Choosing our first song
by Alan Smithson - Star Productions

If you are like most of my clients, this is your first wedding.  If not, then you will already know how difficult choosing a first song can be.  When you and your fiancé decided to get married, who knew how much fun and work planning a wedding would be.  Before the advent of the Internet, people had to resort to the “Yellow Pages” and “Friends’ referrals” to find that perfect bouquet or that perfect photographer.  The same applied to finding a disc jockey (DJ).  The role of a disc jockey is to provide music that creates a comfortable setting so you and your guests can relax, talk and of course dance the night away.  A good DJ will know his/her music well enough to judge the crowd, and should be able to keep the volume at a comfortable level for all (yes, that means grandma and grandpa sitting at the back too!).  Many times the party will get underway and the DJ may not realize that the volume has increased.  With experience, this will not happen.

Now that you have chosen a DJ, you must undergo the daunting task of selecting a first song for you and your fiancee to dance to in front of your friends and family.  For some people, this decision is simple, the first song you danced to in high school, or a special song that came on when you were parked overlooking the bluffs.  For most people, this is not the case.  This is where your DJ comes in.  When booking your DJ, they should ask questions such as: How many people are attending your wedding? What is the age range? What type of music do YOU like? What is your first song, second song, third song? Do I get dinner? (Just kidding!!)

Your DJ will be able to provide you with a list of songs he/she has used for weddings in the past.  The choice is ultimately up to you.  Try to choose a song that you both like (that really helps!) and that is special in some way to the both of you. Don’t be shy to ask the DJ to listen to any of the songs on the list to get a feel for them. If he/she declines this simple request, you might consider another company. Always ask who the DJ at your wedding is going to be…sometimes you can get summer students with less than substantial experience, and if this is the case ask for a discount (and tip the student if they are good!)

Below is a list of common first songs to choose from, but by no means take it as the definitive guide.  You and your fiancee and very individual and unique, and you should have a song that reflects yourselves and your tastes.  If you like Metallica, and want “One” as your wedding song, you should have it (I don’t recommend it though).  Good Luck with your wedding planning and remember all those before you who were not so fortunate to have the Internet to help them.

Alan Smithson - Star Productions