A Step Above the Same Old!

Thank you so much for nominating Something New Entertainment as one of the Akron Beacon Journal's "Beacon's Best!"

Thanks to you, we are again competing within the Weddings section for Best DJ Company.  If you would like to show your support of Something New Entertainment by voting for us, simply visit the Beacon's Best voting page within OhioVerticals.com.  You will need to complete a brief registration process which asks exactly three questions -- your name, e-mail address, and chosen password.

You can vote as often as once every 24 hours until September 3, 2010.  If you would like to begin voting early and often, please subscribe to our Vote Something New Entertainment for Beacon's Best DJ Facebook group to receive reminders.  And, hey -- while you're there -- why not become a fan of Something New Entertainment, too?

Want to help us campaign?  If so, please pass this information on to your friends and family!  We appreciate your help and love!  You know we think you're pretty darn great, too!

The New Mr. and Mrs. Mark and Heather Padgett share a slow dance with friends and family Photos by Callie Mercury and Travis Bukach of 831 Photography (limited photos by DJ AJ9)

On Saturday, May 29, 2010, DJ Justin, MC Squared, and I (DJ AJ9) had the pleasure of providing wedding ceremony music and sound support, as well as wedding reception disc jockey and master of ceremonies services for the wedding and wedding reception of Heather and Mark held at Happy Days Lodge located at 500 West Streetsboro Road (Rt 303), in Peninsula, Ohio, a beautiful rustic venue that is part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  The event was photographed by Callie Mercury and Travis Bukach from 831 Photography.

Heather's "so her" cowgirl boots Photo by 831 Photography

The bride wore a gorgeous sleeveless V-neck sheath gown with an embellished lace overlay by Emerald Coutouriers (style number 8118), as well as -- fulfilling what seems to be becoming a Something New Bride theme -- fabulous footwear that very much fit her individual spirit (see photo).  The bridesmaids wore J. Crew's  "Gracen", a short, strapless silk taffeta dress, in the color "spiced wine." The wedding ceremony was held on the Lodge's lovely screened-in porch area and was officiated by Pastor Joe Cameneti of Believers Christian Fellowship. Also true to a Something New Bride's style, Heather had some very specific and innovative ideas about music for the ceremony.  Preludes included A River Flows In You by Yiruma, the song originally rumored to be the first choice for "Bella's Lullaby" in twilight, as well as The Rain by Shane Walsh, and instrumental versions of Franz Schubert's Ave Maria as played by the O'Neill Brothers, and I Will be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman.  The parents were seated to an instrumental version of The Wedding Song by Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul, and Mary.  Many of these songs were chosen by the bride from a compilation CD called A Day to Remember by the O'Neill Brothers.  It seemed like this CD was a particularly great resource for Heather as we discussed a play list that would bring in some more "traditional" music in to the very eclectic mix for the wedding ceremony and seating.

The Unity Candle & Family Candles decorated by the bride, herself! Photo by 831 Photography

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The couple chose Enya's Silver Inches for the processional of the bridal party and Enya's A Day Without Rain for the procession of the bride escorted by her father.  The ceremony included a unity candle lighting ceremony using a unity candle decorated by the bride, herself. Heather had hand crafted so many special little accents; it was very obvious that she had put quite a lot of effort into these beautiful homespun decorations over an extended period of time.  They looked great – like stuff you see in Magazines like Martha Stewart Weddings or Today's Bride.  Heather’s the sort of kind and modest person who would never toot her own horn, so to speak, so it’s very important to me that I brag on her.  You worked hard, Heather, and I want to make sure everyone knows what a great job you did!!! Heather paid attention to little details from the very beginning of her guest's experience to make them feel truly at home at Happy Day's Lodge.  On their way driving in, guests were encouraged along the long driveway with chalk signs declaring "Almost there" and "You made it!" before being greeted in the foyer with a cheerful arrangement of family photos.  Click below to enlarge for more detail!

