5 Tips to Create the Perfect Song List for an Amazing Wedding
If you’ve ever watched the TV Show “4 Weddings”, then you know that the DJ can make or your guests’ experience at your wedding. Today’s guest post by DJ Scott Jones will give you 5 insider tips, from a very experienced Pro, to create the perfect song list to keep your guests entertained throughout the evening.
First off, before I just start spouting off all kinds of unqualified music knowledge, let me introduce myself. I’m the President and lead DJ at Cleveland Music Group. We are located in…you guessed it…Cleveland, Ohio, the home of “Rock & Roll” and a the NBA World Champs: The Cleveland Cavaliers! We are #Allin.
I’m just one of 25 different DJs and 27 different bands as seen online at www.clevelandmusicgroup.com. I have personally done over 1000 weddings in my 16 years as a professional wedding DJ and my company services well over 1300 events every year.
Photo Credit: Justin Ketchum Photography
Okay, now that I’m down bragging, lets’ move on to the good stuff.
How do you create the perfect play list for a wedding? Lets be honest, the music is the MOST important part of any wedding. Here are five must-know tips to setting the “record” straight. (you see what I did there)? I know. All DJs are comedians…
#5 – Meet with Your DJ or Band Prior to the Wedding
Here at CLE Music Group that happens about 30 days out to really get to know each other and make sure your musical tastes are clear. As a pro, I like to blend what the client loves and what the masses love into one playlist.
Photo Credit: Cleveland Music Group
Check out the Cleveland Music Group in action at Amy and Paul’s wedding. Their wedding guests filmed all the fun throughout the wedding weekend with the WeddingMix app and cameras.
#4 – Don’t Overthink a Song List
When working with your DJ don’t over pick your favorite songs. Lets be honest, you can only play so many songs in a 5 hour wedding reception. By the time you get to dancing, you’re looking at about 3 hours of fun dance music. If you did no mixing & just played them straight, you’re looking at about 51 songs.
Photo Credit: Cleveland Music Group
#3 – Narrow down the song list
Okay, now that you have picked your 51 songs…lets narrow that list down. I like to suggest you provide a MUST play list and a DO NOT play list. Both are equally important to the success of YOUR wedding. I like to see 20 songs on the MUST play list and as many as you want on the DO NOT play list, but please don’t add to many to that list. As much as you may not like “Shout”, many of your relatives and friends absolutely love that song… and it packs the dance floor. 20 songs on a MUST play list is the perfect number to select. This still gives the DJ room to fill in his favs as well as take some guest requests.
Photo Credit: Genevieve Nisly
#2 – Think about what makes you happy
How do you pick your favorite 20 songs? That’s easy. Think about what makes you happy. Think about what you and your friends used to listen to in High School, College and when you would go out for a night on the town. Pick the songs that mean something to you, to your Fiance and to your family. Nearly every wedding I have DJ’ed, there is always that one song that really gets a crowd moving, and generally it’s some off the wall song that is a huge hit for that particular family. Think about it… Your family has one, everyone does.
Photo Credit: Genevieve Nisly
#1 – Trust the DJ
My final piece of advice for picking a playlist is simple. Trust the DJ! You hired a Pro for a reason. Lean on him/her for their advice and experience. I know that when my clients hire me, they are gaining the experience of over 1000 weddings and all of those dance floors I’ve filled. Trust in that and let the Pro do their job. You’ll thank me for it later.
Photo Credit: Cleveland Music Group
Now go forth and start the planning. Your DJ and iTunes are waiting.
Bonus – a great app for wedding songs
Oh, one more quick recommendation. There is a great APP I use as a DJ called “FUN WEDDING” – It’s about $1.99 in the APP store and it’s a huge help when your trying to pick songs for the Intros, Parent Dances, First Dance..etc. I lean on it heavily at almost every wedding I do. Check it out.
Best Wishes & Congrats!
Scott E. Jones
CLE Music Group
We are a full service music office with North East Ohio (and beyond) best Bands, DJs, Jazz and String Ensembles.
This is some really good information to know when you are looking for music for your wedding. I like that you talked about trusting the DJ. My fiance and I have been wanting to get a wedding pianist and we don’t know what type of music we want to use. It would be a smart of us to trust the pianist with good music choices.