Planning the music for your wedding doesn’t have to be a stressful – in fact, it can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your wedding preparation! To help you achieve the perfect soundtrack for your wedding day, the following are what we consider to be the music-planning essentials:

  1. Have a listen before committing. If you are looking at hiring live musicians for your wedding ceremony/reception, make sure that you hear recordings of the musicians, or even better, see them live, before booking. You want to ensure you like their sound in the first place after all!
  2. Get it in writing. In order to avoid any misunderstandings, it’s crucial that your band or DJ provides you with a contract outlining all the essentials, including performance times, number of sets, number of performers etc.
  3. Going down the DIY route? If so, make sure you’re properly prepared. If you are inviting over one hundred guests, equip yourself with two 400 watt speakers, and a mixer, so the music reaches right to the back of the room. Also, give yourself plenty of time to prepare that playlist, as you’ll want music for a good 4-6 hours that everyone (or most people at least) will like.
  4. Ceremony music is important too! While it’s easy to remember that your reception will require music, don’t forget about your ceremony! A good formula for your ceremony music is to choose a sentimental song for your processional, an entertaining song for the register signing, and an uplifting/upbeat song for your recessional.
  5. What DON’T you want to hear? Informing your band or DJ of the songs you definitely don’t want played on the night can be just as important as letting them know the ones you do! If you can get a copy of the songs your band/DJ performs, it’s a good idea to return the list to them indicating the songs you like and dislike with ticks and crosses.
  6. Show your personality! Your music selections can be a great way to personalise your wedding. For important moments like your processional, reception entrance, and cake cutting, select songs that hold special meaning to you and your partner.
  7. Keep them in the loop. If you have a certain song in mind that you especially want performed, make sure to give your band plenty of notice so they have time to prepare. Same goes if you want them in a particular dress to reflect the theme of your wedding, or if you or one of your guests would like to perform with the band.
  8. Trust the professionals. While you should definitely let the band/DJ know what songs and artists you would like to hear on the night, don’t get too caught up in structuring the songs lists to a tee. If you’ve booked a professional group, they’ll have extensive experience at reading the crowd, and knowing what they want to hear, leaving you to just relax and enjoy the music!

Photography by Funkified Entertainment

Ms Gingham says: It seems logical doesn’t it, but this is the type of stuff you forget in the whirlwind of planning a wedding. Great advice! Thanks to Funkified Entertainment for the pointers!

When it comes to finding the right music for your special day, Funkified Entertainment can take care of everything, eliminating the stress so you can simply enjoy the celebration. Whether you are after sophisticated strings, laid-back jazz or a full on 9-piece cover band, we can match you and your partner with the perfect wedding entertainment.

Read previous posts by Funkified Entertainment here.