Everyday Pursuits

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The Ultimate Wedding Day Playlist

Ashley Torres

You guys ... I'm so excited because my HUSBAND is writing his first (hopefully not last) guest post on EDP. So many of you have asked about our wedding day music after seeing some of the snaps on IG stories and since Andy really spearheaded most of it, I figured he would be the best person to write this post. Also, we must give credit to DJ Alex who took our reception suggestions to the next level. He read the crowd and absolutely killed it with his mixes. I'm not even exaggerating when I say that Andy and I danced from 8pm - 12am straight, only to walk away from the dance floor to grab drinks. It was truly a magical night! Without further ado...

The best wedding reception music - Everyday Pursuit Wedding at ACRE Los Cabos, Mexico

What is a wedding without music?

First things first, I knew it was important to set the right mood as guests were arriving for our ceremony.  Ashley insisted that we offer guests a "welcome cocktail" as they entered ACRE to sip as they waited for the ceremony to begin.  Did you guys know Ashley likes to drink ;) ?  I decided that the best accompaniment to a cocktail in the Mexican jungle is some island-inspired hip hop and dance vibes.  We wanted guests to feel like they were here for a celebration of two young and outgoing people from Los Angeles.  So I instructed DJ Alex to play the instrumental versions of current hip hop + dance tracks.  We're talking artists like Drake, Calvin Harris and Daft Punk.

Pre-Ceremony Music

When It was time for me to kick off the official wedding processional by walking down the aisle with my mom and dad, I chose a song that continued the same vibes but had a hypnotic marching beat.  When the music changed, I knew our guests would immediately have that "oh sh*t. this is going down!" feeling and get excited.

Wedding Party Intro

We had a healthy sized wedding party (six bridesmaids and six groomsmen) so by the time Ashley and her step-dad we're ready to walk down the aisle, the audience was ready for a shift in tunes.  We looked far and wide to find a song that was sweet + sincere but not too sappy.  Ashley landed on a beautiful cover of a song whose original version was almost unanimously seen as a joke.  But this cover version was spectacular and was perfect for us. Try not to cry when the first verse stars. Seriously, try.

Ashley Processional

In a moment of pure joy, I stomped on a glass to signify the completion of the ceremony and the beginning of our married life.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous about the glass stomping...not because I thought I might miss, but because the brown Italian leather shoes I was wearing cost more than 2 car payments and I wasn't about to ruin them on day one!  Ashley found an amazing track that I had actually never heard before.  Again, another fantastic cover, only this time it was the incredible Stevie Wonder singing Etta James's "At Last".  Somehow Stevie is able to take what is a slow and serenade and speed it up to become a song of joyous celebration and excitement.  This song seriously rocks.

Andy + Ashley Walk Off

During our cocktail hour, we hired an 8 piece Mariachi Band that included Horns, Guitars and Marimbas!  It set such a perfect tone of one part silliness and 2 parts happy celebration.  I can't name any of the songs they played, but each one was better than the last and they played for a full hour.  One of the trumpeters even did this insane circular breathing thing where he held a note for what seemed like 5 minutes straight. (Our planner Amy Abbott can help you get in contact with these guys if you're looking to hire them for your Cabo wedding!)

Wedding Entrance Song - Sparklers at Everyday Pursuits Wedding in Los Cabos, Mexico

We really didn't have to think very hard about our entrance song (you know that part when the emcee says "Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Fisher!".  Ashley is obsessed with Bruno Mars (but isn't everybody?), so we chose Bruno's song of the moment: Finesse (Remix) [feat. Cardi B] by Bruno Mars.  Bruno's opening line is literally "Ooooh don't we look good together?"  Ashley and I made our entrance while our guests lined the walkway with sparklers - it was pure magic and SO fun!  Then DJ Alex slowed it down a bit to play our official first dance song....

We wanted something sweet and sentimental, but again, didn't want something too corny or sappy.  We landed on yet another cover / remix: Lauryn Hill's updated rendition of Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You".  It was a hit and after just the two of us danced for the first 2/3 of the song, DJ Alex invited everyone to join in and together we all danced and sang "I love you baby...." in unison.  It was so awesome!

We then sat for what was a DELICIOUS family style dinner made fresh in the ACRE kitchen and listened to some cool latin jazz while we dined.  After a few speeches from the best man, maid of honor and Ashley's step-father, Ashley and Dan did their first dance to: Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder.  It was beautiful.  Then I danced with my mom to Lovely Day by Bill Withers. It was also beautiful.

Then the party started......

Red light, green light, everybody take a shot.

Red light, green light, gimme everything you got.

Pitbull say's: "3 Miami boys, you know what time it is!"

In case you didn't know, I'm from Miami. Basically the next 5 hours are a bit of a blur.  DJ Alex played all of our favorite dance and hip hop songs.  We mixed some fun EDM with some classic hip hop and RnB and had the most epic dance party ever recorded in human history.  Seriously, I checked.

Below is a list of some of the songs we made sure DJ Alex played:

  • Strangers by Seven Lions, Tove Lo

  • The Night Out - Madeon Remix by Martin Solveig

  • All Eyes On Us by Lenno

  • 24K Magic by Bruno Mars

  • Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars

  • Where Are You Now (with Justin Bieber) by Jack U

  • D.A.N.C.E by Justice

  • Midnight City by M83

  • No Money by Galantis

  • All Around The World by Justin Bieber

  • Beauty and a Beat by Justin Bieber

  • Slide by Calvin Harris

  • One Dance by Drake

  • The Middle by Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey

  • All Night by Chance the Rapper

  • Mi Gente (feat. Beyonce) by J Balvin

  • Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars

  • Can’t Feel My Face by The Weeknd

  • Wild Ones by Flo Rida (feat Sia)

We were all sad when the night finally had to end at midnight, but we made sure our last song would make a lasting impression.

I don't even know how to classify our last song, as it's kind of not even a real song.....Jesse and The Rippers "Forever"

And that was that.

An amazing night.

The best music.

All of the dancing.

Love ya,

-A plus A

#aplusabigday

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