For every moment of your wedding day, there will be a song to accompany it—from getting ready with your bridesmaids to walking down the aisle to the dances at the reception and more. Music can help set the tone for your special day, so we've gathered our top ten wedding music questions that we think every bride should know the answer to. Gather up your wedding party and have them help you plan the day of your and your partner's dreams.
1. What music do you need for a wedding?
There is a variety of music you will need for your wedding that is especially dependent upon the itinerary. Traditionally, a basic wedding ceremony music program involves a minimum of three types of songs: preludes, processionals, and recessionals. Then, enter a reception complete with dinner and dancing; it's safe to say you should plan on having a very extensive playlist to go along with your plans!
Now for the nitty-gritty of traditional wedding music programs: Prelude music is light, ambient music that sets the mood while guests are being seated and waiting for the ceremony to begin. Typically, it starts when the doors open, or as early as 45 minutes prior to but no later than 20 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony—you don't want your guests sitting in silence!
Next is the processional, which accompanies the entry of the extended wedding party—family, attendants, and bride. The same song can be used for each, but we love the idea of changing to another song when the bride enters to add drama and highlight the big entrance.
After the ceremony, the recessional plays. As the name implies, this music accompanies you as you recess (that is, make your exit) and is traditionally bright, lively, and celebratory—a reflection of your joy.
2. How to pick wedding music?
Our biggest tip for this question is to consider the venue, time of year, and aesthetic you are trying to achieve with your wedding and choose music that will exist harmoniously within that space. Whether you have a formal evening or a beach wedding, pick music that matches your surroundings.
It is also essential to brush up on the guidelines of your venues and understand if there's music that can and can’t be played during a ceremony, especially at secular locations. Also, be aware of limits on noise, like volume and curfew, the space allotted for a band or DJ, and their ability to have equipment, like instruments and speakers, within the area.
When choosing music, whether it be by yourself, with your wedding party, with a DJ, or a band, ensure that you are detail-oriented and meticulous. Think about downtime in between events. What music do you want your guests listening to as they wait for you to walk down the aisle? What about as they're waiting for dinner to be served?
While this may seem like a lot to think about, make sure you have fun with it! Music is about feeling and expressing, so there are no right or wrong choices—only what's best for you and your partner!
3. How to DJ your own wedding music?
If you are flexing your budget-savvy bride skills and are planning on doing your own wedding music, more power to you! There are just a few things you need to be sure you address to guarantee a smooth evening.
First things first, you need to decide how you will be playing music. We recommend the obvious choices, Spotify or Apple Music, as they offer unlimited streaming options for only around $10 per month.
Next, you'll need to ensure you have the appropriate equipment. Consider what sort of amplification system you will use to play the music. Do you have a friend or family member you can borrow a speaker system from? Or should you consider buying or renting one? Some companies like Guitar Center will let you rent a speaker system or PA equipment.
Now for the fun part, collecting all the music you'll be playing during every moment of the wedding from entrance to reception. So, gather your partner, bridal party, friends, family (whoever!) and get to brainstorming your ultimate playlist.
Some other key things to think about when planning on being your own DJ that will really elevate your playlists is choosing the “Crossfade” option so that there aren't 5-10 second gaps of silence between all the songs—also, placing the key wedding songs like your first dance, cake cutting, garter toss, etc., onto their own playlist making it easier for your appointed DJ stand-in to know what's next and quickly navigate to those songs.
Read more about the intricacies of DJing your own wedding here.
4. How to pick a band or DJ?
If an intimate, engaging wedding reception is part of your dream-wedding plans, then hiring a band may be the right option for you. But if you envision a party with a packed dance floor all night long, hiring a DJ might be right for you. Whichever course of action you choose to take, it is essential that you ask the right questions and get an excellent feel for your prospecting musicians to ensure that they mesh well with you, your bridal party, and the ambiance of your wedding theme. For hiring a band, consult this list of must-ask questions, and if hiring a DJ, explore this list of questions.
If you’re ready to start searching for pros, use The Knot Marketplace to find local musicians. Then, set up a few interviews with your favorites to get to know them, and don't be afraid to ask for audition tapes or samples of their work!
5. Do I need a music license for my wedding?
While you would need a music license to use copyrighted music in your wedding videos, you do not need a music license simply to play copyrighted music during your wedding, seeing as they are private events.
6. What music to play during the wedding dinner?
You'll want to choose easy-listening tracks to accompany your guests while they mix and mingle during cocktail hour and chow down on the delicious dinner you selected to serve. Instead of opting for upbeat dance tracks during this time, we suggest slowing things down for this portion of the night with some slower romantic songs. Save all those party jams for when you're ready to let loose on the dance floor.
Check out this list from Wedding Wire.
7. How to have music at an outdoor wedding?
Two things are essential to check when having a wedding at an outdoor venue: is electricity available and, as previously mentioned, are there any noise laws or restrictions you should be aware of. If you have access to electricity, then you are ready to rock and roll (literally!), and your DJ and/or band and/or your DIY speaker setup should be good to go!
8. How to list music in the wedding program?
Obviously, you won't be listing every song on your playlist in your wedding program, but listing songs to be performed for activities throughout the ceremony, such as the processional, seating of the wedding party, and the recessional, should be noted with the name of the artist or composer and the song title. Also, if you have a soloist or a band performing, be sure to accredit them as well.
9. What are the top processional wedding songs?
As we mentioned previously, processional wedding songs accompany the entry of the wedding party, including essential family members, your bridesmaids and groomsmen, and the bride. Your processional music can be a traditional hymn or one of your favorite pop tunes that everyone will know.
Some of the top processional songs include:
- “Bridal Chorus” by Richard Wagner
- “Canon In D” by Pachelbel
- “Air on the G String” by Johann Sebastian Bach.
- “A Thousand Years (Christina Perri)” by The Piano Guys
- “Can’t Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)” by Vitamin String Quartet
- “I’m Yours” by Vitamin String Quartet
- “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- “Hopp polla” by Sigur R s
- “Largo From Winter” by Antonio Vivaldi
- “Angel” by Jack Johnson
Find an extensive list of processional songs on The Knot.
10. What are the top wedding reception songs?
If you went more traditional and classic with your processional and recessional music picks, the reception is the place to get back to modern favorites that will keep your guests on the dance floor all night long.
Some of our favorite go-to's for a night of breaking it down on the dance floor includes:
- “Dancing Queen,” ABBA
- “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” Backstreet Boys
- “Don’t Stop Me Now,” Queen
- “Yeah!” Usher
- “Low,” Flo Rida
- “WOP,” J. Dash
- “Wobble,” V.I.C.
- “DJ Got Us Falling In Love,” Usher
- “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” Def Leppard
- “Raise Your Glass,” Pink
- “You Can’t Touch This,” MC Hammer
- “Gasolina,” Daddy Yankee
- “Everytime We Touch,” Cascada
- “Shut Up and Dance,” Walk the Moon
- “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Journey
Explore even more exceptional choices for your reception party playlist here.
Find Your Dream Wedding Dress at Alexandra's Boutique
Now that you got the rundown on all things wedding music, it may be time to focus your energy on other steps of the journey to marriage, like your wedding planner or wedding decorations or our personal favorite: finding your dream wedding dress! That's where Alexandra's Boutique comes in. Our large selection of show-stopping wedding dresses includes designers like Stella York, Martina Liana, Maggie Sottero, and plenty more. You can find exactly what you're dreaming of wearing on your wedding day with help from Alexandra's Boutique.