I'm a music junkie, DJ, audiophile, whatever you want to call it. For as far back as I can remember, I thought about the songs the might play during my wedding and reception. Everything was always under scrutiny. Below are the playlists and songs that made the cut.
Wedding
Prelude
- Air on the G String - JS Bach. Selected by Victoria. I didn't know much about this track prior to song selection, but it was the perfect 1st song of the wedding prelude. Gorgeous, sweeping strings without an overpowering melody. Unfortunately, due to blistering heat I had to cut this song; it was never actually played at the wedding. Even more oddly, it was inexplicably omitted from the program. But for reals - it was supposed to have been played!
- Canon in D Major - Pachelbel. If you hear this, you're probably at a wedding. My mom surely cried.
- Ave Maria - Schubert. Selected by Victoria. Her mom probably cried.
Victoria's Entrance
- Here Comes the Bride - Wagner. Duh. I may or may not have cried. A little.
Electrifying Conclusion
- Wedding March - Mendelssohn. V found a mariachi version, and it was too fun not to use. True story!
Dinner/Reception
After the ceremony, and the immediate hugs/aftermath, we shuffled inside to do the paperwork and escape the 100 degree sun. About an hour later, we ventured back outside to the terrace, where our dinner table was now set. I had created a playlist for our long, relaxed dinner. My thoughts going into building it were varied:
- Much like a great referee, it needed to take a back seat to the main event. Not just in volume, mind you... these tracks would be low on lyrics and would not call attention to themselves. Ideally, a track-listing that you realized at the END of the night was really good.
- Latin influences would be appreciated by my South American guests, and a multicultural approach in general would bring a warm, loving and fresh feel to the night. Heavy doses of Thievery Corporation? Check.
- A few Easter eggs for myself. I snuck in tracks by Brainiac, The Cure, Aphex Twin, Daft Punk, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins and Sasha.
- A couple must-play tracks:
- All My Love - Led Zeppelin. I discovered this song as a teenager and immediately pegged it in my wedding. On my first dinner date with Victoria, that track played in the restaurant. When I heard it, I lost my words.
- Wrapped Around Your Finger - The Police. I love the concept of wedding rings, and I fall for these lyrics each time. Another track selected by a young Nate for an older Nate. Good pick, young Nate.
- I wanted timelessness, which meant firing up the way-back machine. I don't have a problem with Frank Sinatra or the Rat Pack, but when I hear tracks from that ilk I just think of dudes in Vegas; not exactly romance. But The Platters - now that's the jam. Louie Armstrong's What a Wonderful World spontaneously became our 1st dance... could not have worked out better.
So, finally, here's the entire Dinner/Reception playlist. These are the same songs that played at our family celebration in Dayton. 41 tracks, about 2 hours 40 min. Shuffle, repeat, enjoy.
| Name | Artist |
| La Femme d'Argent | Air |
| Ce Matin La | Air |
| Les Professionnels | Air |
| J'Ai Dormi Sous L'Eau | Air |
| Dance Of The Dream Man | Angelo Badalamenti |
| Insensatez | Antônio Carlos Jobim |
| Xtal | Aphex Twin |
| We Are The Music Makers | Aphex Twin |
| Laru Beya | Aurelio |
| April In Paris | Billie Holiday |
| Huepajé | Bomba Estéreo |
| Night Over Manaus | Boozoo Bajou |
| Flypaper | Brainiac |
| Love Song | The Cure |
| Nightvision | Daft Punk |
| Veridis Quo | Daft Punk |
| Under The Boardwalk | The Drifters |
| El Amor De Este Pueblo | Federico Aubele |
| All My Love | Led Zeppelin |
| This Magic Moment | Lou Reed |
| What A Wonderful World | Louis Armstrong |
| Tolú | Lucho Bermúdez |
| Porcelain | Moby |
| Adrift and At Peace | Nine Inch Nails |
| Only You (And You Alone) | The Platters |
| Twilight Time | The Platters |
| Wrapped around Your Finger | The Police |
| Eple | Röyksopp |
| In Space | Röyksopp |
| Magnetic North | Sasha |
| Luna | Smashing Pumpkins |
| A Gentle Dissolve | Thievery Corporation |
| Fragments | Thievery Corporation |
| Rebirth | Thievery Corporation |
| Tamarindio (Thievery Corporation Remix) | Thievery Corporation |
| Indra | Thievery Corporation |
| Air Batucada | Thievery Corporation |
| So Com Voce | Thievery Corporation |
| Samba Tranquille | Thievery Corporation |
| Cumbia Sobre el Mar | Trio Serenata |
| Fiesta - Original Mix | 80s Casual |
