Yesterday’s wedding was just plain fun. All the guests were friendly, everyone was happy, and they danced non-stop until it the last song was played, and then some (as you’ll soon learn). I struck up conversations with some very interesting people during the cocktail hour, heard some wonderful toasts, and even got to perform at a venue I’d never before visited– Peacock Gap Golf Club. It’s a beautiful space, and I highly recommend anyone looking for a wedding venue check it out. There’s a large outdoor lawn, as well as several banquet rooms, and it seems like a space that can work for small or large groups.
As for the wedding– the couple were both in their sixties, and many, perhaps most, of the guests were 50+, but that certainly didn’t lead to a lack of energy on the dance floor. If anything, the older guests danced more than the younger ones. There were many extremely elderly guests who amazingly never left the dance floor during the entire night. All in all it was a whole lot of fun.
The wedding itself involved two sound systems, three distinct areas, and can be broken down into five playlists:
Part 1 – The Pre-Ceremony (As Guests Arrive)
Wouldn’t It Be Nice – The Beach Boys
Hey Good Lookin’ – Hank Williams
Islands in the Stream [feat. Dolly Parton] – Kenny Rogers
Room at the Top – Tom Petty
Stand By Me – Ben E. King
At Last – Etta James
Nothing Can Change This Love – Sam Cooke
Love Is All Around – The Troggs
Be Still – The Fray
Part 2 – The Ceremony
Processional
Coloured Clouds Chasing the Moon – Lang Lang
One Hand, One Heart – Westside Story
Love at My Heart – Paul Robeson
Recessional
May This Be Love – Jimi Hendrix
Part 3 – Cocktail Hour
That’s Amore – Dean Martin
I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Dream a Little Dream of Me – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
That’s How Strong My Love Is – Otis Redding
You’ve Got Me For Company – Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Sweet Inspiration – The Sweet Inspirations
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Too Much – Sampha
Chainsmoking – Jacob Banks
Seigfried – Frank Ocean
How it Feels to Fly – Alicia Keys
Halo – Beyoncé
Diamonds and Pearls – Prince and The New Power Generation
Workin’ Together – Ike and Tina Turner
Part 4 – Dinner
Lebanese Blonde (Instrumental Mix) – Thievery Corporation
Jungalero – Les Baxter
Best Day of My Life – American Authors
I’ve Just Seen a Face – The Beatles
A Century of Elvis – Belle & Sebastian
The Girl From Ipanema – Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto
If I Could Build My Whole World Around You – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Minnesota, WI – Bon Iver
Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
Just Like Honey – The Jesus and Mary Chain
Heartbeats – José González
We’re Going to Be Friends – The White Stripes
The Only Place – Best Coast
Today Is The Day – Yo La Tengo
Change the World – Eric Clapton
Is This Love – Bob Marley & The Wailers
Nothing But Our Love – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
How Sweet It Is – Marvin Gaye
Picture In a Frame – Tom Waits
Amor Fati – Washed Out
Kelly Watch the Stars – Air
Part 5 – Dancing
Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
ABC – The Jackson Five
Respect – Aretha Franklin
I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
Kiss – Prince and the Revolution
Umbrella – Rihanna
Despacito [feat. Daddy Yankee] – Luis Fonsi
No One – Alicia Keys
Ms. Fat Booty – Mos Def
Nastradamus – Nas
…Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) – The Backstreet Boys
Electric Feel – MGMT
I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
Dancing With Myself – Billy Idol
Take On Me – a-ha
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
Vogue – Madonna
I’m Too Sexy – Right Said Fred
I Love It [feat. Charli XCX] – Icona Pop
#Selfie – The Chainsmokers
September – Earth Wind & Fire
You Should Be Dancing – Bee Gees
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Crazy in Love [feat. Jay-Z] – Beyoncé
Twist and Shout – The Beatles
Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley
Twistin’ the Night Away – Sam Cooke
Baby Love – Diana Ross & The Supremes
Good Thing – Fine Young Cannibals
Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor
Sea of Love – Phil Phillips with the Twilights
Into the Mystic – Van Morrison
These Arms of Mine – Otis Redding
Beast of Burden – The Rolling Stones
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
The Next Episode – Dr. Dre
Hypnotize – Notorious B.I.G.
I Get Around – 2Pac
I’m Different – 2 Chainz
Thizzelle Dance [feat. Chuck Beez] – Mac Dre
Turn Down For What – DJ Snake & Lil Jon
I’ve Got the World on a String – Frank Sinatra
In theory, Frank Sinatra was meant to be the last song, but the dance floor was still full, and the guests began chanting and demanding more music. A few of them began chanting “last dance last dance,” so I did what any self-respecting DJ would do. I played
Last Dance – Donna Summer
And that was it, the for real last dance. Or was it? A guest slipped me a hundred-dollar bill and asked if I could possibly find a way to end the night with a Stevie Wonder song. You bet I can!
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
And that was the for real, for real, final dance of the night at a wonderful, wonderful wedding.