"Almost there!" 831 Photography

Hand-crafted "You made it!" sign Photo by 831 Photography

Clothes lines full of family photos Photo by 831 Photography

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Wishes on the wish tree. 831 Photography

Parchment programs and calico aisle "pomanders" Photo by 831 Photography

The more "traditional" guest book was paired with a "Wish Tree"  (shown at left) hung with blank tags that guests could write a special wish for the couple upon before returning it to a branch on the tree. In addition to the previously-shown Unity Candle setup above, Heather's works for the ceremony also included the calico pomanders that decorated the aisle as well as the ceremony programs (shown at right).

A very "welcoming" clothes-pinned escort card rack made out of old shutters (shown below) directed guests to their seats in style, to tables where Heather had designed the centerpieces of galvanized steel buckets filled with seasonal wildflowers, herself, as well as chalkboard table names (in lieu of table numbers) of places and things close to the couple's hearts -- including "Ford," "Candy Apple," "Country Living," "Cowboy," "Ft. Lauderdale," and (of course!) "Happy Days Lodge" -- and more than a hundred little copper bells tied with twine for guests who wished to inspire the bride and groom to kiss.

"Welcome" escort cards rack made from shutters. Photo by 831 Photography

Cake by Michael Angelo's Bakery atop a tree slice Photo by 831 Photography

The look of the wedding reception was equally warm and unassuming.  Decor included Mason jars, a big round slab of tree trunk (shown above) where a gilded silver cake plateau just didn't fit in, simple, natural browns, wines, and greens, instead of jeweltones or pastels.  Hand-tied bouquets and other bridal party flowers were provided by Art N Flowers Florist in Garrettsville.  Butter for the bread was even served on fresh little green leaves by Robert J. Catering.

The bride and groom rejoin the party in style Bouquet by Art N Flowers Florist, Garrettsville Photo by 831 Photography

DJ Justin announces members of the bridal party & the happy couple as they make their entrance. Photo by 831 Photography

The parents and bridal party made a VERY grand entrance to a custom mix of several songs, before the bride and groom returned in style to Electric Feel by MGMT.  Both the best man and maid of honor made very moving toasts before we heard a few words from the father of the groom and a blessing for the meal was given by the father of the bride.

"Newlywed Special" chalkboard menu for BBQ buffet Photo by 831 Photography

The couple cuts their Michael Angelo's cake Photo by 831 Photography

Robert J. Catering staged a country bar-be-que fit for a king (and queen -- or maybe just a sweet Northeast Ohio couple who wanted a simple country feel for their wedding!).  The buffet included fire-grilled bar-be-que chicken, salad, green beans amandine, yams, and more. The food was prepared fresh and with a flair right on-site; Robert J. brought in a HUGE bar-be-que grill and cooked just outside the screened-in porch. After dinner, Heather and Mark cut their cake, a towering raspberry-filled confection by Michael Angelo's Bakery, before feeding it to each other very sweetly without even a hint of smash.  It was "Aww" inspiring.

The traditional first dance as husband & wife Photo by 831 Photography

The traditional first dance as husband & wife Photo by 831 Photography

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The bride and groom shared their traditional first dance as husband and wife to Green Eyes by Coldplay, (a song that became special to the couple because of Heather's green eyes) followed by the Father-Daughter Dance to Have I Told You Lately? by Rod Stewart (Heather chose this song because her father always says this to her "have I told you lately that I love you?"), and then the Mother-Son dance to The Man You've Become by Molly Pastutti chosen by Mark's mother.

Check out some of the other fun times we had later in the evening in the photos below!

A fun shot of the Couple's Grand Entrance Photo by 831 Photography.

Father-Daughter Dance "Have I Told You Lately?" Photo by 831 Photography.

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Photo by 831 Photography.

Photo by 831 Photography.

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Photo by 831 Photography.

Photo by 831 Photography.

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Something New Entertainment video testimonial

Wedding Date: May 29th 2010

Location: Happy Days Lodge, Peninsula, OH

Getting down at the Lutheran High School East Prom on the Goodtime III

Last weekend, we had the honor and privilege of providing disc jockey and master of ceremonies services for this important rite of passage on the Goodtime III with the small but spirited classes of 2010 and 2011 from Lutheran High School East in Cleveland.  One of our favorite parts about DJing at proms is being able to interact with the crowd.  More than any other type of casual party or dance, proms carry a very upbeat energy, and it's great to be able to be around so much enthusiasm!

