Old Skool Ska sounds for your wedding do from The Irregulars

If you’re looking to avoid the usual lounge singer style wedding bands that are out there, but still create a great atmosphere at your reception, don’t be afraid to try something new. Whether you’re a lover of Old Skool Ska and 2-Tone, or you know that the greatest hits of the genre will go down a storm, The Irregulars can cater perfectly.

The North London covers band specialise in events from parties to weddings, and perform hits by The Specials and even Smokey Robinson (mixing it up a little with a reggae version originally by The Beat). Great for pleasing punters of any age, reggae is a guaranteed floor filler. Find out more about the band and get in touch via their website.

More music ideas for your wedding and reception

Lost In Music: The First Dance # 67

Corinne Bailey Rae’s Like A Star is one of those songs that I knew without knowing I knew it. And it’s a perfect wedding song. Sweet, slow (but not too slow to dance to), romantic lyrics and people love a bit of Bailey Rae, don’t they?

Originality: 6

Tears-from-your-Mum Factor: 8

Inappropriate song of the week: Teenage Love Affair by Alicia Keys

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Lost In Music: The First Dance # 67

I’ve never heard of Lifehouse, but, watching a repeat of Gavin & Stacey last night, I heard a song that I immediately thought would make a perfect first dance song. Singing the lyrics to myself, I googled them and discovered it was You and Me by Lifehouse. It’s a waltz (I expect it to turn up on Strictly Come Dancing at some point too) with a repeated refrain of “I just can’t take my eyes off you”. Oh and the song is nowhere near as scary as the fizzogs on the band (well, two of them, anyway)…

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Lost In Music: The First Dance # 66

I’ve found another woman! Or a female-fronted band, at least.

I think Texas might have been one of those love ‘em or hate ‘em bands. I was never a fan, but I do like the song So In Love With You and can totally see it as a first dance song. It’s slow, but melodic and Sharleen Spiteri’s voice is lovely.

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Your first dance song… by Adam and Joe

Despite my best efforts every Wednesday, sometimes people still struggle to choose the perfect first dance song. Sometimes, people ask the Bridalwave readers for help. Other times, they contact the Adam and Joe show on BBC 6 Music. Listening to this week’s show, I heard Adam and Joe read out an email from a listener who wanted their help choosing a song. But they had a better idea…

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Lost In Music: The First Dance # 65

Despite having watched their hilarious, Spinal Tap-esque documentary, Some Kind of Monster, I’m not over-familiar with Metallica’s music, but I do know this particular song. And I bet you do too.

Nothing Else Matters has a lovely melody and romantic lyrics and would be a perfect choice if you’re looking for something heavier than the usual first dance fare.

Originality: 7

Tears-from-your-Mum Factor: 8

Inappropriate song of the week: Devil’s Dance by Metallica

Related: The UK’s top wedding ‘first dance’ tracks revealed by Shazam | Want to be famous? Choreograph your first dance… | YouTube wedding video: Norm and Renee’s first dance surprise

Lost In Music: The First Dance # 64

I’ve finally found another song by a female artist. Well, a female-fronted band anyway. Hold Me by The Cardigans is mid-tempo and wedding-appropriate. Plus, if you really, really don’t want to do a wedding dance, you can find a version lasting just 36 seconds! Find that – and the original, 3.41 version – on The Best of The Cardigans.

Originality: 10

Tears-from-your-Mum Factor: 8

Inappropriate song of the week: I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me by Annie

Related: Get the right moves with First Dance UK | The First Dance: why even Bridalwave can’t solve our tune crisis | You Tube wedding video: Amanda and Darren’s first dance

Lost In Music: The First Dance # 63

I’ve noticed that I struggle to find first dance songs by women. Surely all the most romantic songs aren’t by men, are they? I’ll have to keep trying, but, this week, it’s another male singer: David Gray.

His song, Be Mine, has perfect wedding lyrics:

From the very first moment I saw you
Thats when I knew
All the dreams I held in my heart
Had suddenly come true

And I know a lot of people really like his voice. I, er, don’t.

