weddings

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Sam and Nicolette’s Dance Party - Martin Johnson House Wedding

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A picture perfect wedding setting, overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Martin Johnson house.

A picture perfect wedding setting, overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Martin Johnson house.

Sam, the groom at this wedding, is someone I met waaaaaayyyy back in 2001 when I volunteered at the San Diego Asian Film Festival. We've stayed in touch all these years, primarily because we are both still invovled in from fashion with Pacific Arts Movement and the SDAFF. And 15 years later I find myself DJing his wedding.

I'm pretty sure this is the longest I've known a groom/client. It's always nice DJing a wedding for a friend, because it also means a lot of other friends are on the guest list. And most of the friends made up the dance floor that night.

Since Sam and Nicollette's wedding was during the holiday season, December 3, 2016, they decided to run with the Christmas theme. From the decor to the music, there was a hint of #kissmas in the air all evening.

Here's a look at the setlist:

Cocktail Hour and Dinner

  • Sara Bareilles - Sitting On The Dock of the Bay
  • Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Winter Wonderland
  • Harry Connick, Jr. - Sleigh Ride
  • Beyonce - Halo
  • Chuck Berry - Run, Rudolph Run
  • Ella Fitzgerald - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Sleigh Ride
  • Frank Sinatra - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Jingle Bells
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Sleigh Ride
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Blue Christmas
  • Ella Fitzgerald - Winter Wonderland
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
  • Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
  • Michael Buble - Home
  • Nat King Cole - Christmas Song
  • Diana Krall - Dream a Little Dream of Me
  • Rascall Flatts - Bless the Broken Road
  • Harry Connick, Jr. - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
  • Lionel Hampton - Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
  • Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Winter Wonderland
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Feliz Navidad
  • Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
  • Louis Armstrong - Winter Wonderland
  • Chuck Berry - Run, Rudolph Run
  • Ella Fitzgerald - Sleigh Ride
  • Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World
  • Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews - Baby, It's Cold Outside
  • Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
  • Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till Get You Get Enough (Hot Classics Remix)
  • - All My Love
  • Jumpin Jimmy And the Mistletoes - Winter Wonderland
  • Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet (8b Intro Clean) (DJ Joey C Edit)
  • Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Intro)
  • Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie (Select Mix Remix)
  • Terence Trent D'arby - Wishing Well (Select Mix Remix)
  • Prince  - Kiss
  • Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You (Select Mix Remix)
  • Charming Horses feat. Grace Grundy - Higher Love (Original Mix)
  • Ellie Goulding - On My Mind
  • Colbie Caillat - Fallin For You
  • Jason Derulo - Kiss The Sky
  • Mindi Abair - The Joint

First Dance
Led Zepplin - All Of My Love

Bride/Brother Dance
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight

Open Dancing

  • Al Green - Let's Stay Together
  • Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
  • Emotions - Best Of My Love
  • Rose Royce - Car Wash
  • The Whispers - Rock Steady
  • Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
  • Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
  • Mariah Carey - Honey
  • Jack Black - Let's Get It On
  • Led Zepplin - Black Dog
  • Rolling Stones - Start Me Up
  • Cher - Shoop Shoop Song
  • Prince - Diamonds and Pearls
  • Janet Jackson - Let's Wait Awhile  
  • Rihanna ft Drake - Work (Lost Kings Remix)  
  • Brooks & Dunn - Boot Scootin' Boogie
  • Earth, Wind & Fire - September
  • Chaka Khan - I Feel For You (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Michael Jackson - P.Y.T.
  • Commodores - Brickhouse
  • Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
  • Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
  • K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight
  • Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
  • B-52's - Love Shack
  • Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
  • Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
  • Lionel Ritchie - You Are
  • Sia f./Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills
  • The Weeknd ft Daft Punk - Starboy (Kygo Remix)  
  • Daya - Sit Still Look Pretty (R!OT Remix)  
  • Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)  
  • Drake f./Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • Kiiara - Gold (J Farell Remix)  
  • Hailee Steinfeld & Grey f./Zedd - Starving (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • Montel Jordan - This Is How We Do It
  • Nicki Minaj ft Drake - Truffle Butter (Jester Remix)  
  • Palm Trees - Casanova (Intro Clean)
  • Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
  • Blackstreet - No Diggity (Bondax Edit)  
  • The Chainsmokers ft Halsey - Closer (Not So Typical Remix)  
  • New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
  • Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines
  • Kungs vs Cookin On 3 Burners - This Girl  
  • Corona ft AObeats - Rhythm Of the Night (Hotel Garuda Remix)  
  • Chainsmokers ft ROZES - Roses (Adam Foster Remix)  
  • Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake - Love Never Felt So Good (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Kanye West - Good Life
  • Naughty By Nature - Feel Me Flow (Intro Clean)
  • LL Cool J ft Boyz II Men - Hey Lover (Intro Clean)
  • Babyface - For The Cool In You (Intro Clean)
  • Tupac - California Love (Select Mix Remix)