A couple dancing at the Lutheran High School East Prom on the Goodtime III

More dancing and fun times at the Lutheran High School East Prom on the Goodtime III

Despite the classes' small size (there were maybe 40 people in attendance), they clearly came out to have a great time.  Once the students finished dinner, it wasn't long before absolutely everyone was on the dance floor, and we had quite a few really, really good dancers in the bunch, too!  It's rewarding to DJ for people who love to dance, and it really seemed like they were enjoying it, too!  There was a lot of feet stomping, hands clapping, and laughter, and the Lutheran High School East students were even briefly joined on the upper deck by some of the students from the Jackson High School Band Banquet on the lower deck.  It was cool for the kids from two different schools to be able to dance with each other for a few minutes.  That's why you'll see a glimpse of a few casually-dressed students in some of these photos like in the left of the right-hand photo, above!

One of the many very well-coordinated couples at the Lutheran High East Prom on the Goodtime III

But, wait; I need to tell you something really, really important about this prom, and Lutheran High School East classes of 2010 and 2011, I hope you're reading this:

Every.   Single.  One.  Of these young adults was absolutely dressed to the nines with both flowers and a date to match!  I have never seen prom couples be so well-coordinated!  This prom looked like it fell out of a prom catalog, walked of the runway, or jumped off the pages of Seventeen magazine -- they definitely deserved a magazine spread or two of their own!  As I said before, Lutheran High East, you may have been one of the smallest proms we've served, but you were also one of the very best-dressed, hands down!  They truly lived up to their theme, "Black Tie Affair."

The ladies all looked very elegant.  Many of their dresses were made of fine gauge bias-cut satin and had beading , sequins, pleats or other special detailing, and many of them were backless or had interesting cut-outs, as well, featuring interesting asymmetrical shapes at the neckline, hemline, or waist.  These young ladies are clearly style-setters, so I wouldn't be surprised if the fashions for the rest of the proms we see this season follow suit with the colorful and glamorous evening gowns we saw this past weekend.

One of the many well-coordinated couples at the Lutheran High School East Prom on the Goodtime III

At Something New DJs, we're all about uniquely expressing your individuality through music, and it was clear to us that these ladies had spent time carefully choosing the special dress that best suited her.  All of the dresses were so very different, but so very beautiful, just like each of you young ladies!

Likewise, the gentlemen were all very dapper in their tuxedos and suits, and, like the ladies, it was clear that each young man had put some considerable effort into looking good that evening as himself, not just as some anonymous guy in a suit.  No one wore the "standard" black on black tuxedo -- each one was unique and fabulous, and like the ladies' dresses, displayed lots of cool colors and textures.  There were even several white tuxedos with and without tails!  I was really impressed with their attention to detail and level of fashion.

Really, I just can't imagine how proud the families of these students must be to see their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, or grandchildren looking so fantastic and so mature.  The world is your oyster, now, baby!  On behalf of Something New Entertainment, we wish you the very best and brightest futures, and congratulations on your upcoming commencement!  You were a joy to work with!

DJ Justin taking requests at the system

The students enjoyed dancing well into the evening with DJ/MC Justin taking their requests.  He mixed a very upbeat mix of mostly newer hip-hop with an urban flair including "Dream World" by Robin Thicke, "Next to You" by Mike Jones, "Never Ever" by Ciara featuring Young Jeezy, "No Games" by Serani, "Dream Girl" by Tay Dizm featuring Akon, "Find a Way" by Bayje, "Therapy" by India Arie featuring Gramps Morgan, "From My Heart to Yours" by Laura Izibor, "Halo" by Beyonce, "My Love" by the Dream featuring Mariah Carey, "Sexy Ladies" by Ray J featuring Truth, "Jump" by Flo Rida featuring Nelly Furtado, "I'm Goin' In" by Drake featuring Lil' Wayne and Young Jeezy, "OMG" by Usher featuring will.i.am, "Break Up" by Mario featuring Gucci Mane and Sean Garrett, "Freaky Gurl" by Gucci Mane featuring Lil' Kim and Ludacris, "My Chick Bad" by Ludacris featuring Nicki Minaj, "Stanky Leg" by G-Spot,  "Say Something" by Timbaland featuring Drake, "5 Star" by Yo Gotti featuring Gucci Mane, Trina, and Nicki Minaj, and "All I Do Is Win" by DJ Khaled featuring T-Pain, Ludacris, Rick Ross, and Snoop Dogg.

