The 25 songs you have to hear at your wedding

For many couples researching their wedding music playlist, it’s a daily routine of polling friends, scribbling down songs heard on the radio or running the Shazam app while in Starbucks. How do they ensure their playlist isn’t the same old, tired wedding music?

My colleague John Sinclair of Aria Melody DJ in Hoboken lists his favorite 25 unique songs, compiled from client playlists, commercials, movies, his own iTunes library and of course running his Shazam app while in Starbucks. “Many guests go to several weddings a year.  I’ve been invited to four this year alone,” says Sinclair, “It’s a great idea to come up with a playlist unique to you as a couple and offer your friends’ and family’s ears something different and guaranteed to keep them dancing.”

Dinner/Cocktail Hour:

The Littlest Birds – The Do Good Tanyas

Better Than Love – Griffin House

Neopolitan Dreams – Lisa Mitchell

Just Like Heaven – Katie Melua

Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap

Bim Bam Baby – Frank Sinatra

Gotta Have You – The Weepies

Today – Joshua Radin

Your Love is a Song – Switchfoot

The Book of Love – Peter Gabriel

Us – Regina Spektor

Nightswimming – REM

Dreamgirl – Dave Matthews Band

Dancing:

Skokiaan (South African Song) – Louis Armstrong

Jump In the Line – Harry Belafonte

Get Ready – Temptations

Give It Up (Pt. 2) – Marvin Gaye

Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) – The Jacksons

Get Up Off That Thing – James Brown

A Little Respect – Erasure

(I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles – The Proclaimers

Shoop – Salt-N-Pepa

La Vida Es Un Carnaval – Celia Cruz

Shut It Down – Pitbull featuring Akon

When Love Takes Over – David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland