Picture this.
It’s your wedding reception. It’s 9pm, and you’ve been on your feet quite a bit all day. You’re an hour into the reception, and the songs playing are on a playlist you made.
You’re surrounded by family and friends, (maybe you’re a few cocktails in), and your song comes on. The song that makes the endless hours of standing up all day feel like nothing. The song that makes you throw down your plate of hors d’oeuvres to get on the dance floor. Can you picture it?
Now, picture every song being played at your wedding making you feel like that. It’s okay to not have to hear Ed Sheeran or Pharrell at every wedding. There is literally nothing stopping you from making your own wedding reception playlist. A better world is possible.
How to Make a Wedding Reception Playlist That’s Actually Good
So, it’s no secret that something pretty major to consider when in wedding-planning mode is music. Music can – no pressure – really make or break the mood of the reception. So how do you ensure your guests will be up on their feet and having a good time?
WHAT’S THE VIBE?
While you’re booking your wedding vendors, ask yourself if you prefer:
Band or DJ?
Classics or top 40?
Pop or rock?
….Karaoke??
The entertainment you book will play a part in the vibe of your reception. The options are seemingly endless when trying to decide on the songs to add to your wedding reception playlist. If the entertainment you choose for the night is cool with it, it might be worthwhile to make a list of some must-plays. If you’re open to asking some guests for suggestions, that could be a big help, too!
Being a music fanatic myself, it’s super fun to discover new artists and make Spotify playlist upon Spotify playlist. I know one of my favorite things to do for those I love is to make playlists & mixtapes – I once made custom CDs for all of my friends for Christmas one year (custom album artwork and all). With that being said, I made reception-inspired Spotify playlists (linked below) and will be talking about how to pick the best tunes for your own wedding reception playlist.
A WEDDING RECEPTION PLAYLIST A LA STUDIO 54
At your wedding, there will be a SLEW of different types of people there, from little ones to grandparents, so you have to consider music that will be appropriate for multiple age groups AND get people up on the dance floor. There’s one genre that accomplishes both – disco. Now I for one have had ENOUGH of songs like Marry You by Bruno Mars & Crazy In Love by Beyonce and more, so don’t be afraid to branch out and include music you regularly listen to. I cannot tell you how happy I was to recently hear Led Zeppelin at Julia & Brendan’s wedding. But if you need any inspiration, here are some definite classics that aren’t super overplayed.
- Babe We’re Gonna Love Tonight – Lime
- Love My Way – The Psychedelic Furs
- Blue Monday – New Order
- Gloria – Laura Branigan
The Science Behind Danceable Wedding Reception Music
You know there is actual science behind why we want to dance, right? Apparently, according to researchers at Columbia, “danceability” in songs is determined by tempo & beat regularity. Danceable songs tend to be consistent the entire way through, like “Sexy Back” by Justin Timberlake & “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen. The idea is for the song to not really have a distinguishable bridge – if the beat is thrown off slightly, it is less appealing to dance to. A lot of real bangers have been “danceable,” and it’s easy to determine what could become a hit based on its tempo the danceability score.
If Your Life Was a Movie…
We’ve all had that thought. At one point or another, we’ve asked ourselves “if my life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?” You know the moment – you just got your morning coffee, you’re in the best outfit you could put together, you’re feeling truly invincible. The songs that come to mind are…which ones? Whatever songs make you feel like you’re on top of the world are definitely ones to include on your wedding reception playlist (bonus points if you dance to them while alone in your car). They will hold that much more meaning when you get to associate them with one of the most special nights of your life. Here’s some personal inspo (with varying genres) if you need it:
- Got to Keep On – The Chemical Brothers
- 365 – Charli XCX
- Gift Horse – IDLES
- I Will Possess Your Heart – Death Cab for Cutie
Pick a Unique and Personal First Dance Song
There are some songs I think were absolutely made to be played at weddings, whether they’re first dance songs or regular old slow songs. I’m talking about songs that made me cry into my pint of Ben & Jerry’s. Obviously, if there is a song that is “your” song, play that. But if you’re a little fuzzy on what other ones to play or if you want to discover some new tunes, here are some you’ll find on these playlists:
- Dream A Little Dream of Me – The Mamas and the Papas
- Harvest Moon – Neil Young
- Bewitched – Laufey
- Summertime – My Chemical Romance
And trust me, no one — I mean NO one — wants to hear Ed Sheeran. Sorry.
High School & College Throwbacks Are Good
These songs won’t be appropriate for every wedding reception playlist, I’ll say that now. But I find it hard to believe there isn’t a single couple out there that doesn’t want to go absolutely head-banging nuts to their favorite edgy throwback songs. I know if I was at a wedding and I heard MCR, IDLES, Death Cab, or anything of the like — come on, I’d lose my mind. Here are some songs that you’ll definitely need to remove earrings/adjust your hair/set down drinks for:
- I Write Sins Not Tragedies – Panic! at the Disco
- The Hand That Feeds – Nine Inch Nails
- Rock and Roll – Led Zeppelin
- Helena – My Chemical Romance
THE PLAYLISTS
I couldn’t help myself, so I made multiple. Please feel free to use them as inspiration, or hell, play it front to back! They are as follows:
