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.

Pipe It!

An easy way to cut costs during cocktails is to forgo live music and have it piped in. Nobody's going to notice those three musicians playing in a corner, and you'll easily save $400.

You Tune

Spice up a processional or recessional with some fun tunes—the ultimate personalization! Fun processionals we're hearing: "The Lonely Goatherd" for the flower girl, "California Girls" for the maids, "There She Goes" for the bride herself.

Bolly-mood

One new way bridesmaids are getting into the action is by entertaining guests with choreographed Bollywood dances. Bhangra music is a fixture at hip urban receptions.

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.

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. 

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.

Signature Song

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

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.

Right Tune

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

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.

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.

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.

Grand Exit

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

A New Tune

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