When you ask people what they remember most about weddings, their answers won’t be the flowers or decorations. What makes a wedding memorable is conditional upon everyone having fun. Regardless if it’s a wedding or a birthday party, a good time is measured by delicious food, great drinks, and even better music.
So to answer the question, your reception playlist is very important.
Essentially, you want everyone, including you and your partner, to have a fantastic time. While that sounds like a lot of pressure falling onto the couple, having an awesome reception playlist is not as difficult as you think.
DJ vs. DIY Playlist: Which should you choose?
Rented system with play list vs DJ – Photo Credit – www.snapshotsbyclare.com
First, This section deserves it’s own post and Mike has assured me one is on the way. Second, If you are going to DIY it, do yourself a favor and rent a professional sound system. Give M&M Entertainment a call or text at 207.450.4960 or email at mike@wickedgooddj.com to get the right system for your event. As for the list itself…
Thanks to music streaming apps like Spotify, creating and playing your own reception playlist is easier than ever. One suggestion from a blog post on Kennedy Blue is to make the playlist public to give guests the freedom of adding their own songs, so that there’s a little something for everyone at the reception. If you do go the Spotify route, it’s best to upgrade to a premium account to skip all the advertisements.
Play List Management
But managing your own playlist has major downsides which make hiring a DJ Service a highly recommended option. Although a wedding DJ is an additional expense, the service you pay for is not just music. Good DJ’s are also MC’s, keeping the whole event running smoothly. They keep guests informed as to when things are happening. Your DJ will facilitate each special moment and transition to the next, keeping things running on time. This allows you and your guests to enjoy the day worry free. Plus, DJs are great at reading crowds and changing the vibe to get more people dancing.
Even if you have a family member or friend taking care of the DIY playlist, you might need a few rehearsals to make sure things run smoothly. As previously mentioned on M&M Entertainment, you need to and should be taken care of on your wedding day; the less you have to think about on the big day, the better.
What should you include in your playlist?
Put on your dancing shoes! – Image credit: Pexels
The Spruce shares all the typical music moments in a wedding, which is a great guide to follow when picking out all the personal, meaningful songs. As for the rest of the reception music, variety is key. Because your guests are all of various ages and have different musical tastes, it’s highly recommended to have tunes throughout the ages to appeal to everyone. Oldies are still goodies, after all. However, if you do have songs you absolutely cannot have played during your wedding, be sure to give that list to your DJ, or whoever is handling the music.
Even though the goal is to get all the guests dancing the night away, don’t be afraid to mix it up with some slow jams. Slow songs give them a break for food, drinks, picture-taking, and mingling. Slow songs will also let the lovebirds have a moment to themselves on the dance floor. Just make sure that the wedding ends on a high with a well-loved dance anthem. Guests should leave the reception with a smile on their face.
Don’t forget, it’s your wedding!
Last but not least, don’t forget to include your own favorite dance tunes in there as well. The Knot said it best, revealing that “the most fun weddings are those at which the newlyweds are having an absolute blast.” “Set an example for everyone by getting your happy selves out there as soon as possible.” Obviously, the playlist should include songs that will get both you and your partner dancing, but something else to factor in for the newlyweds is comfortable shoes. Brogues for men and heels for women can be painful to dance in, and unhappy feet can really set the mood for the rest of the night. To avoid the pain, consider changing shoes for the reception. Another alternative for the bride is to apply heel hacks from a style guide on Pretty Me to lessen the pressure on her feet.
Whether you end up with a DJ or a DIY playlist, your reception playlist surely won’t disappoint with all these tips in mind!
Exclusively written for wickedgooddj.com By Allison Davis
