Wedding Reception Music: What, Where and When
Part 2 – Reception
Now for the fun part. At your reception, you can relax, kick up your heels, and simply focus on enjoying yourself. And what better way to create a fantastic atmosphere that having music to enhance the entire experience? With a glass of bubbly in hand, mingle with family and friends, dine on some fabulous food, and finish up by dancing the night away.
Pre-dinner – This is a similar mood to that of pre-ceremony. Music that is easy to listen to should be playing in the background, stimulating conversation and creating an atmosphere of sophistication and elegance. Live acts serve as entertainment for guests as they await the arrival of the bridal party, and for the evening’s formalities to commence. Popular choices include an instrumental jazz trio, a string quartet, or a solo musician, such as a guitarist or pianist.
Dinner – It’s a great idea to have background music playing over dinner, to maintain the celebratory atmosphere. We affectionately term the music played here as ‘Wallpaper music’; it won’t demand guest attention and interrupt conversation, but will provide a subtle musical backdrop and prevent any awkward silences at tables! You can have the ‘pre-dinner’ music continue over dinner, or a small to medium sized covers band perform lounge favourites such as Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, and Stevie Wonder.
Dancing – This is when music really becomes the focus. Many couples opt for their reception to climax with dancing later in the night, full of popular and catchy songs that everyone can enjoy. A covers band is a great option here, as they ensure a fantastic party atmosphere, great crowd involvement and will get guests of all ages on the dance floor. Other popular choices also include latin or funk bands, or a DJ.
Song Requests
Requesting songs for your reception is a hugely important part of the event. Songs serve as a reflection of you and your partner, can be used as a means of expression, and are very effective in highlighting key moments of the night.
Bridal Entry – The song you choose to signify your entry into your reception sets the tone for the entire evening. Do you want a party theme, or something more sentimental and expressive? It’s completely up to you! Regardless, the song you choose should be a reflection of your relationship, and the way you want your friends to remember your wedding. Popular choices include ‘Crazy in Love’ by Beyonce, ‘Let’s Stay Together’ by Al Green and ‘I Gotta Feeling’ by The Black Eyed Peas.
Insider Tip: Try and have a different song for every couple in your bridal party – it will not only make them feel special, but is an opportunity for you to poke light-hearted fun at them! Examples include ‘Is She Really Going Out With Him’ if you have a couple in the party or ‘Its Raining Men’ if you end up with one too many boys! Your guests will enjoy the laugh, and it sets a great mood for the rest of the night.
Cake Cutting – Music can be very effective in highlighting this moment between you and partner. Many couples opt for something romantic, with popular choices including ‘Everything’ Michael Buble, ‘You Are The Sunshine Of My Life’ Stevie Wonder, and ‘Have I Told You Lately’ Van Morrison.
Insider Tip: Give the band plenty of notice if you want them to play your bridal waltz live. It will allow the singer to memorise the words, and the band to rehearse the song. No charts on the night – this goes for everybody!
Bridal Waltz – An expression of how you and your partner feel about one another, this is one of the most important moments of the day. Choose a song that you love and that means something to both of you. Remember, all eyes will be on the pair of you, so make sure you practice dancing to it before the day! Examples include ‘At Last’ Etta James, and‘If I Ain’t Got You’ Alicia Keys.
Insider Tip: Listen to the words! You don’t want to reach the 2nd verse of ‘I Will Always Love You’ only to realize it is about a break-up…
Bouquet/Garter Toss – A fun part of the evening, and a chance for your friends to let fate decide who ties the knot next! Popular choices for Bouquet Toss are ‘Single Ladies’ by Beyonce or ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ by Cyndi Lauper, and you can’t go past ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’ for the Garter Toss.
Insider Tip: The garter toss is becoming less and less popular due to the slight ‘tacky’ element of the groom disappearing under the bride’s dress to remove clothing with his teeth. It’s still very possible to do it with class (we’ve seen it done!), just be sure to keep in mind that Grandparent’s have surprisingly good memories.
Last Song of the Night – As the night draws to an end, you really want to make sure that you finish on a high. Choosing a fantastic song to close your wedding celebrations with will ensure that you leave your guests with an incredible last impression, not to mention wonderful lasting memories for you and your partner. When choosing your final song for the night, try and find something that is not only a great piece of music, but also means something to you and your guests. A party song that stimulates fond memories of when you and your new spouse first started dating is a great idea, and is guaranteed to get your friends rushing to the dancefloor.
Insider Tip: Always try and think of a high-energy track to finish on, especially if you have a band! You want your guests to be screaming for ‘one more’ as the lights are turned on…
http://www.funkified.com.au
Funkified Entertainment specialises in providing live music for wedding, corporate and event entertainment. http://www.funkified.com.au
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