Theme or no theme, perhaps that’s the question you’re asking yourself. Some people love it, some hate it – I personally love what Tana and Mike did…cause how can you go wrong with the 80’s?! Plus I’m sure she was thrilled to get to wear both an elegant white wedding dress AND a hot pink lil’ number!

Number one, I am definitely an nontraditional girl (who found a like minded man)! I wanted all the elegance and freshness of a white dress, outdoor riverside wedding but all the decadence of a reception that gets everyone involved in fashion, music and fun! What better decade to celebrate with than the 80’s? Great choice because everyone 25 and had memories and all the younger kids are TOTALLY 80’s anyways and just don’t realize it. I must say my mom had to convince me to get the balloons, but I’m so glad she did! They added so much pop and color without looking tacky! So for all those couples out there who want to have a lovely ceremony and a bangin’ reception, you can have your cake and eat it too!! No matter what decade or theme you pick for the reception it’s a really interactive way to get your guests talking and schmoozing. Mike and I were so pleased that OUR personality shined through and we want to thank all our vendors for making this themed dream reception possible!

Brides Processional: Waiting for a girl like you / Foreigner
Recessional: Rock It / Herbie Hancock
Bride & Groom Reception Entrance: White Wedding / Billy Idol
Cake Cutting: Lips Like Sugar / Echo & The Bunnymen

Favs from the playlist:
1. Steppin Out /Joe Jackson
2. Let’s Get Crazy & 1999 / Prince
3. Burning Up, Like a Virgin, Material Girl/ Madonna
4. Time after Time/ cyndi Lauper
5. Sweet Love / Anita Baker
6. Sweetest Taboo / Sade
7. Bein With You / Smokey Robinson
8. Islands in the Stream / Kenny & Dolly
9. Tenderness & I Confess / General Public a.k.a. English Beat
10.Message in a Bottle / The Police
11. Sweet Child of Mine / Guns N Roses
12. Puttin on the Ritz / Taco
13. Panama & Hot for Teacher/ Van Halen
14. Thriller & Beat It /MJ
15. Karma Chameleon / Culture Club
16. Could you be Loved / Bob Marley
17. Xanadu / Olivia Newton John
18. Wake me Up / WHAM
19. Special/ The Pretenders
20. Can You Hear Them?/The Go Go’s
21. Walkin in LA/ Missing Persons
22. Lookin For Love / Johnny Lee
24. Cruel Summer / Bananarama
25. Goody 2 Shoes / Adam Ant
26. Hold my Heart / Thompson Twins
27. My Sharona / The Kinks
28. Video Killed the Radio Star / Buggles
29. Brass Monkey / Beastie Boys
30. Planet Rok Afrika Bambaata
31. Rio /Duran Duran
32. Freaks come out at night / Whodini
33. Jam on it / Newcleus
34. Genius of Love / Tom Tom Club
35. Willie Nelson / Always on my mind
36. Land Down Under / Men at Work

Music videos played at the reception:
Formal Introduction: Herbie Hancock – Rockit
First Dance: Dixie Chicks – Lullaby
Father Dance: Frank Sinatra – That’s My Baby
Bridal Party Dance: Soup Dragons – I’m Free
Anniversary Dance: Dean Martin – Just In Time
Balloon Drop: Prince – Let’s Party Like it’s 1999

80s Dance Party
Foreigner – Waiting For A Girl Like You
Van Halen – Hot For Teacher
Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl
Steve Miller – Abracadabra
Pretenders – Special
Prince – Let’s Go Crazy
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just wanna Have Fun
Blondie – Heart Of Glass
Madonna – Material Girl
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
Chaka Khan – I Feel For You
Kool & The Gang – Ladies Night
Afrika Bambata – Planet Rock
Kurtis Blow – The Breaks
Whodini – Freaks Come Out At Night
Tom Tom Club – Genius Of Love
Rick James – Super Freak
Zapp & Roger – I Wanna Be Your Man
Newcleus – Jam On It
Lipps Inc. – Funkytown
De La Soul – Me Myself And I
Musical Youth – Pass The Dutchie
Bob Marley – Stir It Up
Eddie Grant – Electric Avenue
UB40 – Red Wine
George Clinton – Atomic Dog
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
Buggles – Video Killed The Radio Star
Devo – Whip It
Culture Club – Karma Chamelion
Stray Cats – Built For Speed
Go-Go’s – Vacation
Adam Ant – Ant Music
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Clash – Rock The Casbah
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Taco – Puttin’ On The Ritz
Madonna – Like A Virgin

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Photos: Byron Roe Photography
DJs: Bobby Brown and Dave Wilkins, Star Entertainment DJs