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Your groom may not love the idea of a whole Sex and the City-themed wedding, but I’m sure you can sneak in a few songs from the show.
In honor of Sex and The City 2, here is a playlist of some favorite wedding-appropriate songs from the show.
Are any of these songs making your “Must Play List?”
Click here to start planning you wedding reception entertainment.
Everyone wants their wedding ceremony to be unique and different, but how much variety can you have with your choice of decorations? The possibilities really are endless!! Here is a perfect example from a recent wedding we photographed. Kelly and David definitely went unique with their ceremony decorations.
Check out these pictures:
This isn’t the bridal party. Keep watching…
Here are the girls, standing at the end of each aisle.
Watching Kelly, the bride, coming up the aisle.
These are the most unique pew decorations I’ve ever seen: dancers dressed a pixies. Brilliant.
Need to capture your wedding decorations?
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Years of experience as a wedding entertainer have taught me a few tricks that can make your dance floor vibrate with the celebratory beat of numerous feet. Following these easy tips can make a big difference in the success of your dance party.
1. Rent a smaller dance floor. A huge dance floor can appear empty, even when a nice-sized crowd is jamming on the floorboards. Smaller dance floors look full faster, ramping up the energy level in the room and giving shy guests the courage they need to join the fun. Rental companies may insist that you need 2.5 square feet per person for your dance floor. Instead, rent a floor that’s 25 percent smaller than the suggested formula. If people want to dance, they’ll do so whether there’s space on the official floor or not. Leave plenty of room around the perimeter, (free of tables and chairs), for additional dancers. 
2. Turn the lights down low. A dimly-lit dance area works best. Keep in mind that daylight lasts as late as 10:00 p.m. in the summer months. If the hall’s windows face west, make sure there are shades you can drop or blinds you can close to keep out the last rays of light. Keep an eye on your photographer, who will try to brighten the dance area for picture-taking, and delegate someone to keep a hand on the light switch.
3. Say no to videographers that require “spotlights” on the dance floor. There’s nothing like the sudden glare of a spotlight to make camera-shy guests scurry from the dance floor. New high definition (HD) cameras allow videographers to avoid the use of harsh lights and capture dancers on tape much more unobtrusively. Be sure to ask around and find a videographer that uses HD.
4. Keep the hall doors closed. Busy hallways can be distractions for your guests. Redirect their attention to the dance floor by closing doors that lead to gathering areas outside the room.
5. Locate the bar inside the room, if at all possible. After dinner, the dance area is the focal point for your party. Guests leaving the room for drinks can’t hear the music and won’t be able to dance if their requested songs are played. Placing the bar in the room keeps guests within listening range and able to respond to their favorite songs on the dance floor.
6. Play requests. People like to hear familiar music and dance to their favorite songs. The more your DJ honors song requests, the more likely your dance floor will be filled. Ask him to leave plenty of room in his music schedule for their requests.
7. Keep “do not play” lists to a minimum. You may have a lengthy list of songs you don’t want to hear, but those may be the tunes people are waiting to dance to. Allow your DJ to play the songs that will bring people to their feet, and you and your guests will enjoy a livelier party.
8. Limit your “must play” list, and include most of your requests on a “try to play” list. It’s thrilling to hear lots of your favorite songs at your party, but playing too many takes time away from familiar and requested songs that others are anticipating. Your DJ can sense the crowd’s mood and decide when a song on your “try to play” list will match the feeling. Generously share your music time with your guests, and watch them respond in kind on your dance floor.
9. Put the DJ right next to the dance floor, not in a corner or out of the way. In order to do his job well, your DJ must be located where the party action is, not separated from the dance floor by tables, walls or other barriers. You and your guests need easy access to him for announcements and song requests, and he needs a direct line of sight to read cues from the crowd.
10. Hire a Great DJ, and then trust him. Each party has its own personality. Some guests may pack the dance floor right away; others may need a little more time to warm up. An experienced wedding DJ has played to every type of audience and knows what works. Give him time to perform his music magic, and you are sure to be enchanted by the results.
11. Get out on the dance floor and DANCE! Your friends and family want to see you have a fantastic time and will take their cues from you. If you and your groom are enjoying yourselves on the dance floor, your guests will want to be there, too!!
