NYC Wedding DJ Blog

PRESS: JUNE 2012 BRIDES MAGAZINE

2012-05-24T21:34:07Z

Photo by Matt Rainey

I don't know how I feel about being featured on the same page as instructions for how to do the Chicken Dance (it's against everything we stand for!) but check out Aria Melody DJ on page 138 of BRIDES Magazine this month (June 2012)!

click to enlarge

TUNE UP THE CEREMONY!

- PRELUDE

The Vibe: Happy, mellow

Classic Pick: "All You Need is Love" - The Beatles

Sweet Update: "Reign of Love" - Coldplay (PLAY)

- PROCESSIONAL

The Vibe: Romantic, something you can walk to

Classic Pick: "Canon in D Major" - Johann Pachelbel

Sweet Update: "All I Want Is You" - Vitamin String Quartet (PLAY)

- INTERLUDE

The Vibe: Upbeat, nostalgic

Classic Pick: "Clair de Lune" - Claude Debussy

Sweet Update: "Empire State of Mind (Piano Tribute)" - Alicia Keys (PLAY)

- RECESSIONAL

The Vibe: Joyful, celebratory

Classic Pick: "The Best is Yet to Come" - Frank Sinatra

Sweet Update: "Us" - Regina Spektor (PLAY)

- POSTLUDE

The Vibe: Relaxed, Fun

Classic Pick: "Is This Love" - Bob Marley

Sweet Update: "Littlest Birds" - Be Good Tanyas (PLAY)

PLAYLIST: FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE

2012-05-23T18:43:38Z

It's tough to find that perfect song to dance with Dad - you want something special, touching, meaningful...but not romantic. Often, there's a song that's almost perfect -- then there's that one verse that makes it borderline creepy. Ask your DJ to edit it out. Frank Sinatra's "I Wish You Love" is a great suggestion -- if the first 30 seconds are cut.

Over the years, I've compiled some of my favorite father/daughter dance suggestions from my library, blogs and client playlists. If "Daddy's Little Girl" is your thing, Michael Buble does a fantastic version you can preview here.

My new favorite is Nancy Sinatra's "It's For My Dad." It captures the sentiment perfectly.

Maybe there's a favorite childhood memory? Heather (January 2012 bride) has seen Les Miserables with her dad 10 times so they danced to "Master of the House." Perfect.

Favorite Father/Daughter Dances:

Bruce Springsteen - "When You Need Me" PLAY

Tom Petty - "Wildflowers" PLAY

Ben Folds - "Gracie" PLAY

Wilco - "My Darling" PLAY

Natalie Merchant - "Kind and Generous" PLAY

Loudon Wainwright - "Daughter" PLAY

Paul Simon - "Father and Daughter" PLAY

The Temptations - "My Girl" PLAY

Stevie Wonder - "Isn't She Lovely" PLAY

Ray Charles - "Ain't That Love" PLAY

Lulu - "To Sir With Love" PLAY

Nancy Sinatra - "It's For My Dad" PLAY

Bob Marley - "Three Little Birds" PLAY

Heartland - "I Loved Her First" PLAY

Rascal Flatts - "My Wish" PLAY

Frank Sinatra - "I Wish You Love" PLAY

Billy Joel - "Just the Way You Are" PLAY

Beyonce - "Daddy" PLAY

Edwin McCain - "Walk With You" PLAY

PLAYLIST: KERRI + ANDREW

2012-05-11T06:50:00Z

Kerri + Andrew's March wedding was a perfect Saturday evening at Battery Gardens, overlooking the beautiful New York Harbor. A warm mix of Ingrid Michaelson, Miles Davis, Regina Spektor and Joshua Radin greeted guests for the ceremony. Kerri walked down the aisle to a custom selection of "The Luckiest" (Piano Instrumental).

Feist, Dizzy Gillespie, Adele, Rilo Kiley + Amy Winehouse filled the downstairs bar for cocktails. Dinner + Dancing was a mix of singer/songwriters, Top 40 with a twist of rock favorites from Bruce Hornsby + Paul McCartney. View Kerri + Andrew's full playlist here.

Listen to some of their favorite picks from the night below.

PLAYLIST: CLIENT PLAYLISTS!

2012-04-20T20:29:34Z

Need a Father/Daughter Dance or unsure of what to play during dinner? Check out recent clients' playlists and see what other people are playing at their weddings! Always being updated + refreshed, you'll find everything from Michael Buble to The Strokes to Kanye. Take a peek and maybe you'll find something you'll like. And, be sure to check out our music section for a little inspiration, too! Still not finding what you're looking for? Drop us an email -- client or not, we'll do our best to help!

MAY SPECIAL RATE!

2012-04-19T04:57:34Z

Owen has a few select dates still open for May 2012 -- book anytime for $300 off our regular rate! Get in touch and tell us about your wedding plans! Contact us here.

PLAYLIST: WORKOUT/RUNNING MIX

2012-04-12T13:17:25Z

Just in time for spring! If you're getting in shape for your wedding or honeymoon, you need some tunes to get ya goin' for that run/weights/kickboxing workout. We put together 68 minutes of Top 40 favorites, 130 beats per minute front to back, guaranteed to help give you that boost to pump out the last set or make it through the last mile.

Download the mix here.

Warning: There's some dirty words in "Pursuit of Happiness" & "N**as in Paris." Maybe get some water during those two songs.

[ TRACK LISTING ]

Glad You Came - The Wanted

I Wanna Go - Britney Spears

Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO

Feel So Close - Calvin Harris

We Found Love - Rihanna

Hello Girl, Let's Party Til The End - Titus Jones

Work It (Don't Stop Remix) - Missy Elliot

Barbra Streisand - Duck Sauce

You Da One (Dave Aude Radio Mix) - Rihanna

Starships - Nicki Minaj

Take Over Control - Afrojack

Bounce - Calvin Harris

I Know You Want Me - Pitbull

Levels - Avicii

Good Feeling - Flo Rida

Run the World - Beyonce

Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO

Pursuit of Happiness (Steve Aoki Dance Remix - EXPLICIT LYRICS) - Kid Cudi

Mr. Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan

The Time (Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas

D.A.N.C.E. - (MSTRKRFT Remix) - Justice

N**as in Paris (EXPLICIT LYRICS) - Kanye West & Jay-Z

Cinema (Skrillex Remix) - Benny Benassi

Purchase these songs full-length:

PLAYLIST: SPRING COCKTAIL HOUR

2012-03-14T04:50:18Z

Spring has sprung! A bit early and sure this means we'll probably get six feet of snow in July...but spring has sprung! It's 71 degrees in NYC and folks everywhere are putting away the giant coats with the furry hoods and hangin' outdoors!

And what better time to get the music playlist going for your April/May/June wedding than to listen to these handpicked tunes perfect for cocktail hour -- shiny, bright and reminding us of colored drinks with a splash of something. Whether you're outdoors next to a blooming field, rooftop with a magnificent view of the city, or on a patio with 200 of your closest friends wearing seersucker suits...these are sure to delight. And don't confuse this playlist with our Summer Cocktail Hour Playlist -- that's 15 degrees warmer.

PLAYLIST: VALENTINE'S DAY

2012-02-14T19:17:51Z

Just in time for Valentine's Day! We present 41 romance-inducing, make-you-wanna-smooch, love to love ya favorites -- everything from Sade to Marvin Gaye to Adele. So light some candles, make your favorite guy or girl a nice dinner and enjoy the sounds of Valentine's Day. On a completely unrelated note, Aria Melody would make a great kid's name. Just sayin.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY...

2012-02-14T14:35:23Z

Give the one you love a big smooch today...

"LUCK" - my proposal to the beautiful Sandra 5.7.11.

PLAYLIST: QUIRKY FUN COCKTAIL HOUR MUSIC

2012-01-26T05:32:48Z

I recently DJ'd the wedding of Allison (a librarian) and Matthew (a zookeeper/musician). No, really he's a zookeeper. Pretty awesome, right? Great, fun, down-to-earth couple. They asked for some help with their cocktail hour: "...just keep it quirky, fun, indie, atypical....and please include "A Mighty Wind." -- Done!

To compliment their loft-style wedding in Brooklyn, we picked out some tunes from Noah + The Whale, Vampire Weekend, They Might Be Giants, I'm From Barcelona, Kate Nash....and a few other surprises. With guests decked out in 3-piece suits, fedoras and argyle socks galore....the cocktail hour music seemed to fit just right.