Right Tune

There's nothing like live music. Styles to consider: classical, jazz, swing, a cappella, folk, bluegrass, samba, klezmer, and reggae.

Words of Weather

Make light of less-than-ideal weather. Ask your DJ to spin It's Raining Men for stormy skies, Heatwave for sweltering heat, or Let It Snow for blizzard-like conditions.

Signature Song

What's more romantic than a song written just for you? Hire a composer to create your first dance music at weddingsongwriter.com.

Grand Exit

Exit your ceremony with fanfare. Arrange for a choir, flutist, or bagpiper to escort you and your wedding party to the reception.

Mix It Up

Mix your music styles to give your reception originality and to ensure a packed dance floor all night long. If you can, hire both a band and a DJ to pull off a greater variety of tunes.

Dedicated Attendants

Honor the married members of your wedding party by asking your band to perform each of their "First-dance" wedding songs. Print these dedications in your ceremony programs. 

A New Tune

For a nontraditional spin on your ceremony music, hire an acoustic guitar player instead of a pianist or string ensemble.

Floor-tastic

Hire a lighting company to project images on your dance floor. Stars, tree branches, or your monogram add flair and can even pulse to music for an energetic vibe.

Festive Feet

Kick off your reception with a fast first dance instead of a slow one to set a festive tone right from the start.

Beach Tunes

A calypso band is the ultimate accompaniment to a beach celebration. Hire one just for your cocktail hour to set a festive tone, or commission them to play all night long.

Line Dance

Hire a fiddler and caller for square-dancing to set the tone for a country affair. You can also cut a rug to Western swing bands, like: Asleep at the Wheel, the Lucky Stars, and Swing Soup.

Dance All Night

Hire professional dancers to draw guests out of their seats and onto the dance floor. Think salsa, tango, country-and-western, or belly-dancing.

Dance Time

When you have the first dance depends on your party’s style; generally, you’ll cue the DJ after the cocktail hour or before the first course. If you’re having a more formal reception, wait until after the toasts or before dessert.

Be Fluid

Andy Kushner, an outside-the-box bandleader based near Washington, D.C., suggests that brides should ask their band or DJ to allow no break between tunes because people walk away as songs end.

Cocktail Chords

If you're having instrumentalists perform at your cocktail hour, consider having them switch from classical to contemporary sheet music. You&'ll give your guests a treat and get them ready to for the reception festivities when the musicians change from Bach to the Beatles.