Want a DJ that will keep you and your guests dancing all night?
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As a DJ company, we are always looking for great wedding songs. Today I was driving, and this song came on: “When God Made You” by Newsong and Natalie Grant. I couldn’t think of a better song to be played at a wedding. Check out the video…
The lyrics are really powerful:
Oh I wonder what God was thinking,when he created you.
I wonder if He knew everything I would need,
Because he made all my dreams come true.
When God made you, He must have been thinking about me.
Those lyrics sound like true love to me. Include this song in your ceremony, maybe during the lighting of the unity candle, or have it be the tune to your first dance as a couple.
Looking for more wedding music?
Click here for a complete list of great wedding songs with music clips.
Want to start planning your wedding music?
Click here for a free consultation.
What songs did you use at your wedding? Comment below…
Recently magazines have been taking note of our DJ services. Michigan Meeting and Event and Brides.com:Michigan Magazine have looked to the expertise of DJ and Chief Operations Officer Kurt Colone.
Brides.com’s seasonal print publication featured Kurt’s wedding music taste in an article titled, “Refresh Your Playlist.” Kurt suggested updated songs for traditional dances. Guaranteed to evoke awes and get people dancing without any of the eye rolling from the “Cha-Cha Slide.”
After taking the prize in the “Best of 2009″ for Entertainment in Michigan Meeting and Event (!!!) editor, Cathleen Hagan, gave extra kudos to Kurt saying, “He’s a great example of the quality service, talent and ability available through Mike Staff Production and how their expertise can take your event to the next level.” Wow, thanks Cathleen… and even more thanks to Kurt!!
Want a press worthy DJ?
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There is no arguing the fact that as a bride or a groom planning your wedding, it is your wedding. Your likes and dislikes should be represented as such. But if you’re a hard core KORN groupie and your guests are symphony fans … or if you prefer techno mixes and your guests prefer Motown… you might have an issue.
Should you sacrifice your passion for beat-mixing on the day of your wedding? Absolutely not! But incorporating popular song genres to appease your guests is simply good host/hostess behavior. While you can’t please everyone, you do want to make sure people have a great time at your wedding reception.
There are two keys to success in making sure that everyone gets to listen to their favorite jams … and they go hand in hand. One is balance, not sacrifice. The second … to help you with that balance … is your professional DJ. Professional DJs will want to talk to you about your song preferences well before the event. It is during this conversation where you can proclaim your passion for slam mixes, and your DJ will suggest a beautiful way to blend club songs and “My Girl”.
Use your DJ as the reference because he is the expert. He will be able to balance the evening with songs and genres that everyone can appreciate. Whether it is The Temptations for dinner or Sean Paul for dessert, your professional DJ will make sure each guest, and the bride and groom, leaves satisfied.
Contact Mike Staff Productions for a FREE consultation to learn how you can perfectly blend many different styles and genres of music together at your wedding reception.
Our DJs, photographers and videographers were able to spend time with some amazing people this weekend. Congratulations to all of the wonderful couples who allowed us to be a part of their families for a day. Here are some highlights from the weekend…
Two of our couples this weekend put on international, multicultural affairs. Modeled after a traditional Indian ceremony, one couple’s affair lasted 2 days to include Indian dances … performed by the bride’s family … and the bride herself. The event continued not to disappoint with 2 opera performances by the groom’s aunt who sang for guests during a portion of the first day and during the processional on the second day. The night continued with a traditional Indian buffet, an ice sculpture and a special song rewritten by the bride for her groom. The event concluded with every one joining on the dance floor to celebrate the couple. Awesome!
The other multicultural event that took place over the weekend represented the love of a Jewish bride and an Italian groom. They paid respect to several ethnicities, and ages … which included a performance by the La Corda Ensemble during cocktail hour. The couple and their 220 guests did the Hora, watched the blessing of the Challah, listened to toasts over sorbet and watched a slide show of the couple. The icing on the cake included an homage to the couple’s alma mater … Michigan State. They sang the MSU fight song, and welcomed an actual MSU cheerleader. The guests enjoyed the party, and all danced the night away.
