How to Create Your Wedding Reception Playlist
Music is a crucial element of any wedding reception. It sets the tone and creates a festive atmosphere for your guests to enjoy. According to a survey conducted in 2015, 66% of couples choose to have a professional DJ at their wedding reception. In this blog post, we will provide you with some helpful tips on how to create your wedding reception playlist.
A. DECIDE WHAT SONGS WILL BE ON YOUR PLAYLIST
1. Start with Your Must-Have Songs
Your wedding day should be the day to celebrate your story, so prioritize the songs that have special meaning to you and your partner.
Song recommendations:
- Started as best friends? include Lucky I’m In Love with my Bestfriend by Jason Mraz
- Had a major breakup a few years back? include the band version of You’re Still the One by Shania Twain
- Felt lost for a long time before you two met? include Geronimo by Sheppard
2. Consider the Age Range of Your Guests
Your wedding reception is likely to have guests of all ages, so it’s important to choose music that will appeal to everyone. Consider including a mix of genres and eras in your playlist to cater to all age groups. Make sure to shuffle the playlist to ensure all guests get to enjoy it once in a while.
Pro-tip: You may opt for hits that have retained a spot in the Billboard Top 100 for at least 3 months over the past 5 to 10 years.
3. Consider the mood for every reception event
Consider the timing of your wedding reception events, such as the cocktail hour, dinner service, and dancing. Your playlist should reflect the different moods and stages of your reception.
Song recommendations:
- Cocktail hour – band music like Green Eyes by Coldplay
- Dinner – upbeat but not distracting like Every Breath You Take by Music Travel Love
- Dancing – upbeat lyrics and tune like I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyes Peas
4. Mix Up the Tempo and Energy of the Songs
Mixing up the tempo and energy of the songs in your playlist can keep your guests engaged and energized throughout the reception. Consider including slow songs for romantic moments and upbeat songs for dancing. The guests will enjoy the variety of music, and that will introduce an element of surprise. Spontaneous types are always where the fun is.
Song recommendations FOR ROMANTIC DANCING:
- Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel
- Piano solo of Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
- Piano solos of Disney songs like Can You Feel the Love Tonight
5. Include Requests from Guests
Allowing guests to make song requests can add a fun element to your wedding reception. Consider setting up a request station or allowing guests to make requests through a designated person, such as the DJ or band leader.
6. Avoid Offensive or Inappropriate Songs
Be mindful of the lyrics and messages of the songs you include in your playlist. Avoid songs with offensive or inappropriate language that may offend your guests. It’s important to create a playlist that is inclusive and respectful to all.
WHAT NOT TO PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION:
- Rap songs with obscene meaning
- Songs with lyrics about racism
- Songs with too many curse words
- Songs about suicide and negativity
- Songs that remind you, your partner, and the special people in your lives of a sad circumstance.
Pro-tip: Make a Do Not Play List.
7. Consider Including a Last Song
Including a last song in your wedding reception playlist can be a memorable and sentimental moment for you and your guests. Consider choosing a song that is meaningful to you and your partner or one that has sentimental value to your family or friends. To establish a connection with your guests for this last song, consider delivering a speech on why this song deserves to be played last. This is a good way to commence the reception of your wedding since your message and song can convey your journey, which might serve as an inspiration to your guests.
B. CREATE A WEDDING RECEPTION PLAYLIST PLAN
Now that you have the list of wedding reception songs, you have to plan when each song should be played. Here is a recommended format for planning this:
| Wedding Reception Event | Start Time | End Time | Songs to play | Allow song requests? Y/N | Do not play list |
| Getting ready | SONG 1 | ||||
| SONG 2 | |||||
| Entrance of newlywed | SONG 1 | ||||
| SONG 2 | |||||
| Serving of food | SONG 1 | ||||
| SONG 2 |
The good news is that our ULTIMATE WEDDING PLANNING WORKBOOK includes the following:
- Music Playlist Ideas
- Music Playlist Planner
C. FEW MORE PREPARATIONS
1. Check the volume
The volume of your wedding reception music is important to consider. You want the music to be loud enough for your guests to enjoy but not so loud that it becomes overwhelming. During the slow dance, the volume can be kept at a minimum to sustain the romantic mood and allow the dancing partners to have a worthwhile conversation. Be sure to communicate with your DJ or band about the appropriate volume levels for each event.
Pro-tip: Conduct an audio dry run at your venue days before your actual wedding.
2. Preview songs
Before your wedding day, make sure to listen to the audio files to filter those that are playing from those that are corrupted. If you hired a band or a DJ (or both), meet with them in advance to communicate your wedding reception playlist, the procedure for accepting song requests, the volume you prefer for every reception event, and most importantly, the mood that you want to maintain at your reception.
Creating your wedding reception playlist can be a fun and exciting process. Bear in mind that, through proper planning, you can create a memorable and enjoyable atmosphere for your guests to celebrate with you. Remember to communicate with your DJ or band throughout the process and to have fun with the planning process.
Reference Links
https://thebudgetsavvybride.com/perfect-wedding-reception-playlist/
