The fourth of September 2021 was a magical day for us. After knowing and being together for roughly 13 years, it was time to tie the knot. We already had to postpone the wedding due to COVID (damn you COVID), but we decided to have the wedding on the 4th this year: we couldn't wait any longer. The wedding had to happen. The stress involved to get to this day is unbelievable, but we got there in the end. A small yet cosy wedding, with a few friends and family, and we all had a blast. We all look back and acknowledge that we had a smashing time. We all had a laugh and a giggle, and we can certainly keep our heads high: the wedding we had, was absolutely spot on. Suited us and the guests well.
So why am I writing this blog? Well, because one part of the day was focussed on music: the reception. Oh, and also the actual ceremony. And the music during our breakfast (first meal as a couple). So basically music played an important part of our day. You might not believe it, but me and the wife are two opposites in regards to music. She does not understand my love and admiration for the harder styles, and I don't understand her music choices either. But when working from home we found music that suited the both of us, and we used that kind of music to play during our special day.
Obviously it meant that we both had to sit down and discuss this, months before the wedding. The registrar office gave us a booklet with details on how long each section would be, during the ceremony. And from that perspective we build a list, fabricated one. One that suited us both. Not just one or the other: both of us. Simple things like this might be easily overlooked when planning a wedding, but seeing as I'm a music freak, I needed to have this covered. And so did she. So meticulous planning was required.
We had everything planned to the t, and we were happy that the music for the ceremony and the breakfast was sufficient enough, and was music that linked us both together. Don't forget, we put a lot of effort in each section, it's not as easy as you might think it is. When opposites attract, wasn't that what that one song once said, it needs to meet in the middle? And I know for sure that the tracklist was perfect for the both of us.
The funny thing was, that when the breakfast happened, people thought that most records were chosen by the wife, and not me! How dare they? It was a joint decision, in all honesty. Everyone who knows me, knows I love 'Techno' (I put Techno between brackets, because to them Hardcore, Hardstyle, Techno, Terror, Speedcore, etc, all falls under the same umbrella: Techno. And obviously it isn't), but I listen to so much more. But hey ho, at least they had something to talk about while stuffing their face with tomato soup, chicken and vegetables, and cheesecake, right?
I thought it would be funny to share what kind of tracks we had selected during the most beautiful day of our lives. So it is divided into three sections: the wedding ceremony (with a short description on when it was played), the breakfast, and the reception. The reception list was mostly followed by the DJ (Mark Wells, in case you want to book that smart looking man in the image), with some few tweaks here and there.
So, here we go:
Wedding Ceremony Songs:
LeAnn Rimes - How Do I Live (Entering Guests)
Extreme - More Than Words (Entering Guests)
Oleta Adams - Get Here (If You Can) (Entering Guests)
Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman (Entering Guests)
CloseIIYou - Baby Don't Go (Entering Guests)
Billy Ocean - Suddenly (Entering Guests)
Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Walking Down The Aisle)
Take That - A Million Love Songs (Signing)
Beverly Craven - Promise Me (Signing)
Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World (Signing)
Queen - You're My Best Friend (Exit Song)
Breakfast Music:
Shanice - I Love Your Smile
George Michael & Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Mr. Oizo - Flat Beat
SWA - Sweet Like Chocolate
Daft Punk - Around The World
Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Locve
Lighthouse Family - High
Vanessa Carlton - Thousand Miles
Honeyz - Finally Found
Gabrielle - Dreams
James Morrison - You Give Me Something
Michael Jackson - You Rock My World
Jennifer Page - Crush
Sixpence Non The Richer - Kiss Me
Emma Bunton - What I Am
Damage - Forever
McFly - All About You
George Michael - Amazing
The Real Things - You To Me Are Everything
Michael Buble - Home
Fat Larry's Band - Zoom
Luther Vandross - So Amazing
Richard Marx - Right Here Waiting
The Temptations - My Girl
Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville - Don't Know Much
Berlin - Take My Breathe Away
The Spinners - Working My Way Back To You
Dirty Dancing - Time Of My Life
Terence Trent D'Arby - Sign Your Name
Celine Dion - The Power Of Love
First Dance Song:
Michael Buble - Everything
Reception Music:
Guus Meeuwis - Kedeng Kedeng
Arie Ribbens - Polonaise Hollandaise
Des'ree - Life
The Soca Boys - Follow The Leader
Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5
Jermaine Stewart - We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off
Spice Girls - Stop
Hansom - Mmmbop
Ricky Martin - Living La Vida Loca
Gina G - Oh Ah
Steps - Tragedy
Ozone - Dragonstea Din Tei
Redneck - Cotton Eye Joe
Los Del Rio - Macarena
Livin' Joy - Dreamer
Shamen - Ebeneezer Goode
2Unlimited - No Limit
Scooter - How Much Is The Fish?
Backstreet Boys - We've Got It Going On
Five - Everybody Get Up
B-Witched - C'est La Vie
The Killers - Mr. Brightside
East17 - Alright
Michael Buble - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
PJ & Duncan - Let's Get Ready To Rumble
Mis-Teeq - All I Want
Dolly Parton & Kenny Rodgers - Islands In The Stream
Craig David & Artful Dodger - Rewind
Will Smith - Nod Your Head
Daniel Bedingfield - Gotta Get Thru This
S Club 7 - Reach
The B52s - Love Shack
Shania Twain - I Feel Like A Woman
Busted - Crashed The Wedding
Marshall Masters - I Like It Loud
WHAM! - Wham Rap
Chic - Good Times
Lionel Richie - Dancing On The Ceiling
Madness - It Must Be Love
Vertile - The New Normal
Party Animals - Have You Ever Been Mellow?
Technohead - I Wanna Be A Hippy (Flamman & Abraxas Remix)
Last Dance:
Simply Red - Holding Back The Years
Now will you look at this? A proper tracklist, and entertaining for not just the happy couple, but also for all the guests. There were some small hiccups during the day in regards to the music during the ceremony, but all is forgiven: the day itself was memorable, and will be with us for the rest of our lives. A day so beautiful, we both felt blessed to have our closest and most dearest friends and family members near us.
Each record has got a reason behind it. Could be because the song just captured our mood as a couple, or just because of the fact that the song was just a dancefloor smasher. But the ceremony songs were 'our' songs: no one else's songs, our songs. Fuck the rest. No one had any say in the matter, this was our day/evening/night. And during the ceremony, we wanted to hear the songs which were the closest to us both.
What's your opinion about our list? Cheesy? Beautiful? Weird? Normal? Leave a comment down below, would be interesting to read your opinion.
I do know we had a few quirky songs, like Michael Buble's Christmas song, and a few Happy Hardcore anthems, but come on, you were expecting it, right? And even thought it was just me dancing like a proper Dutch raver from the 90s (and the wife danced too), it was amazing! A laugh, a giggle, and many moments created which I shall cherish for the rest of my life.
The DJ did play a few other tunes (and forgot to play a few), but I hold no grudge against him: he played everything we needed to hear. Especially when he played Usher's 'Yeah', and I pretended to be cool and tried to get some crowd interaction (which failed), and also started to take my clothes off (but thankfully got stopped after taking my waistcoat off). The conga was also a wicked one: the British among the guests were bemused by it, didn't really understand the Dutch lyrics, but joined anyway (it was 'Polonaise Hollandaise' by Arie Ribbens).
A memorable day, engraved into my mind forever. A tracklist so good, it makes me smile whenever I think of it. And now I'm sharing it with you all. Because sharing is caring, right?