Having been scouting DJs for our wedding reception, we’ve been thinking about what songs we want to hear. Having just gotten married hisself, Jamie reminded me that there’ll be some songs we won’t want to hear.

Here’s what we have so far for the do-not-play list we’re going to give to the wedding DJ:

• “Chicken Dance” (sorry Wanker)
• Anything Graham requests (sorry G, your reputation precedes you)
• “The Hokie Pokie” (the insinuation that “that’s what’s it’s all about” offends my post-9/11 sensibilities)
• “The Macarena” (sorry Yankee fans)
• “Celebration” (we want to level set your expectations: our reception will not “last throughout the years”; it will last for one night—so drink up)
• “We Are Family” (some of us are, but some of us aren’t; we don’t want to offend)
• “Electric Boogie” (aka “The Electric Slide”) (sure “it’s electric,” but it also stinks)
• “Love Shack” (sorry Tex)
• “Last Dance” (I don’t know this song, but if Cortney and Jamie were too good for it, so are we)
• “That’s What Friends Are For” (sorry Rock Hudson)
• “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” (sorry Margaret)
• Anything by Bruce Springsteen (as if—I figured it was easier to mention it here than let one of you jokers suggest it in the comments)

Got suggestions? Post ‘em in the comments.

Last Tuesday Margaret and I met with Rev. Paul Abernathy at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. We have three pieces of good news.

• Upon entering church property my person was not engulfed in flames (it happened before, on two nonconsecutive occasions).
• We liked his approach and asked him to officiate at our wedding ceremony.
• Paul (he asked to be called by his first name) seemed to agree with our decision to get married (in his defense we did only meet for 90 minutes).

Now we are reading the “Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage” in The Book of Common Prayer and determining what passages appeal the most to us.

We have four meetings with Paul between now and Sept. 22. In contrast with many people who roll their eyes when talking about their premarital meetings with the minister (I’m looking at you Catholics), Margaret and I find ourselves looking forward to it. (Hey, it allows me to say niceties about Margaret without coming off as pathetic.)

If you want to learn more information about Paul, read his biography at St. Mark’s website.