Selecting songs for your wedding or other event can be a daunting task. Check out some of our tips below, hopefully they can provide some help.
1. How Many Songs Do You Need? The average song length is around 3.5 minutes, this equals about 15-17 songs per hour. So, for a 4-hour dance event you only need 60-68 songs. For our purposes let’s use 60 songs for a 4-hour dance event as our baseline.
2. What about those CRAZY Line or Group Dance Songs? Determine if your event will include group activity dances such as line dances, participation dances, mixers, games, etc. These types of songs can be great ice breakers to help get the event going. Some people love these, others can't stand them, It's up to you! Your DJ can help make some recommendations.
3. Does the Age of My Reception Guests Matter? When planning your event music, keep in mind the demographics of your guest list. How many Teens, 20-year old's, 30-year old's, 40-year old's, 50-year old's, 60-year old's, 70-year old's and above will be attending, you get the idea. Here's the thing, you need to decide at the very beginning of this process if you want to select music to entertain all or most of your guests, or if you plan on playing music that you and your group of friends will enjoy. Our recommendation is to plan your music to match your preferences but also the event demographic, this method usually provides a much more enjoyable experience for most of your guests.
4. What Type of Songs Should I Use? Keep in mind some of the songs you use may be really great and have significant meaning to you. However, they may not work well as dance songs. If your goal is to have a dance floor filled with people, consider songs that are known as popular dance songs for the average audience, the DJ Intelligence Top 200 Song list is a good place to start. If dancing is not your priority, then this is not that important.
5. My way or the Highway Song List? Avoid creating a top to bottom song list without consulting your DJ. Your DJ knows how to group songs together, songs that really get a dance floor moving, and others that can kill the dance floor. None of this is perfect science, and you never really know how things will work out, but good song set planning can help.
6. Modular Planning Approach. Think in terms of building your song list in 5 song groupings, this modular approach makes it easy, this is one way of many, perhaps it could work for you.
7. DO NOT! Play List. Don't forget to let your DJ know about your don't play list. Many clients are adamant that certain songs are not played at their event, sometimes an extensive list is created that includes songs that average guests would really enjoy and are known dance favorites. This is your event, but the suggestion here is to try to find a balance that can make your event a success.
8. Playlists. Make use of Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, iTunes or other music services to help in your planning. Providing a link to your DJ is a great way to communicate your song selections.
9. Ceremony Prelude/Postlude Music. prelude and postlude music is light background music that is played while guests are being seated (and when they are dismissed after the ceremony). We generally recommend light piano/strings or soft pop background music. However, a light pop or country themed set also works well. We suggest that clients avoid aggressive or dance music at this point in the event.
Sample Ceremony Order of Events
Prelude and Postlude Songs / Music
Prelude and Postlude music is light background music that is played while guests are being seated (and when they are dismissed after the ceremony). We generally recommend light piano/strings or soft pop background music.
Seating of Family (Mothers, Fathers, other family members)
Song Needed: Yes
Song Title:
Artist:
Processional Entrance of Officiant & Groom, Wedding Party (groomsmen and bridesmaids)
Song Needed: Yes
Song Title:
Artist:
Bridal March (Entrance of Bride)
Song Needed: Yes
Song Title:
Artist:
Recessional The recessional song is played when you exit the ceremony as husband and wife
Song Needed: Yes
Song Title:
Artist: