Amidst your busy schedule, and thinking about your wedding cake, flowers, vows, and everything that makes up a successful wedding, selecting the ideal music can get overshadowed.
The right music creates an ambience of love, joy, and happiness while evoking emotions that share a message with your guests. But how do you choose the ideal music for your wedding? Well, here are our favorite tips and considerations for getting your music right.
1. Know the Fundamentals of Wedding Music
First, you’ve got to understand the structure of a wedding ceremony. There are three main parts that are in a wedding:
- The processional: includes the entrance of the bride, groom, and bridal party
- The ceremony itself: entails the reading of vows and special moments you’ve planned
- The recessional: exit of the wedding party
Each part has its songs that accompany the moment at hand. For example, you can have a piece accompanying the bride while walking down the aisle. Another for the recessional, or better, have a tune for each on their own for each moment.
You can also ask for help from a DJ or music band when selecting music.
2. Check With Your Venue
Before selecting your music, be sure to check with your venue. Some venues have restrictions on music types, volume levels, or the use of live musicians.
For example, if you’ve chosen a wedding in a religious place, you must confirm with your officiant before selecting any music. Some venues may have certain restrictions on the types of music played.
For instance, some conservative venues may have a list of traditional religious songs, while others might only allow instrumental music without recorded lyrics.
So make the right decision for your wedding band and music you want to be played with the officiant’s review and approval first.
3. Consider Your Love History
One of the most meaningful ways to choose music for your wedding ceremony is to consider your history together as a couple. No matter how long you guys have been together, there’s always that genre of music that connects you two. Do you have a particular song that you both love? Maybe it’s the song that played when you first met or the first dance song from your early dates.
Including these memorable songs can create a beautiful moment of nostalgia and a reminder of the journey that led you to this special day.
4. Read the Lyrics of Your Selected Songs
When selecting music, it’s essential to read the lyrics and ascertain whether the lyrics are appropriate for your ceremony and whether they convey the emotions you want to express. Sometimes songs with catchy tunes can have lyrics unsuitable for a wedding ceremony.
So, read and understand the lyrics of any song you’re considering.
5. Select a Theme
Choosing a theme for your wedding can be a great way to guide your music selection. Are you planning a traditional wedding? Or a beach wedding? Whatever the type of wedding, consider selecting music that aligns with the style and mood of your wedding to create cohesion and good music flow.
You can select songs of a similar genre, tempo and current era.
For example, classical music can be a great option if you’re having a traditional wedding. If you’re having a beach wedding, consider something more laid back like a romantic ballad or an acoustic cover of your favorite song.
6. Think About the Feeling You’re Trying to Create
Your wedding day is all about love, so it’s important to choose music that creates a feeling of love and happiness. The right music can evoke emotions and create a magical ambience for you and your guests. Think about the kind of feeling you want to create and choose music that aligns with that feeling. Soft and romantic music can create a romantic and intimate atmosphere, while more upbeat and joyful music can create a lively and fun vibe.
7. Make it a Surprise
Personalize your wedding ceremony by keeping your selected songs a secret between you, your partner, and the music planner.
This will surprise your guests and family, making your ceremony even more enjoyable and memorable.
Consider high energy live bands for an electrifying performance that resonates with how you feel about your partner, a tune they adore, or pieces that hold cherished memories for both of you. It can be a beautiful moment that no one will forget.
Celebrate!
Sum up your event with a surprise recessional song ending the service and opening up a new chapter of life, symbolizing “the party has just begun”. Go for songs that will make you dance down the aisle and will make guests join you in your singing. You can opt for songs such as gospel choir “Oh Happy Day” to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” by Stevie Wonder to Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s “Crazy in Love.”