How to choose the music for your Wedding Day (Reception)
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May 18, 2015

There are many styles of music and when we talk about wedding music we need to include your favorite music along side your family and guests and mix it all up.

A professional DJ knows the perfect music for each part of the night.

A meeting with the you and your partner before the wedding will help your DJ to understand your styles and desires for the music and will make him best prepared to create the atmosphere that you want for your wedding reception.

Requests:

Many people come to the DJ during the wedding and ask for their favorite songs, at times it works great and at times its does not. A professional DJ will know how to be with the people and when to play their song of choice.

Overall when someone requests a song and you play it for them they are over the moon and tell everyone – this is the song that I requested, as a DJ I love giving people what they want and making them happy but not in the cost of loosing the crowed or creating an awkward moment.

I have a folder with me where people can write their requests, in this way I can remember their requests and play it in the right moment.

Choosing the music for the Special moments:
  • Entrance of the bridal party
  • Speeches
  • Cake cutting
  • First dance
  • Departure song

(Please see specific in-depth article for each special moment.)

How to work with your partner about music choices:

It is best if both of you like the same music, or open for each other differences. In this case I suggest that you make a date where you make a nice space, light some candles, have a special dinner at home and share with each other your ideas, listen to music and make the playlist. From what my clients tells me this is one thing about planning a wedding that they both find enjoyment, fun, a sense of excitement and something that they do together for the wedding day.

If there is nothing that you can agree on then one of you can choose the entrance and cake song and the other can choose the first dance and departure song. I can see with many couples that choosing the music is one of the ways they start to share their differences, and accept one another. I find that acceptance and thinking about the other person and letting them have their say goes a long way in planning the music and planning your life.

The Music for the Reception:

The music for the reception can be divided into 3 parts:

For people that like to have their own signature on the music for the night I suggest that they will choose 10 songs for each part. Like this it is not a big task for them, and they can focus on the songs they love the best and trust the DJ to continue in the style that they have chosen.

Pre Dinner Music:

Something relaxing that will make your guests feel welcomes as they enter the venue. I can see that when people arrive to a new place they look for something that will make them feel safe, at home, relaxed, and choosing the right music will help your guests feel at home.

It could be Classics and Popular music, or Chill, or Jazz, or Classical, but since it is a Wedding Day it is best if it is to do with love.

I like to call the first part “Soft Love” and any music that makes you feel like this will fit the pre dinner music perfectly.

Dinner Music:

This could be a continuous flow from the pre dinner music though a little more racy so the energy in the room has picked up. Songs that you and your guests can have a sing-a-long to or have a little boogie in your chair.

Party Music:

"In my experience I have found what works best for weddings is a combination of old classics some top 40 plus the new music YOU are into at the moment, and just mix it up to get everyone on the dance floor because when everyone is dancing its a great celebration! “That is my main objective."

What style to start the party of with will depends on the demography of your guests. Usually it is a mixture of family and friends and the ages go from 18 – 70yrs old. In this case it is best to start with classics popular music to get everyone involved and then to mix it up as you go with top 40, dance music and the music that you are into at the moment.

If your guests are mostly your friends or you know that you would prefer a certain style of music then you can work it with your DJ at you pre Wedding DJ interview where you can decide on the style and flow of the night.

Example of playlists:

This playlists are examples to give you an idea on how to mix some old classics, some new and some alternative songs. All in the same mood and work very well together. Playlists cannot replace a professional DJ that can read the crowed and keep the dance floor pumping.