    Last Dance
  • Beyonce - Love On Top




Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: DJ Kanoya Productions
Caterer: Continental Catering
Venue: Martin Johnson House
Coodinator:Hannah Smith Events

Weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya at the Martin Johnson House

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Gina and Tim’s Dance Party - Mission Beach Women’s Club Wedding

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Tim and Gina with San Diego DJ Justin Kanoya at their wedding at the Mission Beach Women's Club. 

Tim and Gina with San Diego DJ Justin Kanoya at their wedding at the Mission Beach Women's Club. 

Tim, with my dog Rinny, is a dog behavior specialist with Sit Means Sit Dog Training. 

Tim, with my dog Rinny, is a dog behavior specialist with Sit Means Sit Dog Training. 

I’ve been booked to DJ a wedding inside of two months from the wedding date in the past, but my meeting of Tim and Gina were true happenstance. My family adopted a dog in May 2016 and less than a month later, were recommended by our veterinarian to call Tim of Sit Means Sit, a dog training company.

Through conversation, I found it he had a wedding soon. He and Gina had bounced the idea of having a DJ, but decided against it …. until we found each other. 

So it was on. Tim and Gina had great wedding celebration at the Mission Beach Women’s Club on August 5, 2016. Many friends from all over the country flew in to be a part of this day and what a good time it was.

Oh, and I have a well behaved dog now too!

Check out their setlist below.

First Dance
Lonestar - Amazed

Dinner

  • Spyro Gyra - The Deep End
  • Kenny G - The Joy Of Life
  • Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life
  • Eagles - Take It Easy
  • Sugarland - Stuck Like Glue
  • Pentatonix - Can't Sleep Love
  • Maroon 5 - Sugar
  • Gwen Stefani - Make Me Like You
  • Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack
  • Mary J. Blige - Real Love
  • White Town - Your Woman (Select Mix Remix)
  • Crystal Bowersox - Midnight Train to Georgia
  • Mayer Hawthorne - The Walk


Open Dancing First Set

  • Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love
  • Steve Winwood - Higher Love (Select Mix Remix)
  • Michael Buble - Everything
  • Frank Sinatra - Summer Wind
  • Kool & the Gang - Get Down On It
  • The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Al Jarreau - We're In This Love Together
  • Marvin Gaye - What's Going On


Cake Cutting
James Taylor - How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

Open Dancing - Second Set

  • Diana Ross & the Supremes - Baby Love
  • The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg
  • Zac Brown Band - Homegrown
  • Kenny Rogers - Through The Years
  • Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
  • Al Green - Let's Stay Together
  • Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
  • Blake Shelton - Sangria
  • Earth, Wind & Fire - September
  • Michael Jackson - P.Y.T (remix)
  • Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations (Select Mix Remix)
  • Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling! (Promo Only Intro Edit 1)
  • Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
  • Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
  • K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight
  • J. Geils Band - Centerfold
  • Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out
  • Rihanna ft Drake - Work (Lost Kings Remix) (Dirty)
  • Sia, Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills (Select Mix Remix)
  • Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
  • Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Woman
  • Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
  • Big & Rich - Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)
  • Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried
  • Sam Hunt - House Party
  • Fifth Harmony - Work From Home (Select Mix Remix)
  • Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)
  • Drake f./Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • Natalie La Rose f./Jeremih, Fetty Wap, Sage The Gemini & Troy Ave - Somebody (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • DNCE - Cake By The Ocean (Promo Only Clean Edit)
  • Whitney Houston - How Will I Know (Select Mix Remix)
  • Madonna - Holiday
  • Bon Jovi - Livin On A Prayer
  • Prince - Little Red Corvette
  • Prince  - I Would Die 4 U
  • Meghan Trainor f./John Legend - Like I'm Gonna Lose You
  • Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (Kygo Radio Edit)
  • V.I.C. - Wobble
  • DJ Snake f./Bipolar Sunshine - Middle (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • Rudimental f./Ed Sheeran - Lay It All On Me
  • Kungs vs Cookin On 3 Burners - This Girl
  • Village People - YMCA
  • B-52's - Love Shack

Last Dance
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Venue: Mission Beach Women's Club

Weddings Hosted by DJ Kanoya at the Mission Beach Women's Club

First Dance Songs: Wedding Song Ideas

Finding the perfect song for the first dance at your wedding

What will be your "perfect" song for the first dance at your wedding?

