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If your reception is elegant and formal, consider a string band or a DJ who can play appropriate music. If you have a small, romantic reception, a pianist can be the perfect accent. If you're having a Saturday evening wedding, a band or DJ who can provide a wide variety of music can be a great choice.

Live bands are more expensive than DJs. At the same time, a live band can add an energy and excitement that few DJs can match. The DJ will typically serve as a master of ceremonies, though, while most bands resist performing that role.

Most couples choose to hire DJs instead of bands - the selection of music is wider and the cost is definitely lower. (Plus the DJ won't need to take as many breaks.) In either case, let the band or DJ know exactly what you expect. Provide a list of songs, or at least approve the set list provided. If the DJ does not have a song or songs you want, find out what the cost of acquisition is. (It should be very low, since most DJs have all-digital equipment.) Get all your details in writing, especially the cost, the start time, and the stop time.

What are some common reception songs? Here's a list in alphabetical order:

All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crowe
All My Ex's Live in Texas - George Strait
Always & Forever - Luther Vandross
At the Hop - Danny & the Juniors
Baby Likes to Rock It - The Tractors
Be My Lover - La Bouche
Beautiful In My Eyes - Joshua Kadison
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Boom! Shake the Room! - Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
Boot Scootin' Boogie - Brooks & Dunn
Brick House - Commodores
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle
C'mon & Ride It (the train) - Quad City DJs
Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Elton John
Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
Celebration - Kool & the Gang
Chattahoochee - Alan Jackson
The Chicken Dance - Sorta Crackers Band
Conga - Gloria Estefan
Could I Have This Dance - Anne Murray
Crazy - Patsy Cline
Da' Butt - E.U.
December 1963 (what a night) - Four Seasons
Devil with a Blue Dress On/Good Golly, Miss Molly - Mitch Ryder/ Detroit Wheels
Down at the Twist & Shout - Mary-Chapin Carpenter
Electric Boogie (slide) - Marcia Griffiths
Everything I Do, I Do It for You - Bryan Adams
Faithfully - Journey
Forever and Ever Amen - Randy Travis
Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks
Funkytown - Lipps, Inc.
Gonna Make You Sweat - C+C Music Factory
Grease Megamix - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart (Van Morrison)
Hot, Hot, Hot - Buster Poindexter
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
I Like It, I Love It - Tim McGraw
I Melt with You - Modern English
I Swear - All-4-One
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
I'll Be There for You - Rembrandts
I'll Make Love to You - Boys II Men
In the Mood - The Glenn Miller Orchestra
It Had to Be You - Harry Connick, Jr.
Jock Jam - ESPN Presents
Jump (for My Love) - The Pointer Sisters
Keeper of the Stars - Tracy Byrd
Last Dance - Donna Summer
Le Freak - Chic
Legs - ZZ Top
Let's Talk About Sex - Salt 'n Pepa
Limbo Rock - Chubby Checker
Loco-Motion - Kylie Minogue (Grand Funk)
Louie, Louie - Kingsmen
Love Shack - B-52's
Macarena - Los Del Rio
Mmm Bop - Hanson
Mony Mony - Billy Idol
New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Old Time Rock & Roll - Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
Only Wanna Be With You - Hootie & the Blowfish
Play that Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Pump Up the Jam - Technotronics
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Rhythm Is A Dancer - Snap
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & the Comets
Rock This Town - Stray Cats
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
Shout - Isley Brothers
Sold (the Grundy County Auction Incident) - John Michael Montgomery
Soul Man - Blues Brothers
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Stayin' Alive - N-Trance
Strike It Up - Black Box
Strokin' - Clarence Carter
Super Freak - Rick James
Swing the Mood Jive - Bunny & the Mixmasters
T-R-O-U-B-L-E - Travis Tritt
Time of My Life (I've Had) - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack
Too Much Fun - Daryle Singletary
Tubthumper - Chumbawamba
Twist & Shout - The Beatles
The Twist - Chubby Checker
U Can't Touch This - M.C. Hammer
Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
Unforgettable - Nat "King" & Natalie Cole
Vogue - Madonna
Watermelon Crawl - Tracy Byrd
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
What I Like About You - Romantics
When a Man Loves a Woman - Michael Bolton
Whoomp! (there it is) - Tag Team
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
YMCA - Village People
You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
You'll Be Mine (party time) - Gloria Estefan