Wedding A QUICK GUIDE TO IDEAS & GAMES FOR YOUR...

GETTING STARTED

Congratulations on your

engagement and in setting

the date for the wedding.

This is a quick guide to

answer some of the regular

questions that I receive as a

wedding DJ. More detailed

guides are available.

FACT:

According to Wedding

Ideas Magazine 81% of

people surveyed remember

the entertainment more

than anything else after the

wedding.

For this quick guide I have

assumed that you have

done all the preliminary

tasks of booking a venue,

thought of a budget,

looking at vendors and now

you’re now looking at the

evening party.

TIMINGS

One of the most common questions I receive on the

first meeting is “Can you please advise on timings”

Most timings during the day will be set by the venue so here we’ll

concentrate on the wedding breakfast through to the end of the evening.

5:00pm - Typical time for a wedding breakfast to be

served where if you’re having a 3 course meal allow 90min for service

6:45pm - Speeches in the following order. Father of the bride

goes first, then the groom and then the best man. Additional speeches

should go after the groom.

7:30pm - Cutting of the cake. This is a great photo

opportunity that often gets missed when the cake is placed in the corner

of the room and everyone tightly huddles around. We recommend

bringing the cake into the middle of the dance floor for best results and

memories.

8:00pm - First Dance. This can be enjoyed by yourselves

the whole way through or one of the most common requests is that we

use the microphone to invite your guests onto the dance floor half way

through the song. If you have a First Dance song that you feel is to long

or to short, I can also edit it for you to fit your requirements.

9:00pm - Buffet to be brought out. Cater to approximately 80%

of your guests as some may still be full and evening guests probably had

dinner before departing.

11:30 - Depart (or just after last orders is called)

FUN IDEAS & GAMES

The Shoe Game is made up with 2 chairs for the bride and

groom where they sit back to back but in a position where

both can still see the guests that have joined them for the

day/evening.

First decide on your list of questions, or better yet have your

bridesmaids/family develop the list so that both of you are

completely surprised when you are asked the questions.

At your reception after dinner and a few drinks have been

enjoyed, sit back to back each holding one of your own

shoes and one of your partners shoes.

Then someone asks you both a series of silly questions,

some tongue in cheek questions for those with a dryer sense

of humour. You then raise the shoe of who you think fits the

answer the best and it turns into a hilarious he-said, she-said

kind of thing.

This can also be great for getting guests involved too for all

to enjoy and make a memorable day together.

SHOE GAME

• Whose idea was it to play this game?

• Who said “I love you” first?

• Who is more romantic?

• Who always replaces the toilet paper

roll?

• Who chooses where you eat for dinner?

• Who is the better cook?

• Who made the first move?

• Who is better at keeping secrets?

• Who is more likely to be running late?

• Who is a better dresser?

• Who spends more money?

• Who is a better dancer?

• Who is the most organized?

• Who has the most clothes?

• Who has the most shoes?

• Who spends more time on Facebook?

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• Who spends more time on Instagram?

• Who calls their parents the most?

• Who will be making dinner every night?

• Who will be doing the grocery shopping?

• Who is more likely to get a traffic ticket?

• Who will be doing the laundry?

• Who is the loudest?

• Who planned the honeymoon?

• Who is the better kisser?

• Who looses things the most?

• Who will make the coffee in the

morning?

• Who is better at sports?

• Who watches the most tv?

• Who is more likely to kill a spider?

• Who would mow the lawn?

• Who wants a baby first?

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• Who is the messiest?

• Who remembers family and friends’

birthdays?

• Who will squeeze the toothpaste from

the middle of the tube?

• Who is more picky about where you

live?

• Who will pick your next vacation

spot?

• Who will clean the house?

• Who will use up all the hot water?

• Who always knows what time it is?

• Who will determine the next car you

buy?

• Who has the craziest family?

• And lastly… Who loves the other

more?

SHOE GAME QUESTIONS

FUN IDEAS & GAMES

Simple in its execution, can be hilarious to watch.

The aim of this game is for the bride to be blind folded and

then guided down a line of volunteer guests where her new

husband is also in line.

The volunteers can be changed throughout the game

depending on how many rounds you play together – or even

change around to play Guess The Bride.

