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Wedding Day Advice | Reception and Ceremony

Choosing the Right Wedding Music

When you are planning your big day there are so many things to remember, and sometimes organising the wedding music is unfortunately the very last thing on your list that gets attention. Try your best to avoid this predicament because choosing the right music is crucial to setting the tone, conveying your feelings and helping both you and your guests relax. It can be tricky to make decisions when it comes to hiring a live band or a DJ, and picking out the right songs doesn’t work well if you are stressed and rushed. So take your time when choosing both your wedding ceremony music and wedding reception music, and read through this brief guide weighing up the pros of who to hire, before going ahead with your entertainment planning.

choosing the right wedding music
Photo courtesy WPJA, Photographer Genevieve Nisly


Hiring a DJ
Play that funky music

A DJ is perfect when you want to be able to control exactly which songs that are to be played at your wedding. A DJ also comes in handy if you are not so keen on cover songs, but want to boogie to original tunes. Most DJs have a large variety of typical wedding music on file, which means that you can get him or her to play all your favourite songs throughout the evening whilst also accommodating your granny with Creedence Clearwater and your nephew with Snoop Dogg. Just beware of choosing the right DJ! A sign of enthusiasm is always good, as there is nothing worse than a bored DJ without self-initiative or without that crucial colourful personality that gets the crowd going. Also remember to make a deal in advance when it comes to how many hours and payment, as more often than not DJs will charge a fortune for overtime.

For a list of DJ’s have a look at our Music page

Hiring a Live Band
Put your dancing shoes on

Although it costs more, most people agree with the fact that there is nothing like live music, especially when it comes to getting a crowd on the dance floor. Also, if your wedding has a theme, a band can accommodate this and dress up accordingly. For instance, a Celtic band is perfect for an Irish wedding! Even though you might not be able to plan every song the band will be playing, a few surprises are not necessarily a bad thing. Just make sure you agree in advance on those specific songs you want or need at specific times. However most professional wedding bands have enough experience to know when to play what and when to keep quiet. Many live wedding bands might even agree to welcome requests from your guests, which is always a bonus.

For a list of live wedding performers have a look at our Music page

Wedding Ceremony Music
A time to get sentimental

You’re nervous and excited at the same time, and simply just waiting for that renowned bridal march to start so that your father can walk you down the aisle. Wagner’s ‘Here Comes the Bride’ is the most traditional choice here, but you might want to go with something more contemporary, or even something personal that reflects the love you and your husband-to-be shares. It’s also a good idea to have some prelude music playing when your guests are finding their seats and waiting for the ceremony to begin, as well as postlude music to play when your guests are exiting. Classical work, such as ‘Prelude and Fugue in C’ by Johann Sebastian Bach and ‘Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major’ by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, are perfect for these occasions. It’s advisable that you do some research or sit down with a wedding planner or a married friend or relative to brainstorm and write down your wedding ceremony music playlist well in advance. Because if everything is planned and ready, you’ll have one less thing to worry about on your big day.

Have a look at our top 10 ceremony music reccomendations

Formal Wedding Reception Songs
Your love songs

The Grand Entrance Song will be playing when the special couple enters the reception area, and is often an upbeat one to get the party started. But choose whatever you feel is appropriate, and remember that your first choice is always the right choice because your instincts are never wrong. The very first dance at your wedding reception is all about you and your man. Choose a song that is meaningful to you and brings back memories of falling in love and spending romantic quality time together. If you just can’t think of a special song, or if you prefer to go with a typical First Dance Song, ‘You Are My First, My Last, My Everything’ by Barry White and ‘It Had To Be You’ by Harry Connick Jr are popular choices. The Father-Daughter Dance is next on the list, and popular choices here are ‘My Girl’ by The Temptations and ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ by Stevie Wonder. The In-Laws Dance and the Mother-Son Dance follows suit, and at the end of the evening, when the newlyweds get ready to leave, the Last Dance Song marks the end of the reception and the beginning of the honeymoon. ‘Hit The Road Jack’ by Ray Charles is a classic here, and so is ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ by Frank Sinatra. If you really want to have everything planned down to a tee, the Cake Cutting Song and the Bouquet and Garter Tossing Songs will need to be picked as well.

Have a look at our Top Ten Contemporary First Dance Songs

General Wedding Reception Music
Variety does it

Once the formalities are out of the way, it’s important to get the wedding music right in order to put your guests in a party mood. Decide what type of atmosphere you want to create, whether it’s wild table-top dancing or formal and elegant waltzing, and discuss this with your hired DJ or live band well in advance. It’s a good idea to supply your entertainment with a do-playlist and a don’t-playlist, just in case Uncle Rob asks for the chicken dance song and this is something you really don’t want to go through. Also, don’t forget to keep in mind that you want to get your grandmother, your nephew, your parents, your cousins and your friends onto the dance floor at some stage during the evening, so make sure you have a variety of music on file in order to entice even the fussiest guest.

Have a look at our Top 100 Most Requested Wedding Songs

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