Selecting the Music for Your Wedding

On this week’s blog, I decided to discuss a subject that seems to be on the mind of every couple I meet with…what songs to play for their wedding.

Personally, I think the selection of wedding music is a great way to put a personal touch on your once-in–a-lifetime event, but also provides a unique opportunity for couples to express themselves in a way very few other mediums allow.

Because of the very personal nature of wedding music, it’s very hard for me (or anyone I suppose) to say, “These are the songs you should go with,” without getting to know the couple and what they are looking for in regards to their wedding. However, what I can do is provide you with some guidance on which moments you should select music for and some resources for those of you who might need a bit of inspiration.

Important music selections

I could probably write a post on each one of these, but I’ll just provide a quick overview for now. To me, I think the most important music choices to make for your wedding (in somewhat of a chronological order) are:

Bride Ceremony Processional – Have you noticed that no one ever announces the arrival of the bride? That’s because the music is doing it for them. This is a very beautiful and memorable part of the ceremony, and one that should be savored by selecting a song that allows the bride and her escort to proceed in a relaxed yet pronounced tempo.

Bride and Groom Ceremony Recessional – This is a time to celebrate, and your music should reflect this! Whether it’s classic or contemporary, this music should be used to announce to the world of your joy and happiness in marriage. Don’t be afraid to have fun with it!

Bridal Party Reception Entrances – This music gets the party started and puts your guests in the right mood to have a good time. Depending on your entertainer, playing songs to announce the bridal party can be done in several ways. You can select one song for the entire bridal party, a different selection for the best man and maid/matron of honor, or any other combination.

Bride and Groom Reception Entrance – They don’t call this part the “grand entrance” for nothing! All of your guests have been waiting for this moment, so be sure to make it memorable!  Up-tempo, high-energy music is usually the way to go here, but feel free to add some personalization by selecting a song that signifies your relationship or holds a special memory for you.

Bride and Groom First Dance – This is such a special song selection. This moment puts the couple in the spotlight, and all of your guests are watching. You will always remember this moment whenever you hear this song going forward, so make sure it’s special to you. The song should be meaningful, yet easy to dance to (think ballads here).

NOTE: Some couple come up with a special choreographed “surprise dance” that makes this moment even more unique (I’ll discuss this in a future post).
 
Where to go for help

If you get stuck on selecting some of the songs for your wedding, there is plenty of help available all around you. Your DJ can be a great resource for information, and don’t forget to also ask your venue coordinator or event planner for suggestions. Your family and friends can help here as well.

The internet has some great sites and pages that can help you find some recommendations for music. For example, WedAlert has some great song lists which are categorized help make your search easier.

There are even some mobile apps that can assist with this, such as Wedding Song Planner , My Wedding Music or FunWedding. These are great tools that you can use while you’re at a venue, meeting with a vendor or on the go.

While we provide our clients with an online planning form to easily send us their music selections, not every company uses this technology. Whatever music you select, make sure you let your DJ know about your selections as early as possible.
 
Although making song selections may seem like a tremendous task, it’s really a fun thing to do, and the effort will result in a memorable time on your special day.

About SOUNDBAR Entertainment

Based in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, SOUNDBAR Entertainment specializes in unique, custom wedding DJ and Sweet 16 DJ entertainment throughout the Northern New Jersey and metro New York City areas. Specializing in personalized music mixes and lighting design, SOUNDBAR Entertainment is the preferred DJ company for several major corporations, school organizations, non-profit companies and more. SOUNDBAR has been featured in several major events and festivals, as well as on NBC’s Today Show and the Music Choice Network.