No matter what kind of reception you have, you'll want some kind of music, to both set the mood and entertain your guests-a nice classical quartet to sweeten your afternoon tea, say, or a seven-piece Latin band to spice up your late-night party.
The problem is, there's a little too much to choose from. You can have swing, Latin, klezmer, rock, blues, country, classical, jazz...or any combination. Or you can hire a DJ, and have the entire catalog of recorded music available to entertain your guests. Your starting point: think about what kind of music really fits your style.
Scouting for bands takes some ingenuity-unless you're the brazen type who spends her Saturdays crashing weddings (and we don't recommend that). Check out local showcases where bands play to attract wedding bookings and other business. Ask your friends if they've seen any bands that might fit the bill. Your other vendors can probably give you the names of bands and DJs they enjoyed working with. (Of course, if you've hired a wedding consultant, her rolodex will be jammed with musicians of every stripe.) Call music agencies from the phone book to arrange meetings with prospective bands, or hit up the local college's music department to find a few talented beginners.
When you meet, give them the third degree (nicely, of course). Take note as to whether the band leader or DJ has a personality you can deal with for four hours. If you want someone low-key who doesn't talk through the songs, skip the zany guy who annoys you with his hyperactivity during your initial meeting with him.
Lay out your needs and wishes to determine if the prospective entertainment can meet them. A ten-piece orchestra will drown out an intimate party for 50, but will work great for your 300-guest event. (Usually, a six-piece band is recommended for events with guest lists of more than 100.) Your band or DJ should be familiar with your locale. If they aren't, find out if the site will provide everything they need. You don't want your band blowing a fuse or the singer toppling off a too-small platform. Let your band leader or DJ know about any decorations that might affect the acoustics, such as draped fabric, so he can plan accordingly.
Now, the fun part: the play list. Get a good variety of music-you might have fun with an all Bee-Gee play list; your guests may not. The band or DJ should tell you what songs they use to get everyone hopping, as well as learn or find any special music you want. Also, make a list of songs you don't want to hear, the ones that grate on you, remind you of your psycho ex or have been played at entirely too many weddings.
Right before the wedding, reconfirm the location and times. Let them also know if they should take requests and whom they should listen to regarding volume changes and overtime. That will ensure you end the party without a single false note.
Here are the current top ten first-dance songs, according to Sight and Sound Video Production & DJ Entertainment in Las Vegas
- She's All I Ever Had/Ricky Martin
- Angel/Sarah McLachlan
- Amazed/Lonestar
- Breathe/Faith Hill
- I Knew I Loved You/Savage Garden
- God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You/'N Sync
- All I Have To Give/Backstreet Boys
- As Long As You Love Me/Backstreet Boys
- I'll Never Break Your Heart/Backstreet Boys
- You're Still the One/Shania Twain
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