is a work in progress

Music is important to me. So for my wedding, obviously I wanted to try and incorporate as much great music into the day as possible. I wanted to find a balance between my taste in music, music that a wide variety of other people would enjoy, music that is appropriate for wedding day celebrations and a selection of fun and spontaneous choices that the crowd on the dance floor would be demanding at any point in time. After discussing this with my wife we decided our primary goal was to host a once in a lifetime party, so for that reason we hired Drew Arrington to DJ our reception. We loved his attitude and energy at a friend’s wedding in 2009; he was the perfect fit to entertain our guests!

That took care of our primary goal, but what about my secondary goals? I wanted to include some of my favourite music! This was our day after all! What could I do without turning into Groom-zilla on our DJ (or my wife)? I toyed with the idea of giving a few favourite band names to Drew to see what he’d come up with, but as I typed out some of my ideas I quickly realized that I had too many opinions; that I’m too picky; that I really had to build some sort of playlist myself and pass it on in it’s entirety.

I had a great idea: during the time between the ceremony and dinner (roughly 1.5 to 2 hours) while we’re off taking photos and the bar is just opening up why not share some of my musical selections with our guests as they mingle? I didn’t mind that I wouldn’t be able to hear most of these songs because I knew them all by heart and I’d always have the playlist to listen to whenever I felt like it. That sounds like an easy task right, an hour or two of celebration music to psych up our guests while they’re waiting for us?

Well, the playlist grew, and grew, and grew… and soon the scope of my little project included music to play during dinner as well. I was worried that Drew would feel that I was stepping on his toes, but luckily he was ok with it, he actually complimented my taste in music! His real job for the day would begin after dinner and go into the wee hours of the morning, so really, I was doing him a favour – he could sit back and relax for the first few hours!

I took inspiration from many sources, including the CBC Radio 3 Wedding Bell’s Podcast long time personal favourite artists and tracks and of course songs that had a personal meaning behind them. I tried to group the songs such that more modern, fun and upbeat songs would play earlier when the guests were arriving, getting their first drinks and mingling in the sun. Then in the middle section when we would be arriving at the reception I chose songs with some personal meaning behind them, then later in the mix some of the more quieter and romantically themed songs would come on while guests were eating.

Here it is, my wedding playlist:

1. Broken Social Scene – Forced to Love
2. Kings of Leon – Use Somebody
3. Land of Talk – Some Are Lakes
4. You Say Party! – Laura Palmer’s Prom
5. The New Pornographers – Go Places
6. Stars – Fixed
7. Sia – Under the Milky Way (The Church Cover)
8. The Tragically Hip – Flamenco
9. Zero 7 – Somersault
10. Cary Brothers – Blue Eyes
11. The Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
12. Young and Sexy – Life Through One Speaker
13. Bonnie Somerville – Winding Road
14. The Apples In Stereo – Nobody But You
15. Big Star – I’m In Love With A Girl
16. Jason Mraz – I’m Yours
17. Smashing Pumpkins – Tonight, Tonight
18. Collective Soul – The World I Know
19. The Goo Goo Dolls – Let Love In
20. The New Pornographers – We End Up Together
21. The Shins – New Slang
22. Royal Wood – I’m So Glad
23. Lamb – Gorecki
24. Metric – Love Is a Place
25. Hannah Georgas – This Is Good
26. Stars – My Favourite Book
27. David Myles – Run Away
28. Jason Mraz – Lucky (feat. Colbie Caillat)
29. Sarah Harmer – Open Window (the Wedding Song)
30. Hawksley Workman – Oh You Delicate Heart
31. Constantines & Feist – Islands In the Stream
32. Patrick Brealey & the Knives – How Would You Choose to Be Loved?
33. Hannah Georgas – Shine
34. Jill Barber – Chances

You’re probably wondering what the grand finale was, the song that rose above all others and was selected to be the soundtrack for our first dance. This was a tough choice, there were many contenders, but in the end we chose Celebrate by Rose Cousins. It was wonderful and amazing; everyone loved it!

I hope you enjoy this playlist as much as I do.