The bride has access to just one area of the body such as the

knees and calves shown in the picture (left), where she then

has to try and identify her new husband just from that area

of the body alone.

GUESS THE

GROOM

MORE IDEAS IN MY DETAILED GUIDE

AT WWW.DJJOESIMPSON.CO.UK

Songs for your big day should be personal to you in how they share memories with your partner and

make you smile, maybe even sparks conversations of laughter when it plays with you saying “Do you

remember when this was playing at……..”

But should you want a little inspiration on the way to planning your big day, maybe even a little help from me

personally, then that’s exactly what I’m here for.

From your guests arriving for your ceremony to the very last dance of the wedding reception, find hundreds of

song recommendations for your wedding from DJ Joe Simpson here.

WEDDING MUSIC IDEAS

“Chapel of Love” – The Dixie Cup

“Sugar Honey Iced Tea” – Kelis

“Love on Top” – Beyoncé

“Butterflies” – Michael Jackson

“How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” – James Taylor

“Lovely Day” – Bill Withers (DJ Eleven Remix)

“As” – Stevie Wonder

“Forever” – Chris Brown

“Nothin’ On You” – B.o.B feat Bruno Mars

“Glamorous” – Fergie

“Say A Little Prayer” – Aja (Dionne Warwick cover)

“White Wedding” – Billy Idol

“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper

“What About Your Friends” – TLC

“Candy Girl” – New Edition

“I’m in Love” – Evelyn “Champagne” King

“That’s What Friends Are For” – Dionne Warwick

WEDDING MORNING PLAYLIST

Some couples prefer the traditional tunes of the

“Bridal Chorus,” the prelude to Act III of the

Lohengrin Opera (also known as “Here Comes the

Bride”). Other couples may prefer a song that

symbolizes their love for one another, such as “Kiss

Me” by Ed Sheeran which was our choice when my

wife walked down the isle.

Classical

“Pachelbel’s Canon” – Johann Pachelbel

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op 61” – Boston

Pops Orchestra

“Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III” – Stephen Cleobury

“Romeo and Juliet: Love Theme” – Arthur Fiedler

and Boston Pops Orchestra

Funky

“Best of My Love” – The Emotions

“Love’s Theme” – Love Unlimited Orchestra

“Just My Imagination” – The Temptations

“Isn’t She Lovely” – Stevie Wonder

Soulful

“Ribbon in the Sky” – Stevie Wonder

“All My Life” – K-Ci & JoJo

“At Last” – Etta James

“If This World Were Mine” – Cheryl Lynn and

Luther Vandross

Indie

“First Day of My Life” – Bright Eyes

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Israel

Kamakawiwo’ole

“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” – Vitamin String

Quartet

CEREMONY PROCESSION

You’ve just shared your first kiss a married couple, and the wedding ceremony is over. The excitement is through the roof and you’re both beaming with happiness. Now you’re ready to party!

The big question is what’s the first song you’ll hear together as newly-joined lifelong partners? Get ready, because it’s time to walk it out back down the aisle!

Traditional

“Sonata for Trumpet and Strings” – Peter Hurford

“Trumpet Voluntary” – Wynton Marsalis

“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” – Academy of St. Martin

In the Field

Modern

“In Your Eyes” – Peter Gabriel

“Beautiful Day” – U2

“Just Like Heaven” – String Quartet Tribute to The

Cure

Soulful

“I Got You (I Feel Good)” – James Brown

“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” – Stevie Wonder

“Spend My Life With You” – Eric Benet

Indie

“Hold You in My Arms” – Ray LaMontagne

“Home” – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

“I Was Made For You” – She & Him

CEREMONY RECESSION

“Just My Imagination” – The Temptations

“I Second That Emotion” – Smokey Robinson and

The Miracles

“Luck Be A Lady” – Frank Sinatra

“It’s Love” – Jill Scott

“Kiss Is On My List” – Hall & Oates

“Peg” – Steely Dan

“Better Together” – Jack Johnson

“Outstanding” – The Gap Band

“Yellow” – Coldplay

“Sweetest Thing” – U2

“That’s Where It’s At” – Sam Cooke

“Is This Love” – Bob Marley

“L-O-V-E” – Nat King Cole

“By Your Side” – Sade

“Alright” – Jamiroquai

“I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)”

