Over the next few weeks I’ve invited a variety of DJs from Scratch Weddings to supply a guest mix! Each mix will be based on a certain part of the wedding day, and will hopefully provide you with some musical inspiration for your day! Today, DJ Stef Nava shares a fantastic compilation of tunes for your cocktail hour!

The key to creating the perfect soundtrack for cocktail hour is choosing feel-good songs with a relaxed, mellow vibe. This is the time to play any songs that you love that are not quite danceable. My personal favorites to play at this time are from “legendary crooners” like Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. You can’t go wrong with classics like “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Unforgettable.” Add into the mix some motown, doo-wop, and soul from the 50′s and 60′s, like Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, The Four Seasons, Sam Cooke, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.

If jazz is your thing, classics from Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Ronnie Foster, Ella Fitzgerald, Sara Vaughn and Billie Holiday are ideal picks.
For the soul/funk fan, Chaka Khan, The Brand New Heavies, Earth Wind & Fire, Al Green, Roy Ayers, and Curtis Mayfield are perfect artists to throw into the mix. Here’s a sample cocktail hour playlist from all different genres!

“Here Comes The Sun” – The Beatles
“Just My Imagination” – The Temptations
“I Second That Emotion” – Smokey Robinson and The Miracles

“Luck Be A Lady” – Frank Sinatra
“It’s Love” – Jill Scott
“Kiss Is On My List” – Hall & Oates

“Peg” – Steely Dan

“Better Together” – Jack Johnson
“Outstanding” – The Gap Band
“Yellow” – Coldplay

“Sweetest Thing” – U2

“That’s Where It’s At” – Sam Cooke
“Is This Love” – Bob Marley
“L-O-V-E” – Nat King Cole
“Ain’t That A Kick On The Head” – Dean Martin
“By Your Side” – Sade

“Alright” – Jamiroquai
“I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)” – Stevie Wonder

“Lost Without You” – Robin Thicke

“Your Song” – Elton John
“Wonderful Tonight” – Eric Clapton
“Lowdown” – Boz Scaggs
“Rock With You” – Michael Jackson
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

“The Very Thought Of You” – Billie Holiday

“That’s How Strong My Love Is” – Otis Redding

“What a Fool Believes” – The Doobie Brothers
“I Know You, I Live You” – Chaka Khan

“You’re All I Need to Get By” – Marvin Gaye

“Cruisin” – D’ Angelo
“You Are the Best Thing” – Ray Lamontagne

“That’s the Way of the World” – Earth Wind & Fire