Ting Tings, Lady Gaga, Lily Allen, Dizee Rascal, Noisettes, VV Brown, Calvin Harris, Friendly Fires, Little Boots, Florence and the Machine

No, wait, that's just every festival lineup this year...

and Pokerface for starters: the one song that has been everywhere. Guaranteed to get bridesmaids up and singing/dancing.

and say that the bride may say she wants some chart music, but she doesn't really. As long as she gets her first choice of 'First Dance' song, she won't really care after that. She wants people to dance and have fun, which they are more likely to do with Abba and Chic than Lady Gaga.

I couldn't resist it

the dance floor quicker than a rather large Hippo

Girls Aloud.

and Girls Aloud.

It was an absolute storming great hit. The Sweet, Booker T, Betty Boo, Amii Stewart, The Cure, The Cult, INXS, the Dave Clark Five, the Stones, Squeeze, Undertones, Specials, er, Kenny Loggins' Footloose... the dancefloor was heaving.

Ignore their request and play the songs everyone knows - they love being reminded of things they've not heard for ages, so avoid the obvious.

I djed at a recent wedding. First three songs

- 9 to 5- Dolly Parton
- Superstition- Stevie Wonder
- Le Freak- Chic

The task was pretty much done by then. Keep Crazy In Love handy if they want chart music, possibly some Take That (Relight My Fire will do it at a wedding).

my now ex-wife and I were invited by the hired-in DJ at our post-wedding disco to lead the dancing with Stevie Wonder's "I just called to say I love you". Now that was both very popular and chart music at the time - but a turkey if ever there was one to both of us. Thankfully we weren't hung up on "the perfect moment" and saw the funny side of things.

I'd check with the bride and groom beforehand for their choice at that juncture - if such a thing still does happen nowadays. You might pick up some useful tips as to their taste too. Otherwise, good luck. After all you're doing it for nowt and the arrangement is (hopefully) their choice..

Dance Wiv Me
Bonkers
Poker Face
Single Ladies
Umbrella
Wearing my rolex

are all ace - who wouldn't want to dance to them?

but they're blocked at work. Drop in

S Club 7 - Don't Stop Movin'

If she's in her 20's, it'll take her back to her teens. Everyone else will get up and dance to it cos it's such a blimmin' good floor-filler.

Plus.....

From personal experience, I would ask them for 5 - 10 key songs that they really want to hear. Their enthusiasm when the songs come on will get the rest of the party going plus it will help guide you for other tunes. A copy each of the last 3 Now compilations should be enough to fill in the chart gaps.

Also think of the age group of the other people at the wedding. Some classic soul tunes / Motown always go down well plus a bit of rock n roll works mainly because those records have so much energy, for example I always play Runaround Sue by Dion. The only problem with R'n'R / Motown is that the songs are so short it can be quite stressful getting the next song ready.

to play chart music? with the best will in the world, leave it to the professionals sir, for your own sake!

Poker Face (Lady GG)
I don't feel like dancing (Scis Sists)
Hole in the Head (Sugababes)
Hung Up (Madonna)
That's not my name (Ting Tings)
Jai Ho (Pussycat Dolls, off Slumdog)
Perm any one from 6 Girls Aloud hits
Can't get you out of my head (Kylie)
Don't stop moving (S club)
Plus, stick in a 'new' oldie like Let your love flow (Bellamy Bros)

If the dancing doesn't start after that lot, then turn the decks around and say - 'do it yer bloodyself then'.

I've always thought Junior Seniors' Don't Stop the Beat and Calvin Harris' Acceptable in the '80's would sound good together at a wedding.

Thanks Word massive! Some excellent choices there, I'll be giving them plenty of 'Old' but some good 'New' amongst that lot.

Grabbing the last few NOWs is a good idea and selecting a few recent tunes. Lots of the other suggestions here are spot on... cheesy, disco, singalong, songs with actions (Locomotion, YMCA, I will survive etc etc). We've noticed that "the ladies" really really really do like Mercy by Duffy in a sort of I Will Survuve kinda way. Of course you could try the cover by the Third Degree which has a much more early 70s soul vibe and well worth a listen. If you want one to get the lads at the wedding up on the floor and bouncing around try Mr Brightside by the Killers.

Katy Perry - Waking Up in Vegas

You also might want to raid some blogs for mashup tracks, it's a good way to keep several age groups happy. They tend to take the vocal track off something currently popular and blend it with something classic from the 60's, 70's, 80's or 90's that's in the same key and tempo.

Here's a mashup of Katy Perry Hot and Cold and a remix of Yes' Owner of a Lonely Heart;

have these at hand:
outkast hey ya
white stripes seven nation army
beyoncee crazy in love

3 current hits
the young 'uns will ask for
Arctic MOnkeys
The killers
Calvin Harris
Ting Tings

other than that play your fave hits
sprinkle with chic/stevie wonder etc
anyone gives you any grief tell them you're playing a selection
chosen by the bride and groom who should give you some pointers in the first place

watch out for the teenage boy who thinks that pink floyd's wish you were here would go down a treat,... don't encourage him