Dinner Music For Younger Couple?

[LiteTrix]

I have a wedding coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm looking to change things up as far as dinner music goes. Below you find the list of music that I'm thinking of playing. The Bride and Groom are a younger couple probably mid 20's, so I think the list below would fit there personalities perfectly considering they have mostly Top 40 on their planner. I've mixed in some older ones for the older folks as well.

Let me know if you you think I should add or remove some songs. Open to any suggestions anyone has.


Crash into- Dave Matthews
Waiting on the world to change- John mayer
Hotel California
No One- Alicia Keys
Oye Como Va- Santana
Don't know why- Norah Jones
Always- Atlantic Starr
Feels So Good- Chuck Mangione
With you- Jessica Simpson
Hero- Enrique Iglesias
I'm yours- Jason Mraz
Clocks- Coldplay
Can't get enough of your love, babe- Barry White
Because of you- Ne-yo
Chasing Cars- Snow Patrol
Live like you were dying- Tim McGraw
Beautiful Soul- Jess mcCartney
Breakaway- Kelly Clarkson
Bubbly- Colbie Caillat
Back to December- Taylor Swift
Upside Down- Jack Johnson
Marry Me- Train
Paradise- Coldplay
Walking On Sunshine- Katarina & and the waves

[carblekin]

The best is yet to come- Michael Buble
Make you feel my love- Adele
Guess I'm falling 4 u- Michael Buble
Serenade- Jim Brickman
Sunday morning- Maroon 5
Lucky- Jason Mraz/Colbie Caillat

[Mystic]

I typically use something like Jim Brickman.

[Sween]

Crash into- Dave Matthews OK
Waiting on the world to change- John mayer OK
Hotel California OK
No One- Alicia Keys OK, but a little more upbeat than I like for dinner. I like to keep dinner "chill"
Oye Como Va- Santana Eh... are they latino?
Don't know why- Norah Jones OK
Always- Atlantic Starr Dated for a younger couple, but okay if you're trying to appeal to 40/50 somethings
Feels So Good- Chuck Mangione I would skip the elevator music, cheesy IMO
With you- Jessica Simpson OK, but not as chill
Hero- Enrique Iglesias OK, but I hate this song, so I don't play it unless requested
I'm yours- Jason Mraz <--Perfect
Clocks- Coldplay OK, but I prefer The Scientist
Can't get enough of your love, babe- Barry White Little cheesy IMO
Because of you- Ne-yo Very upbeat, not chill enough for me
Chasing Cars- Snow Patrol A very boring song IMO
Live like you were dying- Tim McGraw OK
Beautiful Soul- Jess mcCartney Don't even know this song
Breakaway- Kelly Clarkson Eh... okay I guess
Bubbly- Colbie Caillat <--Good
Back to December- Taylor Swift <---Perfect
Upside Down- Jack Johnson <--Perfect
Marry Me- Train <--Perfect
Paradise- Coldplay OK
Walking On Sunshine- Katarina & and the waves Again, cheesy IMO


For my younger couples I like to recommend Upbeat but Light Contemporary for cocktails, and switch to Ballads for dinner.... But many of them want the upbeat stuff through dinner too.
Mraz, Caillat, Jack Johnson, Buble, John Mayer, etc...

Here's some playlists I used the other day... For a 25 year old couple.


Cocktails
Right As Rain Adele
It's Five O'clock Somewhere Alan Jackson
Just the Way You Are Bruno Mars
Fallin' for You Colbie Caillat
I Want You Back Colbie Caillat
You Make My Dreams Daryl Hall & John Oates
There's No Limit Deana Carter
Next To Me Emeli Sandé
We Are Young (Feat. Janelle Monáe) Fun.
You Got Me Ivy Quainoo
Upside Down Jack Johnson
Make It Mine Jason Mraz
Margaritaville Jimmy Buffett
Half Of My Heart (Featuring Taylor Swift) John Mayer
No Such Thing John Mayer
A Woman Like You Lee Brice
Unwritten Natasha Bedingfield
Little Talks Of Monsters And Men
Me And Julio Down By The School Yard Paul Simon
Rhythm Of Love Plain White T's
Let It Bleed The Rolling Stones
Sign Your Name Sheryl Crow
The Joker Steve Miller Band
Stevie Wonder-Don't You Worry About Stevie Wonder
Hey, Soul Sister Train
Moondance Van Morrison


