Picture your perfect wedding day…
It’s a beautiful day in the Hudson Valley, and all your family and friends have gathered together for a very special occasion! You and your partner spent all day getting ready, going over the vows one last time, and it really paid off. With a kiss and a cheer, the party can begin!
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Photo of Nicole & Brenton courtesy of Richard + Tara Photography
If your guests are traveling from the ceremony to your reception venue, they will be excited to arrive, with an appetite to match! While they grab an hors d’oeuvre and a glass of champagne, you aim to create the perfect party atmosphere. Do you want elegant and refined? Or perhaps intimate and romantic?
Part 2: Reception
Obviously your guests will be expecting music to be featured during the reception, but what about Cocktail Hour?
Photo courtesy of EID Photography
As we saw in Part 1, every wedding has music that compliments each couple’s individual style.
While everyone talks about your incredible ceremony and grabs a drink, it can be a great touch to have a little music in the background from your DJ. If you’re using a band, they often can play some music as well. They may have a guitarist play some solo songs, or a pianist move their keyboard into the cocktail room. Either of these live options can really make your cocktail hour sparkle!
Photo courtesy of Studio 1 Photography
Here it is: the main event. The obvious question of course is:
Band or DJ?
Photo courtesy of Fantasy Flash
The DJ is a wedding staple.
You want them to get everyone on their feet, dancing and having a great time. Maybe you have very specific music tastes that you want to show off, or maybe you want to give your guests a little bit of everything. A good DJ will know how to take the music you like and create an entire evening of music, from introductions to that very last song. Some will ask for a lot of input, so be sure to give your opinion! Knowing both what you like and what you absolutely do not like can be very valuable information.
Having a band can really set the mood for your reception. Many bands cater to a specific style, so if you already know that you like a particular genre of music, it may be an easy choice. The larger a band is, the more energy they can bring to the table, for a truly memorable performance—but they will have a price tag to match! These professional musicians are sure to wow your friends and family and leave them with an experience they will never forget.
Photo courtesy of Chris Carter Photography
So as you can see, there’s quite a lot to consider. Although your head might be spinning, don’t forget: your guests will be happy and dancing no matter what kind of music you have—just make sure to get them out there on that dance floor!
