How to Pick the Music and DJ For Your Wedding
Tips and Frequently Asked questions on wedding music!
Planning your wedding playlist can be one of the most exciting—and surprisingly tricky—parts of your big day. From the ceremony to the reception, music helps create the mood, express your personality as a couple, and keep the celebration flowing.
Seeing and helping with so many weddings over the years we have gathered top tips and answers to the most common questions about wedding music to guide you every step of the way!
Think about what vibe you want it to have
Music makes the scene! There is nothing wrong with having a wedding vision of your reception looking like something out of a music video with lights and people dancing like it is going out of style! In fact it is almost expected! Scouring popular wedding music lists on blog posts and spotify can be a great start but we also recommend that you add your own personal spin with your favorite songs!
Should you have your DJ open for requests?
This mostly comes down to a personal preference, having a DJ take requests can be fun and exciting but other times requests can be hit or miss and throw off your wedding vision. A smart idea to implement regardless of whether or not you include requests is to have a “do not play” list.
Most DJ's will adhere to a "do not play" list if you can think of the songs you DON'T want to be played. You can always just have the DJ not announce that they are taking requests, or quietly tell people that if anyone comes up with a request.
And remember that communication is key, if you don’t want requests to be made. Announcing right off the bat that they're not accepting requests may be seen as a little harsh, something more tactful might be to put up a sign or just tell the DJ to respectfully decline and tell wedding guests that there will be no requests as people ask.
Choosing the right DJ
Again this comes down to personal preference and what you want, different DJs have different strengths and qualities, if you want your wedding vibe to be classy and elegant or fun and dance heavy then that will definitely affect your choice.
Research should be conducted using a variety of methods like platforms like the wedding wire, referrals/google reviews and if your venue has a preferred vendors page like the Lizton Lodge! You can view our vendors here. A DJ with experience at your venue of choice is going to be better than one without that experience. Experience wins out every time. Finally when you get to interview and instigate a conversation with the DJ be sure to have questions lined up, questions such as:
How do you build a wedding playlist?
What’s your backup plan if your gear fails?
Will you take requests from guests?
How do you handle transitions between ceremony, dinner, and dancing?
What’s your experience as an MC?
Are they available for your date?
What’s their pricing and what's included?
Do they bring their own sound equipment, mics, and lights?
When it comes to your big day, music isn’t just background noise—it’s a key part of the celebration. Set the stage for a night to remember.
At the end of the day, it’s all about creating moments that feel true to you as a couple. So have fun with it, stay true to your style, and don’t be afraid to mix in a few unexpected favorites. And if you’re getting married at a venue like Lizton Lodge, don’t forget to check out our list of trusted vendors to help make the planning process a breeze!