When it was time to announce the newly-elected Prom King and Prom Queen, the entire Prom Court lined up in the middle of the dance floor, and it was very easy to see any of these young ladies as queens and young men as kings in their own right.

The fabulous Lutheran High School East Prom Court

DJ Justin at the Goodtime III upper deck system

When the Prom Queen's name was announced, it was obvious that she was really surprised!  She stopped, sort of stunned in disbelief before composing herself to claim her crown.

The Prom King was also crowned, and the two danced together briefly before being joined on the floor by their respective dates as well as the rest of the group for a slow dance to an old school Boyz II Men track.

The Lutheran East 2010 Prom Queen is crowned

The Prom Queen was very surprised

The Prom King and Prom Queen's traditional dance

The Goodtime III is a really cool location to have a prom for a number of reasons; first, of course, Something New Entertainment is the exclusive Disc Jockey company the Goodtime III, so it's easy to book really awesome entertainment for the evening  Second, there's just no matching the ambiance of being on the water.  It's exciting and romantic, and the cool breeze off the water is often a welcome refreshment since dancing can make one feel overheated.

Third, and perhaps from a more practical standpoint for parents and teachers, the Goodtime III is a very safe environment.  Many of you already know that I come from a teaching background, myself, and that both my mother and grandmother taught, as well.  As a child, I remember my mother dressing up to go chaperon the prom for the high school where she taught.  (When I was four, I actually dressed up one of my Ken (TM) dolls in his tuxedo and suggested she take him as a date.  She had her photo taken with him -- it's hilarious.)

The most important duty of the prom chaperons is basically to make sure no one wanders off and gets hurt or into trouble.  Well -- wandering off isn't much of a concern on a ship in the middle of Lake Erie or cruising down the Cuyahoga River, and that relief of concern creates a number of great advantage for parents, students, and teachers:

Good times on the Goodtime III with Lutheran East

Dancing with Lutheran East on the Goodtime 3

Cool location, awesome DJ, and safe?  That combination means less worry for concerned parents, less "policing" for chaperons, and students will be able to relax and enjoy themselves without that feeling of being under surveillance or like they have baby-sitters.  We all like to feel independent and are a little bit creeped out when we're being watched, right?

If you're interested in booking a prom, dance, wedding, banquet, bar or bat mitzvah, birthday party, anniversary, corporate event or other special event aboard the Goodtime III, contact the Goodtime III directly by phone at 216-861-5110 or via e-mail at info@GoodtimeIII.com

The masses have spoken, and I'm happy to announce that Something New Entertainment has been named one of the top five best DJs on the Akron-Canton HOT LIST!  Second place --hey -- not too shabby for the underdog!  We're small, but our excellent record of client satisfaction obviously won out over our size.

We were narrowly bested by a larger entertainment company that has been on the Fox 8's Akron-Canton HOT LIST for disc jockeys for much longer than us. At the time that standings were hidden, we trailed them by a only a single percentage point, and since I know several of you who indeed voted after that point, we know  that the DJ competition must have remained very close up until the end! From where I stand, I've got to tell you: it's a tremendous accomplishment!  We are so moved by the loyalty of our past clients, fans, and wedding vendor colleagues.

Looking over the results of this contest, I see representatives of several very, very different styles of DJing, and I can see why each of us has risen to the top of our category, appealing to the select needs of a certain niche of the market.  We look forward to continued excellence, and we feel so privileged to work in a market where we have so many very worthy competitors such as these, since it means that each bride has the opportunity to select a DJ company that best suits her needs and her personality.

