nails -- Caspa & Rusko
Roll -- Flo Rida Ft Sean Kingston
Crank That(Clean Edit) -- Soulja Boy

This was about the time they wanted to do a little group dance so I threw on the Soulja Boy song, which is definitely a throw back to the wedding playlist 2010.  

No Love -- Eminem F Lil Wayne
You Belong With Me -- Taylor Swift
Billie Jean -- Michael Jackson
Journey With Jean -- Dj Sizzahandz
Girls On The Dance Floor (Adult) -- Far East Movement F 24 8
Shots (Adult) -- Lmfao F Lil Jon
Time (The Dirty Bit) (Radio Edit) -- Black Eyed Peas

The above song is basically a remake of I've Had The Time Of MY Life from Dirty Dancing, which is one of those big time wedding reception songs, found on just about every wedding dj setlist and it desperately needed to be redone!

Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor) -- Pitbull F T -- Pain
Magic -- B.O.B. F Rivers Cuomo

The above song sounds like something from an 80s alternative playlist.  It's mega-upbeat and bouncy.

Teach Me How To Jerk -- Audio Push
Signs (Clean) -- Snoop Dogg F C Wilson & J Timberlake
Get It Shawty -- Lloyd
Teach Me How To Dougie -- Cali Swag District F B.O.B. And Sean Kingston
Hot Tottie -- Usher F Jay -- Z
Ice Cream Paint Job -- Dorrough Music
Eenie Meenie -- Sean Kingston And Justin Bieber
Dynamite -- Taio Cruz
Last Night -- Diddy F Keyshia Cole, Yung Joc, Game, Big Boi & Rich Boy
A Milli (Adult) -- Lil Wayne
Mr. Postman -- Lil Wayne
Pop, Lock & Drop It -- Huey
Pro Nails -- Caspa & Rusko

Dub Step is the latest trend for the youngsters out there.  These are your down beat hip hop songs that work well for dancing (avoid using these for mother son wedding songs) but you should make sure you have guests who will dance to it.

Forget You -- Cee Lo Green
Black And Yellow -- Wiz Khalifa
Bulletproof (Adult) -- Raheem Devaughn F Ludacris
Birthday Sex (Super Clean Uptempo) (Adult) -- Jeremih
Gettin' Over You -- David Guetta And Chris Willis F Fergie And Lmfao
Omg -- Usher F Will.I.Am
Down -- Jay Sean F Lil Wayne
Dj Got Us Fallin' In Love -- Usher F Pitbull
Girls On The Dance Floor (Adult) -- Far East Movement F 24 8
We No Speak Americano -- Yolanda Be Cool And Dcup
Check It Out -- Will.I.Am And Nicki Minaj
Bottoms Up -- Trey Songz F Nicki Minaj
What You Know -- T.I.
Whip My Hair -- Willow Smith F Nicki Minaj

Lollipop -- Lil Wayne F Static Major


This dj playlist is going to be the best wedding playlist for a younger crowd.  Choose a few that you feel will fit with your idea of dance music.  Many of these can be converted into wedding entrance songs if you wish.  Like I said, this is the best dj playlist for wedding of the younger ilk and for a 2011 wedding dj playlist! Two weddings this weekend, highlights to come!

Can Your Wedding Playlist Ruin Your Wedding?

It's important when working on your wedding playlist that your wedding songs selections aren't all the same style, sleepy time tunes, only love songs, and not a big enough variety. The question is, can your wedding dj playlist ruin your wedding reception?

The short answer is yes.  If your wedding dj plays only wedding playlist 2010 songs then anyone who does not enjoy this genre will get bored and leave the wedding reception.  As I always state, wedding playlists need to have a wide variety of  wedding music pulled from the 80s alternative playlist, the romantic wedding playlist, and of course, top 40 wedding playlist songs and more.

When doing your wedding planning with your disc jockey you shouldn't just focus on the big songs, like the father daughter wedding songs and your mother son wedding songs.  


Here are some videos that talk about the top 10 reception issues most couples don't consider when planning their wedding. These have less to do with your wedding reception songs, and more to do with some basic wedding issues.  These are the first two. I'll post more as they are released!

The first video talks about bar location. It's amazing how such a little thing can have such a big impact!

WEDDING RECEPTION WRECKER #1

The second video talks about your photographer can negatively impact your party!

WEDDING RECEPTION WRECKER #2

This advice is so simple to apply yet so NOT considered when you're doing your wedding planning! Future videos talk about how a bad wedding dj setlist can destroy your reception in about 30 minutes! You'll have to keep tuning in, though, to see all ten!

I had two weddings this past weekend, so those of you looking for wedding playlists 2010 songs, I'll be posting those over the weekend...or early next week.  The dj playlist for both were very similar, but very specific...you'll see.