Music
Set the perfect mood for your wedding with music ideas, playlists, and advice on choosing ceremony and reception tunes.
Music runs through the whole day, from the processional and the first dance to the last song of the night. Choosing it early gives your musicians or DJ time to prepare, and it helps the day feel like yours.
The guides in this section offer song lists and ideas for entrances, dances, and the reception, plus advice on choosing between a live band and a DJ. Share a must-play list and a do-not-play list so the night goes the way you hoped.
For the mother son dance, see our song list and our guide to mother of the groom songs.
Mother Of The Groom Songs For The Dance And The Aisle
204 Best Sister and Brother Wedding Dance Songs
205 Best Mother & Son Wedding Dance Songs
201 Best Wedding Entrance Songs For Parents
The Day, Song By Song
| Moment | What it needs | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Guests arriving | Quiet, low background music for 15 to 30 minutes | A playlist or live strings |
| Processional | One song for the wedding party, often a second for the bride or whoever walks last | Ask your officiant how long it should run |
| Recessional | Upbeat, short, and easy to clap to | Choose something that makes you smile |
| Cocktail hour | Background, with room for conversation | Jazz, acoustic or an instrumental playlist |
| Entrances | A song for each group or couple, about 20 seconds each | Entrance songs for parents and bridal party entrance ideas |
| First dance | Two to three minutes, or an edit of a longer track | Pick lyrics you'd actually say to each other |
| Parent dances | A song of about three minutes for each pairing | Mother and son dance songs, mother of the groom songs |
| Open dance floor | The longest stretch, with a spread of ages | A must-play list and a do-not-play list |
| Last song | Something everyone knows | Plan it, because a wedding that ends on a random track feels flat |
Band Or DJ
A band brings energy and a visible show, and it costs more and needs more space, plus power and breaks. A DJ plays the original recordings, fills a wider range of songs, and can double as the host. Whichever you choose, ask to hear or see them play a full set, and agree the must-play and do-not-play lists in writing.
Tell them how long each part of the evening runs and who gives the announcements, so the sound and the schedule are decided together. Ask the venue for its sound curfew before you book.
Songs For Family Moments
Pairing a song with a relationship is easier when you start from the lyrics. If you're picking for a sibling dance, these sister and brother songs cover both fun and sentimental.