Something New's unique mix of interdisciplinary studies in live music and theatrical sound and lighting tech/design and computer engineering paired with a deep belief in the power of music as a driving force and the importance of having a DJ who is personally available to you for consult prior to your event has certainly set us apart in the market as a champion pioneer for comprehensive customer service.  In addition, we believe that our equal opportunity employment practice of encouraging all DJs (including female DJs such as myself) to excel through the same opportunities has afforded us a broader perspective to continually assist our clients in crystallizing their goals for their wedding ceremonies and receptions both musically and through our coordination efforts.

A special congratulations to all nominees, especially the folks at Hats Off Entertainment (1st Place), as well as to the DJ Crew (3rd Place), Beach Boyz Entertainment (4th Place), and DJ Larry's All-Occasion Sound (5th Place).  Good show!

To each and every one of you readers out there, and to your friends, family, and coworkers: thanks for voting.  Your support made this possible!

In order to ensure that your Disc Jockey is on the same page music-wise as you and your fiancé, consider brainstorming with your DJ to create a "Must Play" list and a "Do Not Play" list for your wedding reception.  It's always a great idea to enlist the expert help of your DJ, who should have quite a bit of experience managing these lists.  Your first scheduled planning consultation with your DJ is the best place to get the ball rolling, but here are a few tips for the beginnings of your brainstorming about which songs and artists might deserve a spot on your lists.  I guess this is kind of a "how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-list-and-your-DJ" article.

Priorities, priorities.  It's extremely important to note that these lists are sort of like a VIP room -- there's limited space, and the more full it is, the less room there is for wiggle.  Keep in mind that the average reception is about 5 hours long and the average song is about 4 minutes long, so your DJ can play a maximum of about 75 songs during the course of your reception and about half of that will be cocktail, dinner, and special events music.

Flexibility (aka wiggle room) allows your DJ the best vantage to keep your crowd pleased (and dancing), even while still staying within reach of your most favorite sounds.  That way, your "Must Play" list can be reserved for songs that you absolutely will not feel like you're married if you don't hear that particular song, and your "Do Not Play" list can be reserved for specific songs/artists that will cause you or your guests to feel sad, angry, or offended.

For example -- let's say I don't want to hear the song "Brown-Eyed Girl" because I have green eyes (true story) and it offends me (extreme exaggeration).  If I hear the song "Brown-Eyed Girl" on my wedding day, I will be crushed because I will feel so unattractive with my second-rate green eyes (again -- |hypothetical situation -- green eyes, and eyes of any color, for that matter, are great).

On the other hand, let's say that I don't want to hear "Cotton Eyed Joe" because I generally just don't like line dances or country music.  If the DJ plays "Cotton-Eyed Joe," I will probably use those 3 minutes to score another glass of champagne.  In this case, "Brown-Eyed Girl" has earned a place on my "Do Not Play" list, but "Cotton Eyed Joe" has not.

Why?  Because I know that if the "Do Not Play" list gets too long, it will be difficult for my DJ to manage it practically as the night progresses.  For efficiency's sake -- generalize anything you can into a group.   When at all possible, I recommend that you strike an entire artist or an entire genre or sub-genre rather than a list of 20 songs with very, very strong similarities.  This simple practice will turn a list of half a dozen or more specific songs that follow a pattern ("the Chicken Dance, the Electric Slide, the Cha Cha Slide, the Cleveland Shuffle, the Cupid Shuffle, the Hokey Pokey, Cotton-Eyed Joe, the Hustle, YMCA," etc.) into a single entry ("no line dances").  Now, instead of sorting through a long list trying to make sure a track is not listed, your DJ will be better able to more effectively manage the evening knowing that you just don't like line dances.

When choosing your "Must Play" songs, consider the same VIP concept, as well as dancability, variety, and crowd-appropriateness -- if your wedding will be having a Michael Jackson theme and you have 25 particular Michael Jackson songs that you can't make it through the evening without, then by all means, let us know what they are so we'll be sure to have them available.  However, if Michael Jackson happens to be just one of the many artists you enjoy, or if you're flexible about which song in particular is played, then he might not be listed on your "Must Play" list at all.  That doesn't mean we won't play any Michael Jackson, necessarily, it just opens up more latitude for your DJ to apply his or her knowledge and experience to choosing from within the realm of your music preference which tracks and artists might best suit your dance floor.

