Musical Elegance - How to decide on your delivery choices

While music plays an inconspicuously decisive role in setting the tone of any event, musical selection for a bridal event is something nobody wants to get wrong! What’s called for is a music plan that will establish the mood, steer the entertainment and keep the guests in the thick of the moment.

There are really four music delivery choices: a live band, a string quartet, a DJ and pre-recorded music. Whichever you opt for, it’s important that the music offers something for everyone. A healthy mix will ensure appeal to all the age groups among your guests. A fun – and easy – way of going about this is by visiting a selection of websites that offer wedding music, picking a selection of ‘best bets’ and compiling a truly representative programme.

If you want to play it absolutely safe, why not give the guests themselves a say in the matter? Simply incorporate a ‘request session’ into the proceedings. This will lend a sense of spontaneity to the occasion, and it means you need only select 10 – 15 must-play songs.

The song that accompanies the newly weds’ first dance, however, is entirely theirs. Together with the declaration of the vows and the exchange of the rings, the first bridal dance - often called the Bridal Waltz - is a wedding centerpiece, and it needs to convey a strong expression of the couple’s new matrimonial identity.

Here is a selection of some of the more modern popular choices:
• (You Say It Best) When You Say Nothing At All - Alison Krause / or Ronan Keating (cover version)
• Amazed - Lonestar
• The Way You Look Tonight - Michael Buble / Frank Sinatra
• Don't Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith
• Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
• Beautiful In My Eyes – Joshua Kadison

The song you choose needs to hold a special meaning for both of you – pay attention to the lyrics before making a decision. Ideally, your choice should allow for a slow, romantic dance that gives both you and your guests ample opportunity to appreciate the special moment. It’s also one of the most popular photographic moments of the occasion, so maximize its mileage!

If you’re going the DJ route, be sure to shop around. A good DJ is adaptable; he is able to use his vast musical knowledge to sustain the entertainment momentum by reacting to the changing moods of your guests. When you meet with your prospective DJ, ask how his music is organised. A versatile, well-versed DJ who is used to playing requests quickly will colour-code or number his music in books for ready accessibility. A massive selection of songs is only as good as the library in which it is stored.

Some couples choose to rely exclusively on recorded music. An inexpensive, practical and fully customisable solution, recorded music is by no means uncommon. Make sure that the music you choose is in an easy form to play, that you have someone responsible playing it, and that you have enough speakers to make the music heard, bearing in mind that an open area tends to dissipate sound.

At the end of the day, it is the music that will determine the level of involvement and enjoyment of your guests. Press play!

Click here to find a music specialist to help with your special day.

Musical Elegance - How to decide on your delivery choices | Wedding Articles