– Stevie Wonder

“Lost Without U” – Robin Thicke

“Your Song” – Elton John

“Wonderful Tonight” – Eric Clapton

“Lowdown” – Boz Scaggs

“The Very Thought Of You” – Billie Holiday

“That’s How Strong My Love Is” – Otis Redding

“What a Fool Believes” – The Doobie Brothers

“I Know You, I Live You” – Chaka Khan

“You’re All I Need to Get By” – Marvin Gaye

“Cruisin” – D’ Angelo

“You Are the Best Thing” – Ray Lamontagne

“That’s the Way of the World” – Earth Wind & Fire

“Here Comes The Sun” – The Beatles

“Ain’t That A Kick On The Head” – Dean Martin

COCKTAIL HOUR

Entrance songs tend to be that one song that can (and

should) stick out from anything else played during

the evening. Songs work well that pack a big punch,

either from the energy of the music or from the

romantic verbiage in the lyrics. Your entrance song

should be somewhat familiar to your guests, since

it’s typically played for just a limited amount of time.

“Sweet Disposition” – The Temper Trap

“Beautiful Day” – U2

“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” – Queen

“You Make My Dreams Come True” – Hall & Oates

“Show Me Love” – Robin S.

“I Feel Good (I Got You)” – James Brown

“By Your Side” – Sade

“Crazy in Love” – Beyoncé

“Now That We Found Love” – Heavy D

“Pump It” – Black Eyed Peas

“Rock and Roll” – Led Zeppelin

“It Takes Two” – Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

“Without You” – Usher (use the beat part)

“Real Love” – Mary J Blige

“Lust For Life” – Iggy Pop

“I Believe in a Thing Called Love” – The Darkness

“God Only Knows” – The Beach Boys

“Just Can’t Get Enough” – Depeche Mode

RECEPTION ENTRANCE

Classic

“It Had to be You” – Harry Connick Jr.

“At Last” – Etta James

“For Once in My Life” – Stevie Wonder

“Into the Mystic” – Van Morrison

“God Only Knows” – Beach Boys

“In My Life” – Beatles

Fun

“You Can Never Tell” – Chuck Berry

“Por Una Cabeza” (from Scent of a Woman and True

Lies) – Carlos Gardel

“Love Theme” – The Godfather Soundtrack

“Grow Old With You” – Adam Sandler

“Never Gonna Give You Up” – Rick Astley (Rick

Roll your own wedding!)

Indie:

“Hysteric” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

“Heartbeats” – Jose Gonzalez

“The First Day of My Life” – Bright Eyes

THE song choice of the night that should say

everything about you as a couple and your

personalities together. These are just some ideas for

starters but this song should be owned by both of

you.

Romantic

“In Your Eyes” – Peter Gabirel

“Fade Into You” – Mazzy Star

“Falling Slowly” – Glen Hansard and Marketa

Irglova

“The Luckiest” – Ben Folds

Soulful

“I Could Write a Book” – Ella Fitzgerald

“My Baby Just Cares for Me” – Nina Simone

“I Belong to You” – Lenny Kravitz

“I’m Glad You’re Mine” – Al Green

“Fever” – Peggy Lee

FIRST DANCE SONGS

It’s important to pick a song that’s meaningful to you, and sometimes that isn’t a typical love song. So here are some songs to cross off your list when you brainstorm for that special moment.

“Make You Feel My Love” – Adele

This song is about desperation, not necessarily true

love.

“Don’t Stop Believing” – Journey

Although this song makes for a fun sing-along at last

call, it’s really the story of kids in a run down town.

“I Will Always Love You” – Whitney Houston

This was actually written as a breakup song.

“Just The Two Of Us” – Will Smith

This song is not actually about a father and son and

not about a happy couple.

“Always On My Mind ” – Elvis Presley

This song is trying to be sweet by saying that, even

though you were a bum in the actual relationship, you

were always thinking about the other person.

“Beautiful Stranger ” – Madonna

I would hope that you two aren’t strangers anymore.

“Better With The Lights Off” – New Boyz Ft. Chris

Brown

Guys, your bride looks better with the lights off?

FIRST DANCE SONGS TO AVOID

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