Wedding Music Tips

Let's talk Wedding Music Tips! I'm covering everything you need to know below!

I am a wedding photographer in Los Angeles, California. Interested in wedding photography? You can view my portfolio, HERE.

Now that we got that plug out of the way, let’s talk about everything you need to know when it comes to booking your wedding DJ or band?

Music can have a HUGE impact on any event. It has the power to shift emotions, making people FEEL, and elevate one's energy levels. It brings liveliness & joy to any event. With this said, it's important to select a music option that makes sense with the vibe you're trying to create.

When will You Need Music During Your Wedding?

30 minutes before your ceremony, during your ceremony, during your cocktail hour, and during the reception.

Most Popular Music Options

1. DJ - Flexible & great music selection
2. String Quartet - Typically during the ceremony/cocktail hour
3. Variety Band - Typically 4 - 6 musicians that play variety music, everything ranging from oldies to modern
4. Jazz Band - Definitely niche, but depending on the vibe you're going for, this may be a really awesome option. Personally, I LOVE this.
5. Cover Band - High energy & fun. Works great for a younger crowd. They tend to come in costumes and engage with guests.

Tips on Your Wedding Day Music

Consider the Space - Wedding Music Tips

If you have a really intimate space, it probably wouldn't make sense to hire a 6 piece band. Vice versa, if you have an extra large space, an acoustic string quartet during the reception wouldn't work. In this case, sound amplification via connecting the instruments to speakers is a must.

A plus of hiring a DJ is that they can accommodate any space with their sound equipment.

Consider Your Guests

I feel torn about this advice, because on one hand I feel SO STRONGLY about couples being very intentional with their decisions regarding their wedding. I think it's always a great idea for them to ask themselves "why are we choosing this. Does this feel right for US?" Wedding planning can often involve taking in too many opinions and this often lends to an event that doesn't end up feeling the couple. So it's important to stay in tune with oneself during the planning process and this applies to music. I think couples should select music that they personally love.

However, in the same vein, it also really depends on the ambiance you're going for. If you're trying to achieve a dancing party atmosphere, it's important to consider "what type of music is going to get my 75 year old grandpa, along with my 5 year old nephew, my 50 year old aunt, and my 21 year old cousin out on the dance floor?"

In this case it's a good idea to select some variety, upbeat music.

If you're a couple who has a very specific music taste, I think it's important to communicate this to the DJ so that they can incorporate some of that type of music throughout the night along with some upbeat, dance type of music that all your guests will enjoy and will get them out on the dance floor (if this is the vibe you're going for, of course!).

Consider Timing - Wedding Music Tips

Most DJS are booked 4-6 hours, however, if you anticipate needing them for more, I'd book them for longer in advance to avoid overtime fees.

Look Into Noise Ordinances

This varies from venue to venue, but it's especially important to note when it comes to backyard weddings. For info on noise ordinances in Los Angeles, click here.

Plan for your Dances - Wedding Music Tips

This includes the grand entrance, the first dance, parent dances and any other special songs you want played throughout the night. If you're working with a band, these selections need to be given to them well in advance so they can learn these songs.

Have an MC

Usually the DJ or lead singer of a band takes care of this, but basically the MC will narrate certain parts of the night, like announcing the grand entrance, speeches, dinner, etc. An MC makes all the difference in helping everything run smoothly.

I think it's SO IMPORTANT to schedule a phone call with your DJ or band in advance to go over everything, including music selections, announcements, names and the way they are pronounced, family nuances, etc.

Try to Avoid Micromanaging

You want to give your musicians a list of around 20 ABSOLUTELY DO PLAY songs and a list of DO NOT PLAY songs and then a few genres of music you love along with genres you would rather not have played. You also want to fill them in on your special songs and go over important names and how they are pronounced during certain announcements.

Apart from this, I think it's a good idea to just relax and let them handle it. Be present on the wedding day and trust them to do their job and read the room when it comes to music choices.

Alright, so that's it for as far as my wedding music tips go! Hopefully this was helpful!

If you have any questions about wedding photography, you can reach me HERE.