Originality: 7

Tears-from-your-Mum Factor: 9

Inappropriate song of the week: Don’t Marry Her by The Beautiful South

Related: The top ten wedding songs in the UK | Wedding Book of the Week: The Ultimate Wedding Music Kit | You Tube wedding video: Amanda and Darren’s first dance

Lost In Music: The First Dance # 62

I’d forgotten all about All-4-One’s I Swear until I spotted it online moments ago. I absolutely loved it when it came out in 1994 and I rather like it now, hearing it again. And it does sound like it was designed as a first dance song. Find it on iTunes as the single or on All-4-One’s Greatest Hits.

Originality: 7

Tears-from-your-Mum Factor: 9

Inappropriate song of the week: Crashed the Wedding by Busted

Related: The first dance – who’s having lessons? | YouTube: Real wedding couple choreograph an elegant first dance | YouTube wedding video: Julia and James’s first dance

Lost In Music: The First Dance # 61

This is one of my classic rock-lovin’ husband’s faves. You might know it better by Mariah Carey (unless you’re American, in which case, you’ll probably know the Journey version better). It’s romantic, it’s overblown, it’s cheesy!

Watch the video over the cut.

Originality: 7

Tears-from-your-Mum Factor: 9

Inappropriate song of the week: Hit the Road, Jack

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Lost In Music: The First Dance # 60

I know nothing about John Hiatt except that he’s written for artists including Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Roseanne Cash and so, as you’d probably imagine, he has a kind of country/bluesy sound.

What Love Can Do has a swingy melody that even the most dance-challenged will probably be able to shuffle around to, but it’s the lyrics that really stand out:

You dream a dream then the dream comes true
Can you imagine what love can do?
You’re alone in the coffee shop and then she’s by your side
Love picks up the tab and you’re both having pie

Find it on his album, Same Old Man.

Originality: 10

Tears-from-your-Mum Factor: 8

Inappropriate song of the week: Hit the Road, Jack

Related: The First Dance: why even Bridalwave can’t solve our tune crisis | The UK’s top wedding ‘first dance’ tracks revealed by Shazam | Want to be famous? Choreograph your first dance…

Lost In Music: The First Dance # 59

I love Alanis Morissette and yet it’s taken me til now to think of one of her songs for Lost In Music. What’s even stranger is that Everything is one of my favourite Alanis songs and the lyrics are almost perfect for a first dance. (Only almost because there’s an “asshole” in the opening line, but if you get the single, it’s been changed to “nightmare”!)

You see everything, you see every part
You see all my light and you love my dark
You dig everything of which I’m ashamed
There’s not anything to which you can’t relate
And you’re still here

Find it on The Collection or her album, So-Called Chaos.

Originality: 9

Tears-from-your-Mum Factor: 8

Inappropriate song of the week: Bleeding All Over You by Martha Wainwright

Related: The First Dance – who’s having lessons? | Want to be famous? Choreograph your first dance… | Get the right moves with First Dance UK

The top ten wedding songs in the UK?

Ever wondered what the top ten most popular wedding songs were, even if it is just so that you can avoid them? The Performing Right Society have surveyed wedding DJs to find out just who is the most requested first dance song from 2007 and you might not be suprised to find that Lonestar’s 1999 track ‘Amazed’ has topped the list.

Find out who else made the top ten after the cut…

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Lost In Music: The First Dance # 58

All this Mamma Mia frenzy has me a bit Abba-obsessed. Again. I’ve Been Waiting for You isn’t one of their best-known songs, but it is a gorgeous one. And, unlike most of Abba’s love songs, it’s about the beginning of a relationship rather than the end. (Although it is a teensy bit stalkerish…)

Because there’s no point talking about Abba – you need to watch them – the video for this song is over the cut.

Originality: 9

Tears-from-your-Mum Factor: 9

Inappropriate song of the week: When I Kissed the Teacher by Abba (unless one of the happy couple is, in fact, a teacher)

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Lost In Music: The First Dance # 57

Ah, the eighties. How I loved ‘em. I can see why some people wouldn’t want to go eighties for their wedding, though. But if you don’t mind, then how about an eighties first dance classic: Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You by Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson.

Really couldn’t be better could it? Watch the video over the cut and remember slow-dancing at a school disco…

Originality: 6

Tears-from-your-Mum Factor: 10

Inappropriate song of the week: Mr Loverman by Shabba Ranks

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