Having the right music for your special day is
almost as important as the venue itself. Sure, hiring a professional DJ or band
can be a fun way to entertain your guests and make your wedding truly
memorable. But these costs add up and sometimes it’s necessary to inject a
little of the DIY spirit into your big day to save much needed cash.
One of the best ways to save money (and add more
control) for your upcoming wedding is organising and playing your own music
program. If you need a little help getting started, read on.
Here are 7 tips that can help
make your wedding music a complete success.
1. Embrace variety
By all means, play the music you
and your bride or groom enjoy during your wedding reception. However, just
remember: not everyone will be a fan of your favourite artists and bands. To
make sure everyone gets up to move and shake their thing on the dance floor, you’ll
need to cover many musical bases. Including variety in your playlist will ensure
appeal for guests in every age group and for every taste.
Professional DJs play songs ‘that
people know’ and, yes, for better or worse, this includes drawing from the
back-catalogue of the likes of Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson and
Britney Spears. Embracing variety on your wedding day makes it fun for
everyone, which is what makes a wedding reception memorable and successful.
2. Appoint a music master
One of the perks of hiring a professional
DJ or band for your wedding reception is the added benefit of having an MC to
take care of your musical program, as well as stop and start the music at key
points during event. If you choose the DIY route for your wedding’s music,
appoint someone reliable to take care of these important duties. Of course,
playlists ‘play themselves’ and there’s not much more involved than pressing
‘play’ or ‘stop’ on an iPod or laptop.
So it’s wise to appoint someone from
amongst friends and family to mind the music from start to finish. The job
includes ensuring your playlist doesn’t mysteriously jump into shuffle-mode and
interrupting play strategically, to make way for the occasional announcement.
Acting as a cross between a laptop DJ and ‘bouncer’, your music operator must use
diplomacy to protect your chosen playlists from outside interference, while
ensuring the music flows effortlessly throughout the night’s different
highlights.
3. Customise multiple playlists
Weddings are dynamic occasions of
changing mood and pace over several hours. It takes multiple playlists to span
the many layers that make up the overall event. From solemn commencement of
your ceremony to the joyous farewell and beyond, you’ll need to compile your
wedding music as a series of separate playlists suitable for each part of the
day and night.
At various times during your reception
different types of music will be required – starting with light and low-key
cocktail music on arrival; romantic slow-dance tunes for the bridal ‘waltz’;
then pumping dance music after the formal proceedings. At the farewell, special
favourites playing in the background help create atmosphere and after that, the
party might have time remaining to crank back up again after the newlyweds have
left.
Take care to make sure you have
enough songs and styles prepared in playlists to fill the required hours and various
moods from day into night.
4. Make the music flow
It’s important that your music is uninterrupted, from one
track to the next and during ‘mood’ changes. A ‘smooth set’ without jarring
interruptions or overly long pauses sounds professional. A helpful tip is to
cross-fade your tracks so that there’s an easy transition in between songs and
beats. Most music players, such as iTunes, allow this option.
As well as smooth control between song changes, try to
gradually build and dip momentum through your different playlists by ordering
them for gently changing pace, rather than switching musical styles too
suddenly.
5. Danceability counts
Before adding a song to your wedding playlist, consider its
danceability. If you’re like most
couples, you’ll want the dance floor to be red hot during your wedding
reception. Dancing translates into people having fun, and a fun wedding will be
one to remember, for everyone who’s there.
The fact is, some songs are better sung or heard than
expressed through dance. They just don’t translate well through physical
movements. So unless you’re keener on hearing the music than seeing magic on
the dance floor, make sure you only select songs for your reception playlists that
get your feet tapping.
6. Use reliable hardware
You only get one shot for a perfect wedding reception, and
you’ll want to ensure you have the appropriate high quality hardware ready to
play your music for several hours without the slightest glitch. You’ll also
want the music loud, with the volume spread evenly through the venue. After
all, nobody’s going to dance if they cannot hear the music properly over
talking or other ambient noise at the venue.
For great sound, the best solution is to hire top-quality PA
speakers on stands (they usually cost around $300 for the night). Make sure
your iPod (or iPad, or laptop) is bug-free and ready to play. An equipment rehearsal
a few days ahead is a good idea, to catch any unforeseen problems and test your
proposed systems. The last thing you’d want on the night is a software glitch,
an iPod malfunction, or scratchy-sounding speakers.
7. Spontaneity matters too
Congratulations, you’ve put in a lot of hard work, planning
and creating the perfect playlist for your wedding and testing out the right
equipment. But during the night, be prepared to mix things up a bit. Be ready
for song requests you just can’t deny, or for a quick change of plan if the party
mood dips and you need music to get things going again. Have a well-orchestrated
playlist but remain able to respond to your guests’ needs or the night’s
unexpected twists.
Weddings involve so many expenses that doing anything you can to minimise
costs will give you and your partner more funds for your new life together.
With careful planning, do-it-yourself music programming is one way to save some
money on your special day.
Credit: Impression DJs
Website: www.impressiondjs.com.au
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Impression.DJs
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