4 Wedding Music Planning Mistakes Couples Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Your music selection sets the tone for your special day. Impactful wedding ceremony music, elevated music for your cocktail hour, hit wedding reception songs, and a thoughtfully chosen song for the last dance of the evening are all critical in making every moment feel intentional, memorable, and full of heart.
However, there are a number of common mistakes couples make when wedding planning, which can lead to awkward music moments that dampen the day. To ensure your big day is as magical as possible, here are four wedding music mistakes to avoid when planning your wedding - and our top tips on how to get it right.
Photo by: Sarah Andrews Photography
Not Consulting with the Venue About Sound Restrictions
Some wedding venues, particularly in the Niagara Region, have strict noise ordinances, restrictions on live music, or limitations on amplification. Nothing is worse than planning for a high-energy celebration only to find out your DJ can’t play above a certain volume or past a certain time.
How to Avoid It: Before booking your music entertainment, check with your reception and ceremony venue about any sound policies in the area. Being aware of these policies beforehand allows your DJ to adjust your entertainment schedule, opting for softer or instrumental music during later hours and cranking out the upbeat songs early in the evening
Forgetting to Plan Key Songs in Advance
The processional song, the bride's entrance song, the first dance song, and the mother-son dance or father-daughter dance songs all require thoughtful consideration. These are the special songs that will colour the most important moments of your day, so they should reflect your taste and emotions. Leaving these decisions to the last minute can lead to rushed choices or songs that don’t feel meaningful.
How to Avoid It: Make a wedding song checklist early in your planning process for all your key moments.
As a premium DJ service, we provide our soon-to-be-married couples with access to an online planning platform filled with free resources, expert advice, and planning tips. From selecting wedding ceremony songs to choosing the perfect tracks for key reception moments, like their grand entrance and first dance, it’s as easy as 1-2-3 to avoid this music mistake.
Photo by: Peter B Photography
Not Considering Your Guests’ Preferences
While your wedding should reflect your style and love story, it’s important to keep your wedding guests in mind. A playlist that’s too niche or heavy on one genre may leave your dance floor empty.
How to Avoid It: While creating a balanced setlist with a mix of old and new hits, mostly fast and a few slow songs, and different genres to keep guests of all ages entertained is important, we recommend trusting your DJ. Our team of DJs are highly experienced and will be able to read the crowd and keep your dance party lively and engaging. They will make song selections that match the crowd’s energy, keeping your guests dancing while avoiding awkward lulls. By blending requests with your music request list, they will create a customized playlist for the entire event. You won't need to worry about selecting the right music yourself, and can relax knowing that every beat will hit just right.
Not Hiring a Professional
While using a pre-made playlist or asking a friend to DJ for the first time to save a little bit of money may sound like a good idea, it can easily backfire. Technical issues, lack of experience with reading a crowd, or inappropriate song choices can put a damper on the celebration.
How to Avoid It: Investing in a professional DJ, like inTUNE, is a great way to keep things running smoothly. An experienced DJ will understand how to read the crowd, keep the energy high, and easily handle any unexpected challenges from the first to last song.
It cannot be overstated: your wedding music plays a huge role in setting the mood for your big day. We're experts at orchestrating dream weddings through music and interaction, delivering experiences that go off without a hitch and leave a lasting impression.
Ready to take the first step toward perfecting your wedding soundtrack? Reach out today!
