Your wedding playlist is important because it will set the mood, inspire dance, and act as a soundtrack for the memories you’ll make. A few of these songs will reappear at your anniversaries years later – so make sure they’re on your list and make it a tradition. This all-in-one-guide will help you develop the perfect wedding playlist that will be instrumental in creating the perfect atmosphere for your big day.
Creating Your Wedding Playlist – Sources of Inspiration
There are many ways on how to make an amazing wedding playlists. Some require time and effort from all involved parties. So you think you’ve got 90 songs ready to go and you’re thinking it’s time to make my wedding ROCK?! Not so fast – there are a few things you’ll need to consider before you get started.
Involve Your Future Spouse
The most meaningful way to create a wedding day playlist is to make it personal between you both. Dedicate some time for the two of you to start building the playlist, during this time maybe some of the songs will bring out special memories between you both. This could lead to picking more purposeful songs together.
Involve Your Guests
Asking guests to contribute to your wedding playlist is a great way to cut down on stress and make sure everyone has songs they love. It also lets them be more involved than just listening during the wedding, which can make their day more special – even if it’s just a few minutes out of the entire day.
Playlist Picking Party
A fun way to create a killer playlist is by inviting your best friends over and having a party where they can contribute to adding songs to your list. This also creates a unique experience for all involved.
Use a Music Streaming Service
There are so many different types of weddings, and each one could be accompanied by its own music style. That’s why using platforms like Spotify or Pandora allows couples to simply choose what sounds best for them. You don’t have to start from scratch either, there will always be other couples who have already created customized playlists just waiting for someone else’s input. So go ahead and take some time learning how they did it before getting started yourself.
Stay True to the Theme
Whether you go with a Superhero theme or Disney, your themed wedding day will likely be accompanied by a soundtrack – there are plenty out there for every type or genre. Pick out your favorite songs from the film or book and use them as part of your ceremony. The important thing to remember is to stick to the overall theme.
What’s the Right Number of Songs for a Wedding Playlist?
As you’re planning your wedding, it’s important that each moment has its own unique energy and emotion. To make sure nothing is missed while enjoying ourselves at our reception, we recommend creating mini playlists with songs that match the energy level at each point during the celebration. You’ll want to start by categorizing each event throughout the day. Each moment has its own significance, and will reflect certain energies if matched with appropriate tunes.
Welcome Reception (1 Hour) – 15 Songs
Welcome drinks are meant for guests to get comfortable in their surroundings and to be excited about the event ahead. Choose 15 songs with an average play time of 3 minutes and upbeat songs that will make everyone want more time at your party are perfect.
Ceremony (15-20 Minutes) – 4 Songs
You can use music as a way to tell your own story on such an emotional day. Choose 4 songs that represent your feelings during the wedding ceremony, whether they’re happy, sentimental, or something in between. Make sure that these songs don’t have any lyrics that could potentially trigger individual emotions from guests because some may start singing along while others might feel uncomfortable.
First Dance – 1 Song
The traditional first dance is usually a slow song that allows for a romantic moment with one’s new spouse. Nowadays, modern couples may choose faster tunes in order to impress the crowd as they strut their stuff on their big day.
Wedding Reception / Dance Party (3-5 Hours) – 60-70 Songs
The wedding reception and after party is the perfect time to let loose and have fun with your favorite music. You can choose between fast or slow, old or new, with three to five-hours of music containing 70 or more songs as everyone dances the night away.
Tips to Keep in Mind When Creating the Best Wedding Playlist
For your wedding, it’s best if you’re flexible and able to roll with various music styles. Yes there should still be an overall tone or feeling for the day but it’s not all about what pleases just one person. All of these tips will help make sure everyone has a wonderful experience from start until finish:
Include Top Hits from All Decades
Golden oldies and the classics tend to stir memories of ones own relationships growing up, high school fun, and are the perfect songs to make sure your grandparents and parents also have tunes they can dance to.
Mix of Fast and Slow Songs
Create a playlist that is 90% fast music and 10% slow. It’s important that you give your guests an opportunity for rest and reflection every once in a while so that they can stay energized for the rest of night. Do this by switching up some of your fast-paced music with emotional ballads.
Include Top 40 Hits
If you love listening or dancing along with your favorite top hits there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing people get into it too. The familiarity and attachment many people feel toward familiar songs makes them appealing choices for a wedding, as your guests will want some entertainment as well.
Mix It Up
You can’t always satisfy everyone, but that’s not a reason not to try. Choose an assortment of music that covers different genres. Check off multiple boxes at once, you won’t go wrong with modern covers of vintage songs.
Lastly, What Not to Play
You want people at your wedding to be happy and excited, so it’s important to create a playlist with songs that make people want to get up on their feet and party. But what if certain tunes bring back bad memories or make listeners relive painful moments from youth? The answer is simple – don’t play them.
When planning your wedding day, it’s important not to include any music that may make people feel bad or angry. Instead of choosing a song that makes people cry or sets their hearts on fire with love story after love story that ends in sadness or tragedy – choose ones that will put smiles on everyone’s faces. There is nothing more important than having fun when curating your wedding playlist, so make sure all of the songs represent all of those special moments that you want people to take away with them after witnessing such an amazing celebration.
Involve those closest to you in creating these special memories and it’ll not only be a day to celebrate your love, but it’ll also become a day to celebrate your most important relationships as well.
