Top 20 Wedding Entertainment FAQs Couples Search on Google and Reddit
Photo: Jackie Cole
Questions about your wedding? Hey, it’s probably the first time you’ve planned something like this, and we are here to guide you! We’ve shared your top questions, and polled our clients, Google and Reddit to bring you this wedding FAQ. Got a question not on this list? We’d love to hear it: contact us here >>>
Should we hire a live band or a DJ for our wedding? It totally depends on your style and vibes. Bands offer the classic hits in a live set, DJs are far more versatile. Many couples now book DJ bands for the best of both worlds. Add on a musician to the dance party DJ set for another option with live music.
How much does it cost to hire a wedding DJ or band? Rates depend on experience, gear, and the total value offered. Our DJ packages can be seen here. While bands typically have a higher rate, rates are a reflection of expertise and that artist’s experience. No matter the rate, ask to see live performance videos and hear live mixes to ensure you are receiving the highest value, and not just booking a playlist.
What are the best first dance songs? Our playlisting and planning app has is full of suggestions! You can find one that reflects your story easily there. “At Last” by Etta James in a classic favorite, and electronic remixes for first dances are becoming more popular. Many of our couples love attending festivals or even met on the dance floor. What track do you both love that was performed that day? First dance songs are fun to pick: lead with your hearts.
How do we create a wedding reception playlist? We recommend starting with a collaborative playlist on Spotify that the two of you share together. Once we are booked, we will share our playlisting and planning app with you that syncs with Spotify, Apple music and YouTube. It’s super easy to add tracks to all the sections of your event in the app.
Can we provide our own playlist to the DJ or DJ band? Yes! We recommend requesting about 20 - 40 tracks for open dancing. Be sure to share these requests at least 7 days before your big day so that your DJ or DJ band has time to prepare. You will also be asked to share genres or songs for your prelude, ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner playlists.
What is a "do not play" list, and should we have one? We do recommend focusing on what you do want to hear performed vs. what you don’t want to hear, as it keeps the process more positive and fun. Yes, you there is a section for do-not-plays in our planning process. Feel free to use it!
How long should the DJ or DJ band play during the reception? The best wedding reception dance parties are about 90 minutes to 3 hours in length. The most popular length is 2 hours. It’s really up to you and your partner to decide how long you’d like the reception to go. For weddings at altitude, we recommend wrapping up by 10pm or 11pm, especially if there are many out of town guests. That way there are still lots of guests to send you off at the grand exit.
Do we need music for the ceremony and cocktail hour? Yes, the songs you choose for ceremony are often very personal and heartfelt. The 3 main songs for the ceremony are the wedding party processional (when your bridal party and the “groom” walks down the aisle), the “bride” march (when the other 1/2 of the couple walks to the altar) and the recessional (the upbeat track we play after you are announced at the altar, and walk back down the aisle to your cheering friends and family). Cocktail hour tracks are background music for you and your guests to chat and connect. Slower songs you love or genres that aren’t super dancey are all great to add in here.
What are some unique entertainment ideas for our wedding? We are SO glad you asked! Our bespoke wedding clients have asked for living champagne table greeters, disco head gogo dancers, aerialists, stilt walkers at hora loca and soooooo much more. Check out some ideas here >>>
How far in advance should we book our wedding entertainment? Although we could totally get booked today and light it up for you tomorrow, we recommend booking your wedding entertainment at least 6 months in advance. 30 days before is a decently comfortable cut off for things like lighting or bespoke entertainment, the best-case for our DJs or DJ band is at least 1 year out.
What questions should we ask potential DJs or bands before booking? You should begin by sharing your entertainment vision with them. Let them know your style, vibes, genres and ideas you have for the party. We highly recommend having your entertainment budget in mind so that they can create a package that matches your vision and budget. The big thing to ask is if they have videos of them performing live. It is really a deal breaker, because they can be 100% professional on the phone, but still have little stage presence and no DJing or MCing skills in real life. Ask for videos!
Can the DJ or band also serve as the emcee or MC for our wedding? Yes, here at Ignight Entertainment, your DJ is also your MC. We make professional announcements to guide you and your guests to a seamless experience. Our playlisting and planning app makes it easy to add in announcements to our run of show. We will review that timeline and those MC details with you leading up to your big day.
What equipment does the DJ or band provide, and what do we need to supply? Definitely ask if you have specific needs in mind, but DJ packages should check all the boxes when it comes to gear. We bring everything you need to light it up for you and your guests. We just need access to a power outlet. Asking for a lapel mic is a common add on, which we can provide. Just be aware that wireless handheld microphones are typically better for outside ceremonies due to lapel mics picking up the sound of the breeze a little too easily.
Are there any venue restrictions we should consider for live music? Some venues have a hard cut off for sound due to neighbors complaining about music. Others may not allow amplified music outside. Each venue is different, so we recommend asking about that before booking your venue and reading the entire venue contract before signing it. We’re happy to work with you and your venue on any restrictions, and will always turn down the music upon request.
How do we ensure our entertainment aligns with our wedding theme? Our entertainment planning process guides you to share the style, vibe, theme and story of your big day with us from the start. We recommend having both of you on the discovery call with your DJ, so we can really get to know you both. One of the first questions we ask is how you met! Details like the colors of your uplights at dinner, what show you want on the Infinity Mirror LED Dance Floor during your first dance, or what genres of music you want to hear during open dancing are all details we will get into into during the planning process.
What are some popular songs for different parts of the wedding (e.g., entrance, cake cutting)? We have many suggestions in our playlisting and planning app. We recommend songs that make you feel upbeat, happy and excited for the grand entrance. If you do a special song for the cake cutting, sometimes the runners-up for your first dance do well here.
Can we include cultural or traditional music in our wedding playlist? 100%. Any song available online anywhere is fair game. Our motto is “traditions, remixed”. If you love world music or have traditional tracks in mind, we will mix them in key, by BPM and energy level to create a seamless mix on your wedding day.
How do we handle entertainment for a diverse guest list with varying music tastes? If possible, you can ask each guest for 1 song they’d love to hear during open dancing. Edit the list as needed, then add these songs to your open dancing requests. A great DJ will open up the dance floor with family friendly hits, then turn up the heat and the energy as the night goes on.
What backup plans should we have in case of technical issues with entertainment? The #1 issue we have seen is power outages at venues. That being said, it happens very, very rarely. Your DJ’s gear should be high enough quality that it will not fail. If power is a true concern, we can bring a portable battery that is powerful enough to run your ceremony and/or our DJ gear, sound and lighting for open dancing.
How do we incorporate interactive entertainment elements (photo booths, cold sparks, greeters)? First, decide if this is ambient entertainment or a featured performance. Ambient entertainment like photo booths, static greeters like our red carpet musicians, or even a saxophonist during cocktail hour, add to the vibe, and the energy is maintained instead of increasing. Featured performances like cold sparks during your first dance, CO2 blasters at the after party, breakdancers or a live lighting show to DJ Ignight’s set all increase the energy, and are a special moment to highlight. Entertainment design is included in all of our packages: we look forward to bringing those interactive performances to your wedding!