Cocktail hour music: The formality of the ceremony is over and guests are ready to have a good time. The music for your cocktail hour is a great way to share your personal tastes so anything goes. Consider acoustic artists, crooners, reggae, love songs through the ages or any other genres that fit with your wedding theme. Work with your wedding DJ to create the playlist.
Reception entrance: The music for your wedding reception gives your guests a cue on what kind of event you will have. This starts with your Grand Entrance to the wedding reception. Choosing a fun song for bridal party introductions can help get the crowd ready for your big moment and give your guests a preview of what is to follow.
Dinner music: During dinner service, many couples opt for jazz without vocals so that guests can converse without distraction. As dinner service begins to wind down, consider adding some of your favorites. You can add electronic, oldies & motown, alternative ballads or whatever you like. It gets your guests ready to dance leading up to the party.
The first dance: The first dance is one of the most iconic wedding moments. Your friends and family are gathered to watch you share a dance as husband and wife. It’s one of the only moments in the day that you are alone – even if in front of your guests. You’ll think back to this moment every time you hear the song you danced to. Simply put, the song you choose has to be perfect. So how do you pick the right first dance song? Pick a song that has special meaning to you as a couple; the song you first danced to, played at your engagement, one you dance to at home – whatever invokes a happy thought. Choose a song with appropriate lyrics, a good melody and a short length. You want to enjoy the moment, not wonder how much longer you have to dance.
Father/daughter and mother/son dances: Whether you will each share a dance with your parents or combine them into one dance, most couples struggle to find the perfect song that expresses their love, without being romantic. Don’t worry, we have you covered! Click for father/daughter or mother/son dance song suggestions.
Reception music: Most receptions will open with traditional wedding dances for the couple, family and bridal party. At the completion of these dances, your guests will be invited to join you on the dance floor. Consult with your DJ to develop a list of must play, try to play and do not play songs. While it may be tempting to try to plan out every song for the night, it is highly advised to resist that temptation. A professional DJ is skilled at reading the crowd, selecting the best song to play next and keeping your party going. An experienced wedding DJ will understand that everyone is passionate about ‘”their style” of music and know how to tap into that passion and present it in a manner that everyone on the dance floor can get excited about together. They will know how to correctly weave in and out of many different styles of music and, ultimately, keep the party going all night long.
Cake-cutting: The cake cutting can be a fun, yet sentimental moment at your wedding reception. Many couples choose a “sweet” song, such as The Archies “Sugar, Sugar”, Sarah McLachlin’s “Ice Cream” or U2‘s “Sweetest Thing”. If you have a song that was high on your first dance list, but didn’t make the cut, the cake cutting is a great way to still incorporate that song.
Bouquet toss: The tradition of the bride tossing her bouquet to the single ladies at her wedding reception is often a favorite moment at the reception. In recent years, however, the popularity of this event has begun to wane.
Last song: Ending your reception on a high note gives your guests a final, lasting impression. Whether a special slow song for the romantics, or a sing-a-long for friends, give some consideration to your last song of the evening.