The Beat Goes On...Selecting the Music for Your Reception

Rule number one of entertaining: Do not allow guests to walk into a silent room. After the joyous occasion of your wedding ceremony, keep the energy flowing as guests arrive at the reception to toe-tapping, upbeat, and universally appealing music to get the party started on the right foot — or feet!

Your music is a key part of the design of your wedding celebration; an element that sets the mood from beginning to end. Most bands and professional DJs will help you get started on your reception music selection by suggesting popular playlists. Feel free to offer your own playlist from your iPod.

Keep in mind there will be three main phases to your reception. There is the initial entrance into the reception space, which should be engaging and upbeat, followed by the eating and mingling phase, where things can slow down somewhat so guests don’t feel rushed or frenzied while they are visiting with each other. Then, you can take the last hour or two to a full-blown “club” atmosphere if that’s your style; or keep things hopping with iconic favorites (Dancing Queen, anyone?). This is also the time for any crowd participation dances (your band or DJ can be a great source for suggestions here!).

If your musical tastes tend toward the obscure or extreme in any sense, remember that the majority of your guests will probably not share your passion for accordion music or mosh pits, so be sensitive to the very old and very young. If you just can’t do without those particular personal favorites, perhaps save them for the very late hours as the crowd dwindles down to the really hearty partiers. Also, make sure you communicate your preferred volume levels to your entertainment professionals in advance, so everyone can chat without having to shout over the music.

We all know you can’t please everybody all of the time, but there is so much music woven into the fabric of our culture you will, no doubt, find a way to make both grandmothers and groomsmen come away with a song or two in their hearts! ~AW  Content Contribution ~ EastCoast Entertainment