Choosing Your Wedding Music

I may be a bit biased, but I happen to think that the music is one of the biggest factors in setting the mood on your wedding day. Whether you want your wedding to be fun and funky, sweet and sentimental, or classic and romantic, the music will play a role in painting that picture for your guests. Here are a few pointers in planning the music for your day.

First, tradition is out the window. If you haven’t discovered this already as you plan your wedding, tradition is no longer something to worry yourself about. (Unless you want to of course – family and cultural traditions are always meaningful and special at weddings.) If you love classical music, and think a string quartet is perfect for your ceremony, that is exactly what you should use. But if you have never listened to classical music in your life and think you have to use it because it is traditional – think again. You can shimmy down the aisle to Chris Brown if you want, as we learned from Jill and Kevin (or Jim and Pam, if you are fans of The Office) – even at a church wedding! Play the music that suits your personal taste and your wedding style, and let your grandma worry about traditions.


As far as the reception goes, think about what you want the atmosphere to be. If you have chosen a band for your wedding, you have less to worry about, because you already have an idea for the style of music that will be played. If you’ve chosen to hire a DJ, make sure to discuss with him or her how you imagine the evening will play out. Whether your primary goal is to get your guests shaking their tail feathers all night long or if you prefer to keep the music slightly more mellow for the sake of the older crowd, your DJ should know and plan accordingly. A very important tip is that if there is a certain song or two (or entire genre even) that you absolutely don’t want played at your wedding, be sure to give your DJ a no-play list as well.


Lastly, my advice on not only the music, but every aspect of your wedding day is: be you. Play the music that has meaning to you. No matter the style of your wedding, your guests are there to celebrate your love for one another, and the best way to make that happen is by representing who you are as a couple in all of your wedding details. When you look back at your day, you aren’t going to be concerned over whether your wedding songs were overplayed or unheard of, you will remember that you played the music that you both love, and that your guests had a blast.

Hope these tips are helpful!