If you need a little help picking out your first dance song, here is one exercise I recommend to my clients.

Think about the special moments in your relationship. Was there a song playing in the background? Was there a song playing on the radio? What was the first song on the mix CD he made you -- or Spotify playlist he sent you?

Is there a particular memory that helps recollect a song?

After thinking through all that, if you still need help, then keep reading.
Below is a list of many of the first dance songs I have played over the years at various weddings. Keep in mind, this is an important part of the wedding reception. It’s the one time, everyone you have invited to your wedding is in the room. Its right at the beginning, just after the grand entrance and before dinner. So everyone is there and it’s a magic moment

Here's a collection of some of the songs I've played for the first dance:

  • Andrea Bocelli - Besame Mucho
  • Angels and Airwaves - Breathe
  • Beach Boys - Forever
  • Beatles - In My Life
  • Ben Harper/Michael Buble - Forever/Hold On
  • Beyonce - At Last
  • Bon Jovi - Thank You for Loving Me
  • Brian McKnight - The Only One for Me
  • Carlos Gardel - Por una Cabeza (True Lies Tango)
  • George Strait - Cross My Heart
  • Goo Goo Dolls - Come To Me
  • Jack Johnson - Better Together
  • Jimmy Eat World - For Me This is Heaven
  • John Legend & Meghan Trainor - Like I'm Gonna Lose You
  • Josh Turner - Why Don’t We Just Dance
  • Katie Melua - Just Like Heaven
  • Keith Urban - Only You Can Love Me This Way
  • Michael Buble - Everything
  • Paper Tongues - Love Like You
  • Quiet Storm - Smokey Robinson
  • Sade - By Your Side
  • Shania Twain - From This Moment
  • Tim McMorris - Overwhelmed
  • Train - Marry Me     
  • Van Morrison - Have I Told You Lately
  • Van Morrison - Someone Like You

Each year Mobile Beat Magazine releases a comprehensive list of popular songs that are being played at weddings throughout the United States. Here is a copy of that guide for you to download for free.

And here are some links to some wedding websites with their own First Dance suggestions:

Other Posts You May Be Interested In

Justin Kanoya is a wedding DJ based in San Diego. He has served as a DJ and host of more than 300 weddings over the past decade and is a recommended vendor at some of San Diego's finest wedding venues, including the Hotel del Coronado and the Lodge at Torrey Pines. 
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Father/Daughter Dance Songs: Wedding Song Ideas

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What song will be played for this special moment with your dad?

Picking the right song for the father/daughter dance is key to creating a memorable moment

“Have you asked you dad what song he would like to dance to with you?”

When a bride tells me she doesn’t know what her Father/Daughter Dance song is going to be, the above question is one I always ask.

If your reply to that question is, “no,” then I need you to stop reading, pick up your phone and text, call, Facebook message or Snapchat your dad and ask him -- well never mind about Snapchat, you Dad probably isn’t on it.

Either way, he will love the fact you are connecting with him and you never know, he may have had song in mind ever since you two danced for the first time in your childhood home living room.

If both of you are still perplexed, take a look at these songs I have played at past weddings.

  • Bob Carlisle - Butterfly Kisses
  • Brandon Heath - Love Never Fails
  • Celine Dion/Josh Groban - The Prayer
  • Darius Rucker - It Won't Be Like This For Long
  • Edwin Mcain - Walk With You
  • Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
  • George Strait - Love Without End
  • Kenny Chesney - There Goes My Life
  • LeAnne Womack - I Hope You Dance
  • Lionel Ritchie - Three Times a Lady
  • Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
  • Michael Buble - The Way You Look Tonight
  • Nat King Cole/Natalie Cole - Unforgettable
  • Temptations - My Girl
  • Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
  • Van McCoy - The Hustle
  • Heartland - I Loved Her First

Each year Mobile Beat Magazine releases a comprehensive list of popular songs that are being played at weddings throughout the United States. Here is a copy of that guide for you to download for free.

Also, here are some websites that offer even more suggestions:

Other Posts You May Be Interested In

Justin Kanoya is a wedding DJ based in San Diego. He has served as a DJ and host of more than 300 weddings over the past decade and is a recommended vendor at some of San Diego's finest wedding venues, including the Hotel del Coronado and the Lodge at Torrey Pines.