Music Options For Your Father-Daughter Dance

The father-daughter dance is a time honored tradition at many weddings. And in recent years, two songs have stood out as standards for this dance: “Butterfly Kisses” and “Daddy’s Little Girl”.

But let’s say you’d like to take this in another direction. You have a lot of possibilities. If you’re a country music fan, Tim McGraw’s “My Little Girl” may be the obvious choice.

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I5UV4VWCSk [/embed]

Then again, you may prefer “I Loved Her First” by Heartland (as seen during an actual wedding father-daughter dance).

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFs27zxSk7k [/embed]

Here are three options from New York / New Jersey artists:
First, Bruce Springsteen’s “When You Need Me.”

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pff-JpajjyQ [/embed]

“Father And Daughter” from Paul Simon, shown here with lyrics.

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtT3xSSKmMQ [/embed]

And here’s a Cyndi Lauper classic from the eighties with a timeless message.

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVS5rS_da9E [/embed]

A more recent possibility is “Forever” from Dropkick Murphys.

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNdl2-wrsvM [/embed]

Finally, there’s always Stevie Wonder’s father-daughter classic.

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVvkjuEAwgU [/embed]

Of course, you may have some great ideas of your own. At Excel Entertainment, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all wedding. We’ll work with you to find the very best fit for your special dance. For more information, please call Excel’s Jason Frankel at (973) 320-3241.

Create a special song for your groom

Here at Excel Entertainment we can customize the reception on your big day so that it feels just right for you and your groom.



We'll create the mood you're looking for with lighting and music and we'll even bring along a photo booth so you don't have to remember the event - you'll have it sitting right there in front of you whenever you bring out your album.

One way of really making your groom feel special at the reception is to get a song specially written for him. Or even make up the lyrics yourself (well, you'll know him better than anyone). Once you've done that and got someone to put it to music (or listen to tunes and find one that fits your lyrics) then bring it along to us and we'll happily play it on the day. His face will be a picture!

For more wedding entertainment ideas call or come and have a chat to us here in New Jersey

Top Wedding Songs for 2013

It's here! GigMasters "Top wedding songs for 2013." The lists are based on a survey of 2012 and 2013 brides and grooms, booking data, and research done with others in the wedding industry.

Top 5 First Dance Songs

1. You Are The Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
2. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
3. At Last – Etta James
4. Can't Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
5. I Won't Give Up – Jason Mraz

Top 10 Must Play Songs

1. Don't Stop Believing – Journey
2. Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest
3. Everything – Michael Bublé
4. Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
5. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
6. Paradise – Coldplay
7. Love Story – Taylor Swift
8. Better Together – Jack Johnson
9. We Found Love – Rihanna
10. Party in the U.S.A. – Miley Cyrus

Top 5 Do NOT Play Songs

1. Chicken Dance
2. Electric Slide
3. Macarena
4. YMCA
5. Genres such as Rap/Hip Hop and Country

Top 3 Alternative Wedding Entertainment Choices

1. Belly Dancer
2. Elvis Impersonator
3. Caricature Artist

What do you think? Are your favorite wedding songs listed?

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ Relaxed Southern Wedding

This week, we’ve finally seen some photos of the quietest celebrity wedding of 2012. Unlike most celebrity weddings, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ big day wasn’t papped, and none of their 35 guests Tweeted a single snap.

Even though the wedding was at the start of September, the first photos of the day are going to be published in the new issue of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. The magazine helped style the couple’s wedding and has been allowed to publish photos of the work they did for the couple.



The photos that we’ve seen so far include shots of the couple’s dessert table, the bride’s bouquet, and the couple holding hands after the ceremony. We’re hoping to see more photos soon.

With such an intimate guest list, and the couple’s star power, they must have had some great entertainment lined up.

What do you think of Blake and Ryan’s wedding? Tell us below!

How to Set a Wedding No-play List

At many weddings, the main focus for the bride and groom is to figure out what songs they want played during their big day. One thing that they don’t give much thought to is a “no-play” list. This is just as important for your event.

This doesn't have to be an exhaustive list of songs, of course. It can be specific genres or artists that you don’t want played. Whether it’s because you don’t like the music, or you just don’t think it’s in keeping with your wedding’s theme, it’s a good guide to give your wedding entertainment.

When we play at a wedding or other event, we often get requests from the guests during the night. In most cases, we’ll try to oblige. If you don’t want this, it’s best to let us know ahead of time. We’re used to handling requests, and can also handle refusing them if we need to.

Whatever your music choice, we’d love to work with you to provide the perfect soundtrack for your big day.

Winter Wonderland Weddings

With white snow, silver and gold decorations, and beautiful evergreen, winter makes a great wedding theme.



 

If you’re thinking of going seasonal with your wedding, here are some entertainment ideas.

• A holiday sing along can happen spontaneously when you have a winter theme, or at any winter wedding. Instead of waiting for people to start singing, mix a few holiday standards into your wedding playlist or as a karaoke choice.


• Snowfall and roaring fires might not be available at every venue or on every day, but you can have the next best thing – showing them on a video screen. Any venue can have a lovely fireplace for guests to sit around and share a hot toddy, while others can sit next to a window with freshly falling snow.


• Festive props can work magic in a photo booth. Whether it’s a sprig of mistletoe for some sneaky kisses, a big coat, or some woolly hats, your photo booth shots can be a great place for your theme to come to life.

However you use your winter theme, let us help you with your wedding entertainment ideas.

2013 Wedding Trend: Geek Chic Wedding

Geek chic weddings are a fun trend, and perfect for all the tech savvy couples. We love helping couples add a bit of geek fun to their entertainment, too.

• Video screens can be a great way of adding in some classic geek fun. You can have a karaoke party for the end of the night, or hook up a gaming system for guests to play when they need a break from dancing.


• Photo booths are perfect for geek fun, especially when you provide a few costumes and props. Funky wigs, fake moustaches, and comic-style words can allow your guests to create their own superhero stories.


• You can add an extra dimension to your wedding with some online content. If you have a wedding website, you can put QR codes around the venue for guests to unlock special parts of your site. It can be a way to say thank you for coming, or part of a wedding treasure hunt.

Whatever you choose for your geek chic wedding, we can help give you plenty of advice for having the perfect entertainment.

Video Screens Are Great Wedding Fun

Video screens are a great way to add some entertainment to your wedding. They can be used for a variety of things, too.



Some couples have video montages, or still photo slideshows for their wedding. This is great for bigger families who may not know both bride and groom. We can provide you with a photographer to take candid shots to be displayed on the screens.

This can be a good way of sharing moments from earlier in the wedding. If you have a videographer who will do a same-day edit of your wedding video, you can let guests relive the best moments of your ceremony. This is perfect if you’re having a larger guest list for your reception.

Another way of having some fun with video screens is to have a karaoke session at the end of your reception. Instead of just singing along to the music while dancing, you and your guests can be the singers for part of the evening. It’s great fun and something that will make your wedding stand out in everyone’s mind.

Video screens can also be used for other entertainment, too. Get in touch to discuss more options for making your wedding a fun event.