Mike Staff Productions are experts at ethnic and multi-cultural weddings. Click here for a FREE consultation on how we can help make your wedding great.
We all know the saying “You can’t please everyone”! While that may be true, these types of guest criticisms are easily avoided by careful planning — and addressing them now will make everyone’s memories of your wedding day so much nicer.
1. The music was TOO LOUD. Hire a great DJ who is experienced and focused on creating a fantastic overall experience for you and your guests. Other suggestions to avoid this common complaint: Move tables and chairs away from speakers and seat older guests further from the sound equipment.
2. The DJ was obnoxious or played lousy music. Find the best wedding DJ available using recommendations from other brides and the advice of wedding industry professionals.
3. Speeches were TOO LONG and we couldn’t decipher the words. Keep speeches under five minutes. Ideally, they should last between two and five minutes. A great DJ will spend a few moments with each person making a toast or speech, teaching him or her how to correctly operate and speak into the microphone. He will also use a high quality microphone!
4. We didn’t know anyone at our table. Take the time to carefully plan your seating arrangement, placing guests at tables with others they know. They don’t have to be fast friends, just acquaintances or people with some kind of connection. Try to seat out-of-town guests, who aren’t likely to know anyone, with others having similar interests.
5. I resented paying a dollar to dance with the bride. Unless it’s a long-standing family tradition, and you will offend someone if you break the ritual, the dollar dance is best forgotten.
6. We stood forever in the receiving line. The bride & groom, and their parents are the only required greeters. Better yet, couples should instead consider visiting individual tables during or immediately following dinner. (See #10 below)
7. We had too much time to “kill” between the ceremony and reception. Out-of-town guests are often at a loss for ways to fill the time between a two o’clock wedding and a six o’clock reception. Try to keep the down time to a minimum. When it isn’t possible to hold the events within an hour or so of each other, ask the hall if it will open its doors early for your visiting guests (and ask them if there’s a charge). Other options include asking relatives or close friends to invite them to their home for a light snack, or arranging a hospitality suite for them at their hotel.
8. The centerpiece was so large that I couldn’t see or talk to guests seated across the table. Smaller, shorter arrangements are best. Your centerpiece shouldn’t be the center of attention (or main topic of conversation) at the table.
9. I was offended that I had to pay for drinks. Open bars are the accepted norm. If your budget is tight, offer wine and beer only — or limit drink choices to “call” brands. You can also close the bar during the dinner hour to save on costs.
10. The bride and groom didn’t stop by to say hello. Make the rounds of guest tables at your reception, but don’t spend too much time at each. A quick greeting, thank you or compliment will suffice.
11. I was never thanked for my gift! Share this task with your husband. Divide your list, write your notes at the same time, and make a pact to finish a certain number every night until they are finished. Dangle a carrot in front of your noses. When the last note is FINALLY written, reward yourselves with a special bottle of wine or dinner out. It is customary to mail thank-you notes within three months. You don’t want to wait that long for your carrot anyway, do you?
Want compliments instead of complaints at your wedding reception? Click here for a FREE consultation with Mike Staff Productions.
Got something to add about this subject? Please comment below ….
About the Author
Mike Staff is the owner of Mike Staff Productions, an award winning Wedding DJ Entertainment, Photography and Videography Company located in metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. Mike is also a well known Detroit radio personality, having spent over 14 years on-the-air at one of Detroit’s most popular music stations, 101-FM WRIF.
Mike Staff Productions had a really cool opportunity recently to participate in a new reality TV show called “Wedding Day”, airing nationally on TNT-TV. It is produced by Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice, etc.). Mike Staff Productions DJ’s Kurt Colone & Kevin Joynt joined other local wedding professionals at the historic Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit to give a deserving couple the wedding of their dreams.
Click here to check out the episode
Here are the featured services on the show
You don’t need to be on TV to have the wedding of your dreams. If you would like a free consultation to learn how Mike Staff Productions can help you plan an amazing wedding, click here.
This is FANTASTIC ….
Mike Staff Productions are experts at helping our clients with creative wedding planning ideas. If you would like a FREE consultation to explore some cool ideas for your wedding, click here.
