Reception Music

The music for your reception should provide a pleasant background as well as an opportunity for everyone to celebrate through dancing. If you both have an ‘our song’ your reception would be the ideal place to play it.

There are many styles and selections of suitable for reception music out there and it is hard to know where to begin.

You might like to consider your own tastes in music, as well as those of the wedding guests (you will have guest of all ages at your wedding and you should consider them when making your selection).

It could be quite boring and annoying to the older guests if you where to play modern music to which they could not dance to, so try to have a good balance to keep everyone happy.

A good place to start is to consider the location of the reception, and the theme of your wedding, and your budget. You may also have to consider family or ethnic traditions.

The location is very important; some reception sites do have restrictions on the type of music that can be played. If you are having the ceremony and reception at home you would have to consider your neighbors.

You should also consider the geography of the location, it could be quite difficult to bring some music equipment to say a national park, or have some large instruments such as a harp taken up a fight of stairs.

The size of your guest list is also important. Hiring a large band to play the reception music for a small number of guests might be a bit overdone. The general rule when hiring musicians is:

For a small wedding hire a three piece band.

For group numbers up to one hundred a five piece band could be hired.

For group numbers larger than one hundred a seven-piece band or large orchestra could be hired to play the reception music.

You could also ask recommendations from friends who have been recently married or look in the yellow pages and newspapers.

If you are on a tight budget consider hiring a DJ to play your reception music, they usually have their own sound system, and a variety of music.

Some DJ’s can also act as the Master of Ceremonies. They could also provide special lighting, smoke effects or bubbles as the reception music is played. But remember don’t assume that they are all cheaper than a band check their prices before hiring them.

Before hiring a DJ ask him what the type of music and what special effects he has. If you can, go and see him in action or ask him/her if they could give you names of people that he has played for.

Another inexpensive alternative is to hire the same musicians for the ceremony and the reception. It could work out cheaper than hiring separate groups.

If you have some friends who have a good selection of music and a good sound system they may be able to be in charge of the musical entertainment for the evening. Go through the selection of music well before the wedding and plan what you want for your reception music.

You should also check that the reception venue is large enough to have a dance floor if you want dancing. If a large number of your guest actually object to dancing (some religions do) it might be better not to have dancing.

The reception music played should capture the mood of the celebrations bringing out lively emotions. There will be a few key moments at the reception that you will have to choose special music for:

The First Dance. The newlywed’s have their first dance as a married couple. This is traditionally danced to a tune that is special to them. The first dance is the highlight of the reception. Click here for a selection of First Dance Wedding Music.

Father Daughter Wedding Music this usually takes place after the first dance, and the music is a tune that usually has some meaning to them.

The Mother-Son Dance is usually the third official dance, and this also usually requires some special music.

Cutting of the Cake Select pieces of music that are gentle and don't detract from the moment.

The Last Dance is the last song of the night and traditionally is the same tune that is played during the couple’s first dance.

Music for dancing

On A Night Like This – Kylie Minogue

I Say A Little Prayer – Diana King

Give Me The Night – George Benson

Whisper Your Name – Harry Connick Jr

Let’s Stick Together – Bryan Ferry

Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen

I Do, I Do, I Do – ABBA

You Really Got Me – The Kinks

You SexyThing – Hot Chocolate

Music Sounds Better With You – Stardust

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours – Stevie Wonder

Sex Machine – James Brown

Dizzy – The Wonderstuff

Big Time Sensuality – Bjork

Best Of My Love – The Emotions

Dancing In the Moonlight – Toploader

More Than A Woman – Tavares

She’s A Lady – Tom Jones

My Sharona – The Knack

Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry

Celebration – Kool And The Gang

Master Blaster – Stevie Wonder

Entertaining Ideas

Once everyone has eaten your guests will be in a party mood. You need entertainment which suits the style and formality of your wedding. A five piece band would be perfect for the formal wedding whereas a good DJ with a great selection of reception music will be suitable for the more informal wedding. If your budget allows, try to mix the entertainment as the evening goes on.

Think not only of reception music, perhaps a magician moving from table to table during the reception, or have an artist sketch your guests, or hire a photo booth, have a clown for the younger guests, this will give it a real party mood. For a formal wedding you might benefit from a toastmaster, he will make sure everything will run smoothly and according to plan.

Tips

• Choose the music and musicians who best reflect your personality.
  

• Go and see the performers in action before hiring the band, musician, or DJ.
  

• Have a variety of reception music played so that everyone of any age enjoys the evening.
  

• Avoid playing songs that could offend some people.
  

• Have some karaoke during the night.
  

• Hire other non musical entertainers, and this is a great way to keep the children occupied.