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How to Craft the Perfect Wedding Reception Playlist

by Chris Brower
Last Updated: July 5, 2022

 

Crafting the perfect wedding reception playlist is crucial to your success as a wedding DJ.

Of course, there’s not just one, or even just 100, perfect playlists. No, each wedding is unique. And you owe it to your wedding clients to put together a playlist perfect for them and their guests.

Despite each wedding’s playlist being different, there are some valuable principles to follow that will increase the likelihood of hitting gold with your song selection.

For example, there are of course certain songs that are usually VERY popular. I’ve compiled a list from over a decade of experience in the article, Fill the Dance Floor: The Most Popular Wedding Reception Songs.

But beyond just playing popular songs, let’s dig into some tips to elevate your skills at creating perfect wedding reception playlists!

 

Couple Dancing

 

What Do Your Wedding Clients Want to Hear?

Naturally, everything starts at your wedding clients’ wishes – what do they want to hear at their wedding reception?

This helps get you started. If they say the want country music, you’ll play country music. If they say they don’t want country music, you won’t! If they say they want, “I Want It That Way“* by Backstreet Boys, well, you should probably play it.

I always recommend giving clients a questionnaire.

  • Learn what genres they want to hear.
  • Learn what genres they don’t want to hear.
  • Learn what artists/songs they want to hear.
  • Learn what artists/songs they don’t want to hear.

Similarly, ask the clients for their preference on profanity in music or not – is it okay to play, or would they prefer you not. This will naturally also inform your song decisions.

Your clients don’t need to list every single song they want or don’t want, but encourage them to let you know 10-20 or however many they want. Don’t place limits! Be a cool DJ who lets clients feel in control of the night, as much as they want.

A questionnaire that I call the Reception Planner is available on the Documents page. Feel free to adapt it to your needs.

 

Should You Plan Wedding Reception Playlists Ahead of Time?

Okay, so let’s say the clients have now told you examples of music they want and music they don’t want – should you plan the playlist now?

In my experience, playlists you create before the wedding never ever work as well as crafting the playlist on the spot that night.

As a wedding DJ, it’s your job to react to what’s going on, what songs/styles are doing well, and what aren’t. Does the crowd look tired? Excited? Ready for a change? These are things that are hard to perfectly predict ahead of time.

However, it’s not a bad idea to think of some song ideas ahead of time, even if you haven’t yet decided exactly when you’ll play those. This is especially true if you’re a newer DJ and don’t have much experiencing crafting wedding reception playlists.

But in general, for DJs with at least some experience, I think you’ll have better luck crafting the perfect wedding reception playlist if you do it during the reception.
 


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Draw Connections Between Songs

Let’s take the earlier example of “I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys. If your client asked for that song, what can you guess?

  • They probably like pop music.
  • They probably like music from the late ’90s/early ’00s (“I Want It That Way” was released in 1999).
  • They probably like boy bands.

So from that you could reasonably guess that they may also like songs by NSYNC, Spice Girls, TLC, 98 Degrees, and others – groups that had hit songs around that time in at least somewhat similar genres. Thus, you may have success playing songs by those artists too.

Here’s another example: A client has asked for “Brick House” by Commodores. What can you guess?

  • They probably like music from the ’70s.
  • They probably like at least some funk/disco.

So you could reasonably guess that maybe they would also like songs such as:

Thinking of connections to other songs/artists will help you create a good flow from one song to another.

 

Observe The Age Groups at the Wedding

Let’s say the wedding you’re DJing has a large span of age groups.

Typically, we can assume the older guests (and the very young children) will leave earlier in the night. By the end of the night, it may mostly be just younger guests left (people in their twenties and thirties).

Thus, it makes sense to play more family-friendly music that appeals to all generations earlier in the night, before transitioning to younger, more “club” music near the end of the evening. (Of course, this is also dependent on the couple and their wishes.)

That doesn’t mean that early in the evening you can only play oldies music (The Beatles, Village People, classic rock, etc.), and that near the end of the evening you can only play hip-hop or very current music. No, you can still play a little of each at each time.

Still, it makes sense to tailor song selection to the age groups still present, while still mixing it up a bit.

For example, yes, you may play more older songs early in the evening. But there are also more current songs that people of all ages seem happy to dance to that can work nicely early in the evening too:

 

Nostalgia! Nostalgia! Nostalgia!

People often love hearing the songs that were popular when they were teens or college-aged. Nostalgia is huge at weddings, more so than playing the latest, most popular songs.

I went to high school 2000-2004. Thus, when I’m DJing for people my age, I often have the most luck playing songs by boy bands, Usher, blink-182, 50 Cent, The Killers, Nelly, and other similar artists.

Think about the age group of the couple you’re DJing for, as well as their guests, and that can help you pick songs that are likely to be popular.

