Most couples spend hours building a must play list and about four minutes on the do not play list. That is backwards. After more than a decade of DJing weddings around Wichita, I can tell you the do not play list shapes your dance floor at least as much as the songs you request, and the wrong restrictions can quietly work against the party you are picturing.
Here is how I think about it, what usually shows up on those lists, and where I would gently push back.
What a Do Not Play List Actually Is
As with a must play list and a list of suggestions, I also ask my wedding couples for a do not play list. You can essentially put down songs, artists, or entire genres, though I think I have about 15 spots available for it.
Maybe there is a song or artist that you just do not like. Maybe you are going for a certain vibe at your wedding and you do not want a specific genre such as country music played. Either way, this list helps give your wedding DJ some direction. It is one of the few tools that tells me what to avoid, and a good one saves everyone an awkward moment.
How Many Songs Should You Put On It?
Fewer than you think, unless you have a reason.
A short, specific list is far more useful to your DJ than a long one. Three or four genuine dealbreakers, an ex’s song, a genre you cannot stand, tell me everything I need. A list of thirty songs mostly tells me you copied something off the internet, and it starts removing tools I might need later in the night.
If there is a song with real history behind it, say so. I would much rather know that a particular track needs to stay off the speakers than find out afterward.
The Songs That Show Up on Almost Every List Now
If you asked a handful of people to name a few of the typical songs played at weddings, I am sure they could come up with at least a few. It is these types of songs that I see more and more on the do not play list.
The wedding planning site The Knot published an article on this subject in November of 2024, and ever since then I have seen a huge spike in couples saying they do not want many of those specific songs played. That list has 26 songs on it, and the categories break down roughly like this:
- Line dances. The Cha Cha Slide, the Cupid Shuffle, the Electric Slide and their relatives. Six of the 26.
- Kid songs. Baby Shark and a handful of others, four or five in total.
- Modern songs played at essentially every wedding since 2015. Uptown Funk and Can’t Stop The Feeling are the usual suspects.
- Golden oldies. Celebration by Kool and the Gang is the classic example.
Let me be clear: I have no problem not playing any of these, or within reason whatever the bride and groom, or their mom, puts on that list. It is your wedding.
When Those Same Songs Are Actually Useful
Every wedding is different, and some of these songs can certainly serve a purpose. Usually I avoid playing them unless I feel I need to.
In certain situations where you might have a dead dance floor, putting on a line dance is not a terrible idea. It is something I can pull out of a bag of tricks. Sometimes your aunt or your parents’ neighbor will only go out on the dance floor if they hear something that tells them what to do, five stomps now y’all, or if it is very familiar, like Celebration. Some of these songs can be particularly helpful very early in the night when people are just getting comfortable with the thought of dancing.
Being experienced and good at reading a crowd, I know that in some cases a lot of the overplayed wedding songs might be the main thing that works for a certain group of people. More often than not though, I can tell that if I play I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas, the guests will boycott the dance floor.
So the honest answer is: it depends on the room, and that is the whole job.
One Thing to Consider Before You Restrict Too Much
If you are a couple that is not the dancing type and do not plan on being on the dance floor, please do not put a lot of restrictions on your DJ.
You being on the dance floor is the greatest tool they could have, and without that they might have to put on the Cupid Shuffle to try and start the fire. It is worth reading why the couple being out there matters more than anything else before you finalize the list.
If you do plan on being out there and being an active part of your dance party, by all means, put whatever you want on that do not play list. Just be aware that you might get into an argument with your aunt because the DJ will not play the Cha Cha Slide.
One Last Thing
When looking for a DJ, if something about them is telling you that there is a good chance this person is going to put on The Chicken Dance, maybe you should hard pass on DJ Sparkle Vest.
Planning Your Wedding Music?
I have been DJing weddings across the Wichita area since 2012, and the do not play list is one of the first conversations I have with every couple. If you would like to talk through your music plan, check availability and I will get back to you personally. You can also learn more about wedding DJ services from HiFi Productions.