But, wait, I know what you're thinking, and I'm on it: what if there's an exception?  What if you have just one "Must Play" line dance?  Not a problem -- obviously, specific entries on these lists kind of trump the generalizations.  For example -- let's say that you love Michael Jackson, but you would prefer not to hear the song "Thriller," or that you hate line dances except for the "Cleveland Shuffle."  That's not a problem -- it's all a matter of noting these things in the most efficient way possible to ensure that your DJ's focus is only minimally occupied by reading during your event.

Does this mean that if you bring me a list of 75 specific songs that you want played at your 5 hour reception that I will refuse you?  Absolutely not.  We have had very organized brides give us a spreadsheet of songs with the exact time and order in which they should be played, and if that's what you'd like, we will absolutely do that for you.  Likewise, we have had couples who prefer for us to use our discretion alone to determine the musical selections for the evening, and we are happy to accommodate you through that approach, as well.

Only you know what's best for your wedding, and it's our job to assist you in executing your vision.  If your vision involves a lot of people dancing into the late evening (or even the wee hours of the morning), then your DJ may offer suggestions to help you achieve a blend of music with a wide-reaching appeal, however, the final decision always lies with you and your fiancé.

These choices are tough!  If you're having trouble sorting out your "Must Play" and "Do Not Play" lists, please feel free to contact your DJ at any time during your planning process; this is exactly the reason why you get  the personal contact information for your wedding reception's actual DJ/MC.  We're here to help when you need us, and we're happy to do it for you!

A Groomsman and Bridesmaid make their Grand Entrance in style

First: what is a Wedding Reception "Grand Entrance?"  Your Grand Entrance is traditionally when you and your fiancé (perhaps as well as your bridal party, parents, grandparents, etc.) return from the typical Cocktail-Hour-Photo-Marathon to rejoin your guests.  Our Disc Jockeys like to make sure you stay "fashionably late" by entering in style.  Typically, your DJ/MC will spend a couple minutes to get your guests excited about your arrival and then will make a series of announcements as each family/bridal party member enters, counting down to -- last but certainly not least -- the bride and groom!  Your DJ/MC and Assistant DJ will work in tandem to ensure that you and your bridal party are prepared, that the MC has the pronunciation of each member of the bridal party's name correct, and that the music is queued and ready to go.

Of all the different traditional special events you have the option to include in your wedding reception, I think that this one is one of the most important, and even though you might feel a little bit nervous, consider this as you make your decision whether to include a Grand Entrance: your guests may range in age from 2 to 92, including family, friends, and co-workers from around the country and around the globe, and they have one thing in common: they all love you, they all want to be with you!  Your reappearance at the party is what they've been waiting all of cocktail hour for -- yes, the shrimp appetizers were very nice, and they appreciate having food and drink while they were waiting, but still, they didn't get all dressed up and travel across town or from another state for some shellfish!  Every minute, every person in that room is thinking "I wonder when Bride and Groom will get here?" and that hour of anticipation is what makes your Grand Entrance such a big deal to your guests.  Your entrance is typically followed by a blessing, toasts, and dinner.

A Very Grand Entrance

Your "grand entrance" to the wedding reception with  is the perfect opportunity to give your guests an upbeat preview of the type of music they might expect for the dancing portion of the evening, in contrast to your Cocktail Hour and Dinner music, which is typically of the down-tempo, non-rhythmic type (simply because this is the best type of music to talk over and to eat to -- try to eat with a fork while listening to hip-hop or electronica sometime; it's really hard).  Depending on your and your fiancé's musical tastes, you might choose anything between a top 40 pop hit with a great beat to a swinging Frank Sinatra hit for your Grand Entrance.  Both are great to dance to and consequently easy to walk to.

