Wedding receptions are almost as hard to plan as the wedding ceremony itself. I find there are just so many different elements that you have to contend with here. You’ve got the actual style of your reception, the venue, the table placements, the food, the drinks – there’s SO much!
I also find that there’s often one aspect that doesn’t get the attention it deserves, even though it can almost make or break your night. I’m talking, of course, about the music. Having the right music at your reception is such a big deal as people will either love it or hate it. The big wonder is; how do you choose the perfect music? Well, here are some tips to help you figure this out:
Bring Together A Collection Of Musical Styles
The worst thing you can do is play one type of music at your wedding. If you do this, you’re banking on everyone liking the exact same stuff. Otherwise, what will most likely happen is that large portions of your guests get bored after an hour. So, you have to bring a diverse playlist to the table that includes a collection of musical styles.
Here are a few genres that I think work really well at wedding receptions:
- Romantic music
- Cheesy pop hits
- Dance tunes
- Old songs from the early ’00s, ‘90s, and ‘80s
Usually, if you have a mix of these, then everyone is happy with the musical choices!
Hire A Live Band/DJ
Choosing the perfect music isn’t just about finding the right songs to play. It’s also about playing them in the best way possible. You could hook up a phone to some speakers and play through a playlist, but this hardly creates the best atmosphere. Instead, you could consider hiring live wedding bands from Alive Network or finding some DJ’s that will play at your event. With live music, you can really make the music sound much better and more authentic. I particularly think this works well for your first dance or all the romantic songs. Nothing captures the true romance of a wedding quite like some live music. DJ’s are really good for playing a playlist of party tunes and getting everyone involved in the festivities. For me, they’re well worth hiring rather than trying to DJ yourself using a phone and an aux cable!
Get Feedback From Some Guests
A really easy way of finding out what music will go down well with your guests is by getting feedback from them. Ask as many people as you can what type of music they’d like to hear at your wedding reception. This can help you shape a playlist and put in songs from different genres. You could even get some of your close friends to listen to the playlist and give their thoughts. They might suggest some songs you never thought of or tell you to get rid of a few. Either way, it gives you a greater understanding of what your guests will be into.
Follow these tips, and you’ll soon be able to put together the perfect music playlist for your wedding reception party!