Pre Dinner Playlist:
  • 1. Norah Jones Come Away With Me
  • 2. Pete Murray So Beautiful
  • 3. Sting Fields Of Gold
  • 4. Jack Johnson Better Together
  • 5. Van Morrison Moondance
  • 6. Red Hot Chili Peppers Hard to Concentrate
  • 7. Nat "King" Cole L-O-V-E
  • 8. Train Marry Me
  • 9. Etta James At Last
  • 10. Elton John Can You Feel The Love Tonight
  • 11. Eric Clapton Wonderful Tonight
  • 12. Beatles And I Love Her
  • 13. Bee Gees How deep is your love
  • 14. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross Endless Love
  • 15. U2 Beautiful Day (Acoustic)
  • 16. Chris De Burgh Lady In Red
  • 17. Elvis Presley Can't Help Falling In Love
  • 18. Simply Red For Your Babies
  • 19. Dusty Springfield The Look Of Love
  • 20. Lior This Old Love
  • 21. Angus & Julia Stone Wedding Song
  • 22. The Waifs love serenade
  • 23. Ed Sheeran Kiss Me
Dinner Playlist:
  • 1. Bryan Adams Heaven
  • 2. Van Morrison Brown Eyed Girl
  • 3. Madness It Must Be Love
  • 4. Johnny Cash Ring of Fire
  • 5. Neil Diamond Sweet Caroline
  • 6. Don Mclean American pie
  • 7. Elvis Presley Suspicious Minds
  • 8. Queen Crazy Little Thing Called Love
  • 9. U2 Sweetest Thing
  • 10. CCR Lookin' Out My Back Door
  • 11. Kenny Rogers The Gambler
  • 12. Queen You're My Best Friend
  • 13. Jason Mraz I'm Yours
  • 14. Cold Chisel Choir Girl
  • 15. Dean Martin That’s Amore
  • 16. Train Hey, Soul Sister
  • 17. Steve Miller Band The Joker
  • 18. Hunters and Collectors Throw Your Arms Around Me
  • 19. Empire Of The Sun We Are The People
  • 20. Bob Marley & The Wailers Could You Be Loved
  • 21. Imagine Dragons On Top Of The World
  • 22. Boy & Bear Fall At Your Feet
  • 23. Coldplay Paradise
  • 24. Rihanna Diamonds
  • 25. Fun. Ft. Janelle Monáe We Are Young
  • 26. Jason Derülo Marry Me
  • 27. Sade Your Love Is King
Party playlist:

For the party you can see a good idea of mixing things up, giving everyone a good time by playing songs that everyone can relate too. Starting with old Classics, mixing in some top 40, then some classic rock, some 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and you keep on moving like this. Of course this is not to replace a professional DJ who will read and move with the people though it can give you an idea of a good flow of the dance floor in a wedding.

The requests of the Bride and Groom need to be taken into account, if they like Triple J then we can make a section after 10:30pm where we play the style that they like, usually by then the older guests have had a good dance and can do with a rest.

The idea is that in a wedding the age group is so wide and it is good to take care for everyone because what everyone wants is a good time on the dance floor and it is DJ Avi’s passion to make this happen.

  • 1. Queen Crazy Little Thing Called Love
  • 2. Jive Bunny Swing The Mood
  • 3. Smashmouth I'm A Believer
  • 4. Elvis vs JXL A Little Less Conversation
  • 5. Pharrell Williams Happy
  • 6. Robin Thicke f Blurred Lines
  • 7. Avicii Wake Me Up
  • 8. Rolling Stones Satisfaction
  • 9. AC/DC Shook Me All Night Long
  • 10. Michael Jackson Billie Jean
  • 11. Vanilla Ice Ice Ice Baby
  • 12. N-Trance /Bee Gees Staying Alive Remix
  • 13. ABBA Mamma Mia
  • 14. Ike & Tina Turner Nutbush City Limits
  • 15. Rednex Cotton Eye Joe
  • 16. Pitbull Ft. Ke$ha Timber
  • 17. Black Eye Pea I Goota Feeling
  • 18. LMFAO Party Rock Anthem
  • 19. Savage Swing
  • 20. T-Pain Low
  • 21. Sir Mix-A-Lot Baby Got Back
  • 22. Salt N Pepa Push It
  • 23. Whitney Houston I Wanna Dance With Somebody
  • 24. Guns N' Roses Paradise City
  • 25. Cold Chisel Khe Sanh
  • 26. Bon Jovi Livin' On A Prayer