There are two really great ways to approach this song-choice.  First, you could think of it as sort of picking "your song," a song that describes some aspect of your relationship (maybe the have-fun part!) only instead of choosing a slow-dance song, you're looking for a party song.  Second, you could think of choosing a song that announces with music and with lyric "we're here; let's party!"  Regardless of whether you go largely with one of these approaches or combine the two, choose a song that has a happy beat and a fun and/or loving lyrical message to which you can easily picture yourself strutting down the "runway" in a ballgown.

Each couple is different, and of course what works for another couple may not be right for you and your fiancé, but here are some great examples of songs we've seen work well in the past that might be a little bit outside-the-box.  Check these out, and see if they get you thinking about which of your favorite songs would work well for your Grand Entrance to your Wedding Reception.  These are in no particular order:

Classic:  Come Fly With Me by Frank Sinatra and others: this song works well for a couple that doesn't enjoy current popular music but favors a more classical, elegant style and still wants to have an easy-to-walk-to track for their Grand Entrance.  This song works especially well if queued and actuated just after the Master of Ceremonies announces the couple's names.  The first few measures of this song provide an elegant little fanfare as they actually enter the room.  This song lends the glitz and glamor of days gone by and will undoubtedly be enjoyed and appreciated by your guests of all ages.

Pop: Tik Tock by Ke$ha: another excellent, upbeat, current top 40 hit, Tik Tok also works great as a combined bridal party and newlyweds entrance song, especially if timed craftily.  Again, this track provides a little bit of musical and lyrical suspense in the bridge at about 2:18 (DJ, you build me up, you break me down, my heart, it pounds, yeah, you got me) providing an excellent opportunity for your Master of Ceremonies to psych your crowd up a little building to 2:44 with an appeal to your guests to put their hands in the air (With my hands up, get your hands up, put your hands up), and allowing the guests of honor to enter just in time for their appropriate lyric at 2:49 (No, the party don’t start until I walk in).  Nice.

Old School: We Are the Champions by Queen: well, the most nerve-wracking part of the day is over, and guess what; YOU WON!  To commemorate your win, you are the proud recipient of a shiny new ring, and guess what; it fits perfectly!  This song is a great way to express the victory of your love, plus, it's a classic sing-along that might get your guests involved, too!  This is another song that will have a fairly broad range of appeal among your guests.  This song works especially well if queued to about 0:25 and actuated just after the Master of Ceremonies announces the couple's names.  Again, the first few seconds after this beginning will provide an energetic rock fanfare just as the couple enters the room.  This queue also eliminates the first verse, which is very solemn and not as fun as the chorus.

Hip-hop: I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas: this song has been teased for it's repetitive nature, but, trust me, with its simple statement and its lively beat, it will provide an excellent summary of how you and all your guests will be feeling at the moment of your Grand Entrance!  This song is great to use if you have a smaller bridal party and you're planning to use a single song for both the entrance of the bridal party and the newlyweds, because its energy builds throughout the track, creating more and more hype for the bride and groom's entrance.  Depending on the size of your bridal party, and subject to a solid plan on the timing of entrances throughout the song, two great spots for the bride and groom enter are at 1:30 and 3:46, where the song transitions from the more subdued and suspenseful beat and drops the dance beat.

Ok, I think you've got the idea, so I'll leave you with some more fun starter ideas: Let's Get It Started by the Black Eyed Peas, Let's Get The Party Started, I'm Here for the Party by Gretchen Wilson, Starry-Eyed Surprise by Paul Oakenfold (ft. Shifty), (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) by the Beastie Boys, Joy to the World by Three Dog Night, the Theme to 2001; A Space Odyssey, the Theme to the Newlywed Game, Sexyback by Justin Timberlake, Signed, Sealed, and Delivered by Stevie Wonder, White Wedding by Billy Idol, Let's Get Married by Jagged Edge, Bust A Move by Young MC, etc., etc.  Remember that not all of these are appropriate for all audiences -- review the lyrics to make sure there are no surprises; what some groups would find funny or charming, others might not -- you know yourself and your guests best.

Write to me and tell me your ideas!  Comment below or message me on Facebook!