Picking the Perfect Wedding Music
When organizing a wedding, there are myriad things to consider. Many take months deciding on decor and foot and floral arrangements in an attempt to wow their guests at the occasion. But how mush time is spent on choosing wedding music? How hard do people search for the proper wedding band? The choice to play or not to play a particular type of music isn’t just there to entertain guests, but to communicate something about the couple in hosting the event. With the right selection of songs or music genres, a wedding can become a memorable event for all in attendance.
The first thing that may come to the minds of many is to inspect their own personal collection of CDs and MP3s to find wedding music they’d deem suitable for all to listen and dance to during the reception. Others may reach out to the people closest to them that have some musical schooling to be their wedding band on the day in question. The familiar seems promising because it offers no surprises, and on a day that is dependent upon months, and in some cases years, of planning and organizing and purchasing, surprises are the last thing anyone would want to experience during their reception.
At a wedding, and especially one with many family members and friends in attendance, the familiar road is often the road one should avoid. With many different people of different ages and who hold different musical tastes, relying on a dance hall playlist from an iPod or a techno mix CD could make for an unenthusiastic crowd. That band that may sound well playing their friend’s garage may not be so great as a wedding band when they are expected to perform in front of the dozens if not hundreds in attendance.
When considering the option of hiring a person to play wedding music, a DJ or a professional band, spend time with them before the event, weeks or months in advance if that is possible. Meetings with music professionals is the prime opportunity to discuss musical tastes and dance routines the couple agrees on. Another thing to consider is the theme and overall feel needed to maintain the proper atmosphere at the wedding. High energy may require something rooted in synthetic sounds and electric pianos. A more intimate affair will employ softer sounds with low tempo and a more live presence rather than the motivating gestures and chants a DJ would utilize.
Music is also an area where input from the guests would be most welcome. Knowing what important friends and family members think fits a couple in terms of music or the occasion of a wedding can prove to be insightful and may even introduce songs that many may not have incorporated if left to their own devices. At times, couples have songs they feel capsulize their feelings for one another but prefer to keep them personal. This is something a DJ or a band would how and when to introduce it to the reception while maintaining that very personal feel.
Those who work in the music industry tend to have experience with having to please all members of an event at the same time. They often specialize in being able to take an individual’s likes and dislikes and expand on them without comprising their clients need in that particular venue. This limits the possibility of snafus on the dance floor and bored guests sitting at the reception.
While there are not fixed rules as to how address the issue of music at a wedding, it is important to apply a great deal of forethought and time to make sure that the proper music, and the feel it brings with it, are presented properly and professionally. While it is possible to have a couple be in charge of the music and perform ably, it is always best to have a professional at the wheel.