Dinner

Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison
I'm Yours Jason Mraz
Somebody's Hero Jamie O'Neal
My Wish Rascal Flatts
The Way You Look Tonight Frank Sinatra
More (Theme From Mondo Cane) Frank Sinatra
Beyond The Sea Bobby Darin
It Had To Be You Harry Connick Jr.
I Could Write A Book Harry Connick Jr.
Something's Gotta Give Sammy Davis, Jr.
What a Wonderful World Loius Armstrong
At Last Etta James
Better Than A Dream Katie Melua
My Love Lionel Richie With Kenny Chesney
Whatever You Do Ivy Quainoo
Sweet Pea Amos Lee
When I'm Sixty-Four The Beatles
Lost In This Moment Big & Rich
I Could Not Ask for More Edwin McCain
The Wonder Of You Elvis Presley
Amazed Lonestar
Everything Michael Buble
What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong
Bless The Broken Road Rascal Flatts
Better Together Jack Johnson
This Kiss Faith Hill
Someone Like You Van Morrison
Miracle Foo Fighters
All You Need Is Love The Beatles
Yes! Chad Brock
I Can't Stop Loving You Ray Charles
That's How Strong My Love Is Otis Redding
Collide Howie Day
Love Story Taylor Swift

[DJMC]

nice playlists everyone!

GMTA -- I've been playing most of the above songs for the past couple of years.

[ampnation]

I like a lot of those and would add...

Linger - The Cranberries
Falling in Love At a Coffee Shop - Landon Pigg
Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer

Don't be afraid to mix in some instrumentals. Smooth Jazz (Mangione, Sanborn, Spyro Gyra), Post-Bop Jazz (Brubeck, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis), Light Classical (Vivaldi Four Seasons)

These can be great songs to use when getting ready for an announcement where you're going to fade out and get everyone's attention. The switch from an light upbeat pop song to the slightly less engaging instrumental can set the mood a little before going to a fade out and someone addressing the crowd.

[Sween]

Linger - The Cranberries

To each his own... but I would never play that song. I also normally wouldn't play smooth jazz for a younger couple. But everyone is different and I am not criticizing...

[LiteTrix]

I knew Sween was gonna have some nifty response to this thread. +rep to you on recharge brah!

[ampnation]

My rationale on smooth jazz for any age group during dinner and cocktail hour is, it is background music that fades into the background easily, usually doesn't have drastic changes in sound levels, and allows people to do what they want to do during dinner... talk to each other. I also feel vocals tend to distract/command attention which speaks to the same philosophy. Frankly, during this portion of the program I don't want people to be able to remember what was played. I just want to provide some pleasant noise at a low SPL as a backdrop.

I will discuss this with the couple before I go forward every time though. If they disagree, I am happy to leave it out.

I almost never listen to smooth jazz for enjoyment but find it a useful tool for this purpose. That said, I'm a novice and maybe I'll learn better as I gain more OTJ experience.

[DJMikeD.]

Let's not forget that even a couple in their 20's still has relatives that could very well be in their 70's and even 80's. So my goal personally is to play a serious mixture of older stuff because if I can hit on Grandma and Grandpa's first dance at their wedding, it's a hit!!! Or anyone's first song for that matter! While playing during dinner, I'm looking around to see if I can get some couple to hold hands during a particular song. I do play contemporary dinner music also. But from my experience, I usually save a younger couples music for later in the night when the party gets jumping. Cater to the older crowd early on.
But I will take some of these songs and incorporate them into my playlist.....thanks!!