Sometimes, when a client wants you, they really want you. Such was the case this weekend, when I was hired to perform at a wedding in Des Moines, Iowa. Yes, I’m normally an Austin wedding DJ, but this time I hit the road. I had a nice journey, stopping for a great chicken dinner and a good night’s sleep in Pittsburg, Kansas, and then spending a full day exploring Kansas City, Missouri, before bedding down again. But enough about my mini-road trip, let’s talk about Ana and Noah’s wedding!
The wedding took place at the Des Moines Art Center, a museum that doubles as an event space. There’s a lovely outdoor fountain where we held the ceremony and cocktails before moving inside for dinner. For dancing, we went right back out to the fountain and enjoyed the perfect weather.
The couple gave me some requests, but primarily trusted me to get people dancing. As long as they heard a lot of music from Two Door Cinema Club and The Strokes, everything would be good, so I made sure to include a solid amount from both bands in my set.
Pre-Ceremony Music
As guests arrived, the couple wanted them to hear a selection of songs from the game Animal Crossings, and so that’s what I played. 🙂
Able Sisters
9AM
5PM
The Roost
Bubblegum K.K.
Mystery Island Tour Evening
Island Life Orientation
6PM
New Horizons Theme [strings]
New Leaf
Wild World
New Horizons Theme [piano]
Ceremony Music
Bridal Party & Bride’s Processional: Concerning Hobbits – Howard Shore
Couple’s Recessional: Taken – Hayley Williams
Cocktail Music
Cocktail hour was time for me to play lots of the couple’s favorites, which leaned heavily in the direction of indie rock and new wave music.
She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby
Always Like This – Bombay Bicycle Club
Tongues – Joywave, KOPPS
Welcome to Japan – The Strokes
Something About Us – Saint Motel
Meet Me At Our Spot – The Anxiety, Willow, Tyler Cole
Everything In Its Right Place – Radiohead
Call It Fate, Call It Karma – The Strokes
On the Other Side – The Strokes
Rocky’s Late Night – Albert Hammond Jr.
Synthesize Her – TWRP
Bad Decisions – Two Door Cinema Club
Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush
Head Over Heels – Tears for Fears
Vertigo – Mini Mansions, Alex Turner
Under Pressure – David Bowie & Queen
Wake Up – Two Door Cinema Club
Como te Extra̱o Mi Amor РCaf̩ Tacvba
Sun – Two Door Cinema Club
Kids – MGMT
Couple’s Entrance: Lovesong – The Cure
Cake Cutting: Lovin’ You – Minnie Riperton
Dinner Music
Sugar on the Rim – Hayley Williams
Destruction – Joywave
Red Light – The Strokes
What You Know – Two Door Cinema Club
Just Like Heaven – The Cure
Crystal Clear – Hayley Williams
Black Sheep – Metric
Life On Mars? – David Bowie
This Is Way – Paramore
Cold Cold Man – Saint Motel
W.I.F.I. – Wildermiss
Lavender – Two Door Cinema Club
Hard to Explain – The Strokes
Dance Music
And at last, the dancing!
First Dance: Think About Things РDa̡i Freyr
I don’t normally share videos of the dancing in these music recaps, but, with the couple’s permission, I’m sharing theirs. They did the “traditional” thing for about 30 seconds, then pivoted to something a little more interesting.
It was a tough act to follow, but after that, it was time for open dancing, and I kept the dance floor full until the very end of the night. It was easy– the guests came to party!
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter
Yeah [feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris] – Usher
Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand
Jump Around – House of Pain
Walk This Way – Run-D.M.C.
Uptown Funk [feat. Bruno Mars] – Mark Ronson
Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice
Don’t You Want Me – Human League
We Are Family – Sister Sledge
Good Luck, Babe – Chappell Roan
Girls & Boys – Blur
Talk – Two Door Cinema Club
Hungry Like the Wolf – Duran Duran
Cha Cha Slide – DJ Casper
I Love It [feat. Charli XCX] – Icona Pop
Pursuit of Happiness [Steve Aoki Remix] – Kid Cudi
I Was Made For Lovin’ You – Kiss
Low [feat. T-Pain] – Flo Rida
Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time – Panic! at the Disco
Rock Lobster – The B-52’s
Dancing With Myself – Billy Idol
Take On Me – a-ha
Hard to Explain – The Strokes
I Write Sins Not Tragedies – Panic! at the Disco
Sugar, We’re Going Down – Fall Out Boy
Turn Down For What – DJ Snake & Lil Jon
Beware of the Boys (Mundian to Bach Ke) – Panjabi MC
Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) РBeyonc̩
Party In the U.S.A. – Miley Cyrus
…Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
Hypnotize – Notorious B.I.G.
Tequila – The Champs
Mr. Brightside – The Killers
All the Small Things – Blink-182
Apt. [feat. Bruno Mars] РRos̩
Hot to Go! – Chappell Roan
Thunderstruck – AC/DC
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – ABBA
I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
Something Good Can Work – Two Door Cinema Club
Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode
Blue Monday – New Order
Atomic – Blondie
Friday I’m In Love – The Cure
Rockstar – Nickelback
Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan
Undercover Martyn – Two Door Cinema Club
Hey Ya! – Outkast
Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham
Disturbia – Rihanna
Fireball [feat. John Ryan] – Pitbull
Forever – Chris Brown
Love Story – Taylor Swift
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
Livin’ On a Prayer – Bon Jovi
Save Your Tears – The Weeknd
SexyBack – Justin Timberlake
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Last Dance: Kiss From a Rose – Seal
And the next morning, it was time to drive back to Texas. But not before about a dozen or more guests from the wedding, who were staying in the same hotel, stopped me to tell me how much they’d loved the music the night before. Many even called out specific songs that they appreciated hearing. It was very flattering, and it made me very happy knowing that everyone enjoyed the music that much.
I’ve made it to Oklahoma! I’ll be back in Texas tomorrow!