Eating and drinking, interacting with friends, and dancing to good music: is there anyone who doesn’t love the reception moment?
Because of this nearly consensual preference, creating a pleasant playlist to every guest is a great responsibility for the couple hosting the event.
Choosing to hire a DJ or a live band to do the job sounds simple, but couples who prefer doing it themselves are easy to find as well, and that’s why we’ve come up with this article.
Besides that, even who couples choose to hire professionals still need to know the way to create a playlist to help the DJs or the band make the perfect selection. Information about themselves and their guests is crucial for that, and only the couple can collect and provide them.
Live Band, DJ, or DIY?
Not only the playlist is at stake here: the sound quality, logistics, timing, etc. If you hire professionals to carry out these tasks, you can expect excellent delivery and take tons off your back.
The only step you will still need to collaborate with is to provide crucial information to your musicians regarding your fiancé’s and your musical taste, and also your guest’s. Their average age might be relevant too, and, if you have a sort of block to some musical genre or specific songs, provide them with a “not-to-play list”.
Lastly, hiring a band or a DJ adds a special attraction to your event, and it makes the transition to the reception party fluid and evident. Plus, it encourages people to get hyped up and dance as long as the music is on.
Yet, if you still prefer to make the playlist yourself, keep reading as the following topics were made just for you.
Creating Your Own Wedding Reception Playlist
Did you already upgrade your Spotify account to the premium version? In addition to creating countless playlists (even ages before your event) with the songs you want, your days will get more exciting with the top playlists this app recommends.
Spotify is the most successful music app in the west and, if you’re like me, you’re not really into today’s top hits and the songs from when we were young that have inexplicably made it back to trends. Then, by using Spotify you can find references to complement your playlist with songs that will probably please the majority of your guests. It’s probably the greatest source of references available.
I truly recommend you go premium!
More ways to come up with ideas
You probably won’t create a pleasant playlist on your own; at least, not for everyone.
And, don’t forget, the music is there, yes, to please you and your fiancé, but also the guests. That means picking songs solely out of your taste increases your chances to build a cringy, floppy, or awkward playlist.
But still: as a music-loving DIYer and being the main responsible for the event organization, you and your fiancé are more prepared than anyone else to create a playlist that will make everyone happy.
In other words, you can’t choose it all alone, but the final word must come from you.
That said, here are some suggestions to create the perfect reception playlist:
List songs with your fiancé
It’s your day.
That means the songs have got to be at least enjoyable to your ears. Talk to your partner: do you have any nostalgic songs that marked an important period? A hymn that stands for your convictions or history as a couple? A today’s hit you’ve been both enjoying?
List everything on Spotify – for now, and leave it there.
Listen to your guests
If you’ve created a website for your event, also create a page where your guests have to identify themselves to leave a request of two songs they would like to listen to at the party – if you let them request a single one, but you don’t play it, you will end up disappointing them. Then, if their choices please you, add them to your playlist.
If you haven’t created a website, use Telegram or social media to gather your guests and ask them to send you private messages with their suggestions.
Last things last: create a moment at your rehearsal dinner to listen to what your VIP guests have to say about your playlist. At this moment, try to focus only on removing the songs the group disapproves.
If your playlist can’t reach 3~4 hours of length, ask them to help you fulfill it.
General Hints To Please Everyone
Just a few guidelines towards common sense. Nothing else.
Please yourself, but think about your guests too
Sometimes our tastes can be peculiar – very peculiar – and may end up not pleasing everyone. In these cases, you can let a few of your favorite songs remaining on the playlist, but you’ll have to give up most of them to make the environment cheerful and engaging.
Heavy metal, classic baroque songs, weird pop music, or hip hop… These are some examples of “extreme music”. I mean, “extreme” because they will make the party be a real blast, or it will blast your guests off towards their homes.
Unless most of your guests enjoy the same “extreme genre” as you do, try to avoid playing them more than once or twice.
Add artists that can please anyone
For instance:
Old but gold: Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, The Police, Abba.
Not that old: Black-Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Arctic Monkeys (or maybe Kooks, if you prefer), Adele, Bruno Mars.
Currently gold: Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, ZAYN, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande.
By the time you read this article, things might have changed a little bit, or we might have missed someone…
Our apologies in advance.
Serenade out-of-town guests
Special guests who have crossed the country to share such a day with you deserve tribute.
Remember to include their requested songs among your playlist and, if possible, reach them while the music is being played to thank them properly.
Beware of Bad Lyrics
No sad singers in your day expressing how their romances didn’t work out, ok?!
By the way, no sad songs at all!
Romantic and nostalgic tunes can bring the slower pace that your event requests amidst a series of fast and upbeat hits.
Creating a pleasant reception playlist isn’t that hard
With the help of a few tips, common sense, and a great app to save and reproduce your songs, it won’t be difficult to create a perfect wedding playlist; on the other hand, honestly, dealing with logistics and the possible technical problems might be. Anyways, nothing that long-term planning won’t prevent you from going through!
Especially now that you can create a playlist like no one else, I’m sure your event will rock and be as remarkable as you expect it to be.