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What Songs Are Doing Well?

As you start playing songs, watch what people enjoy. Other than the music instructions the couple gave you, this is the thing that will best help you determine what to play.

See what does well and then use your skill at drawing musical connections to pick the next songs.

For example, let's say "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston is really popular when you play it. Think about any other similar songs that could do well next. Some ideas:

  • "It's Tricky" by Run D.M.C. (another '80s classic)
  • "Shut Up and Dance" by WALK THE MOON (stylistically different but another pop song about dancing)
  • "Good As Hell" by Lizzo (another pop hit with a strong female vocalist; another celebratory song)

Watching the crowd throughout the night will help you learn what songs to play - what styles the guests like and what styles they don't.

 

Do Wedding DJs Have to Play Song Requests?

If the couple who hired you asks you to play a song? Yes, you should play it.

If a guest/wedding party member asks you to play a song? Only play it if it matches the couple's wishes for the music tonight and is likely to be popular.

Wedding guests can be difficult! They can push for their song requests to be played and to be played NOW! But you work for the client, not their guests, and it's important to use your judgment to decide if the song is worthwhile to be played, and to play it at a time that makes the most sense. Sometimes a song request at 8:00 will actually work better at 10:00 when maybe things have become more of a "club" vibe or it's just the younger guests left.

 

Don't Forget Slow Songs

As a DJ, you're probably excited about starting a real party. When the dance floor is full and everyone is going crazy, it's addictive!

But don't forget about slow songs. I recommend playing one or two an hour, unless the couple has asked you not to.

Slow songs have many benefits:

  • Some guests don't love dancing but are willing to dance to a slow song. Maybe their significant other has forced them to dance to the slow song, for example. Or maybe they just feel embarrassed to really dance it up to other songs.
  • Many of your older, senior guests may not dance much throughout the night but may join the dance floor for a slow song, as it's a more calm, slow style of dancing.
  • Slow songs are romantic. Many of your guests are excited to wrap their arms around someone and dance close.
  • Slow songs make for good photos. Make the photographer happy and give them a great chance to snap photos of couples enjoying each other's company.
  • People need a break. Fast, hyper dancing is exhausting! Slow songs help people recharge. Maybe they'll just sit out the song (that's okay) or else they'll continue dancing but at the slower pace.

 

Space Out the Group/Line Dances and Save for When the Dance Floor Is Empty

I've written a whole article aptly titled, What If No One Is Dancing? And one of the big tips is to play group/line dances to revive a dead dance floor.

Group dance songs are typically VERY popular and can refill a dance floor in no time.

So that's why I recommend generally saving those for moments when things are lagging. Of course, if you have a busy dance floor all night, then that's not a problem, and you can play them anytime that makes sense to you.

I also recommend spacing these songs out. While people often like the group dances, they usually don't want to dance to several in a row. Space them out.

 

Rough Song Transitions May Not Be That Bad

Naturally, you want to create a good flow throughout the wedding reception playlist. You don't want jarring genre or style changes.

But the truth is, the couple and the guests are usually most concerned with hearing songs they like, not whether it made stylistic sense compared to the previous song or not.

Many wedding DJs get really concerned about good song transitions or beat-matching or other DJ things. But most guests won't notice and probably don't really care.

Of course, try to make things smooth and not jarring with how you order songs. But it can also be okay to just play the songs you want to play and not get too worried about whether it's too much of a stylistic departure compared to the last one.

Sometimes it's okay to play, for example, "Chattahoochee" by Alan Jackson, followed by "Broccoli" by DRAM (feat. Lil Yachty). If guests like those songs, they probably won't mind the odd order - they'll just be happy to hear different songs and styles they like.

 

Play a Variety of Genres

Guests get bored hearing the same styles and genres over and over again.

While it can make sense to, for example, play three rap songs in a row, maybe don't do 10 in a row.

Mix up the genres to keep people's attention and keep appealing to a broad group of people.

If, for example, the couple has asked you to play rap, but some guests don't like rap at all, these guests may get fed up and leave if you play an hour straight. But adding in a pop or country song every few songs may help keep their attention and keep them interested in dancing.

 

Experience Helps

Naturally, the more you DJ weddings, the more you'll learn what songs often do well and what songs often don't.

Similarly, you'll recognize the best times to play certain songs and the songs that pair together nicely.

This will go a long way in helping you craft the perfect wedding reception playlist.

 

Conclusion

Each wedding is different, but with enough practice, you can soon craft a perfect wedding reception playlist at pretty much any wedding you DJ. Listen to your clients' music instructions, observe what does well, mix up the genres, insert a slow song every now and then, and save the group/line dances for moments in the night where the dance floor is rather empty. Keep experimenting and see what does well.

 

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