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
www.djjoesimpson.co.uk
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