DIY DJ’ing my wedding was pretty much a no brainer. My husband and I aren’t big music people, so it was one area of our budget I happily skimped on.
It turns out there are next to zero helpful resources on the Internet for DIY DJ’s who want to avoid playing “The Chicken Dance” and other wedding party classics (cringe). And, most people who DIY DJ do so because of their love of music and so their playlists end up being too personalized to recreate. We spent hours figuring out right blend of songs everyone would like (DIY DJ’ing is not for those who are pressed for time!)
my husband and I during our first dance, photo by Evan McMaster
Here are the ‘lists my husband and I created for our wedding party: Four hours of cocktail hour (more obscure) music, and 3 hours of dancing music (more popular). Where possible, I’ve added links to YouTube.
I hope other DIY DJ brides find this to be a helpful starting point!
I wanted this part of the evening to feel like you had stepped into a bistro playing old 20’s-40’s European music.
These songs would work well for a vintage themed wedding (even though ours wasn’t).
Let The Good Times Roll – Louis Jordan and His Tympany
Tea For Two Foxtrot – Victor Silvester Orchestra
Je suis seul ce soir – Swing 41
Si tu vois ma mere – Sidney Bechet
Ain’t She Sweet – Enoch Light & The Charleston City All Stars
Papa Loves Mambo – Xavier Cugat
La Conga Blicoti – Josephine Baker
Skyliner – Charlie Barnet
Padam Padam – Edith Piaf
One O’Clock Jump – Count Basie & His Orchestra
Take The A Train – Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
L’Accordeoniste – Edith Piaf
Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend – Marilyn Munroe
When The Saints Go Marchin’ In – Louis Armstrong
Ballad du Paris – Francois Parisi
I Feel A Song Coming On – Peggy Lee
Le parc de plaisir – Francois Parisi
La Vie, L’Amour – Edith Piaf
Skylark – Stan Getz
La Dolce Vita – Xavier Cugat
Milord – Edith Piaf
Ciento Lindo – Mills Brothers
Mon Manege a Moi – Edith Piaf
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra
The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
Polichinelle – Edith Piaf
Let’s Get Lost – Chet Baker
I wanted these songs to transition the evening into a fun, party atmosphere.
They were also a good transition between our vintage themed music and our dance party music.
Here Comes Your Man – The Pixies
Choo Choo Ch’Boogie – Louis Jordan
Oh My Heart – Jenn Grant
Be OK – Ingrid Michaelson
Sugar, Sugar – The Archies
Heart Attack – Raphael Saadiq
Love That Girl – Raphael Saadiq
Paradise – Coldplay
Mambo Swing – Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra
All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
Princess of China – Coldplay
I Want Candy – Bow Wow Wow
Jungle Drum – Emiliana Torrini
Roller coaster – Major Maker
Go To Hell – Raphael Saadiq (one of my personal favourites)
Houdini – Foster the People
Sweet Child o’ Mine – Taken by Trees
Ho Hey – The Lumineers
Crazy in Love (Kid Koala Version) – Emeli Sande & The Bryan Ferry Orchestra (Great Gatsby Soundtrack) (another personal favourite)
Over You – Raphael Saadiq
Love Roller coaster – Ohio Players
Alive – Empire of the Sun
Hotel Song – Regina Spektor
It’s Cool to Love Your Family – Feist
Build Me Up – The Foundations
I Can’t Dance – Genesis
Beautiful Day – U2
Staying in Love – Raphael Saadiq
You Really Got Me – The Kinks
I Get Around – The Beach Boys
Do You Believe In Magic? – The Lovin Spoonful
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
Deny, Deny, Deny – Joel Plaskett
How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? – Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
Dancing with Myself – Nouvelle Vague
Dreamgirl – Dave Matthews Band
Seven Days in Sunny June – Jamiroquai
What I’d Say – Ray Charles
I Feel Good – James Brown
These songs have a more sentimental feeling, but that doesn’t mean they are slow or sappy.
We played them before our toasts and first dance.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours – Stevie Wonder
Postcards from Italy – Beirut
Non Je Ne Regrette Rein – Edith Piaf
Marry You – Bruno Mars
This Will Be – Natalie Cole
Sexual Healing – Hot 8 Brass Band – we also played this during our ceremony and it is by far my favourite wedding song ever, hands down, no contest!
Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap – I also walked down the ‘aisle’ to this song because I think it’s so beautiful.
Since we don’t know much about music, this was certainly not an original choice.
Into The Mystic – The Wallflowers (American Pie Wedding Soundtrack)
Again, nothing very original, but lovely nonetheless.
Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
Turn Me On – Norah Jones
We never expected them to, but these songs got everyone on the dance floor.
Even our grandparents!
Jump (For My Love) – Girls Aloud (Love Actually Soundtrack)
Beer Barrel & Wedding Polka – Al Cherney – my mom requested that I play a polka because my grandfather loves to polka. I thought not one else would like it, but the dance floor was packed! I dare you to try a polka at your wedding!
Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams
Bang Bang – will.i.am (Great Gatsby Soundtrack)
Girls (Who Run The World) – Beyonce
Where Have You Been – Rihanna
Get Lucky – Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams
Quimbara – Celia Cruz
Hey Ya! – Outkast
I Love It – Icona Pop
Feel the Love – Rudimental feat. John Newman – a surprise hit! the dance floor was shaking!
Scream & Shout – will.i.am feat. Britney Spears
Wild – Jessie J feat. Big Sean & Dizzee Rascal
Danza Kudro – Don Omar feat. Lucenzo
A Little Party Never Killed Nobody – Fergie, Q-Tip & Goon Rock – a personal favourite of mine
Waiting All Night – Rudimental feat. Ella Eyre
Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton
Champagne Showers – L.M.F.A.O. feat. Natalia Kills
I Need Your Love – Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding
Oh La La – Britney Spears
Sunshowers – M.I.A.
Rise Up – Yves La Rock
Paso – Sak Noel
By this point in the night our DIY DJ station had been hijacked (it’s a risk of DIY DJ’ing!) and these songs hit the dance floor. Turns out, they were even better than our choices to end the night with.
Paradise by the Dashboard Lights – Meatloaf – everyone over the age of 30 loved this one!
Get Low – Flo Rida feat. T Pain – everyone under the age of 30 thought this was hilarious!
Have you DIY DJ’ed your wedding, or a party?
Do you have other good wedding music recommendations?
Do leave them for other readers in the comments below!