WEDDING TIPS - HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT COCKTAIL HOUR PLAYLIST
COCKTAIL HOUR MUSIC IS IMPORTANT. LET US HELP YOU CREATE THE PERFECT PLAYLIST.
When planning a wedding, cocktail hour music is highly overlooked in my opinion. Your cocktail hour should set the stage for your reception and the music you and your DJ choose for the cocktail hour is an important part of the day.
THE BASICS
Cocktail Hour music should never be too upbeat or too slow.
*Upbeat is good but just not necessarily “Calvin Harris making heart hands, full blown EDM Electric Daisy Carnival” upbeat. Let’s not shoot off the confetti cannons during the cocktail hour, am I right?
*Slow is sleepy. This is the first time your guests are getting to truly interact with each other over an adult beverage. Let’s not make it a snoozefest.
I’ve been to a few weddings where the cocktail hour was really weird and it was all because the music was either insanely cheesy slow songs or peak hour dance floor bangers. Both are a major no-no.
Here’s a good way to look at it. Your guests just left your ceremony, where things were very emotional, including the music. Let’s pick up the pace a hair at the cocktail hour and let your guests know that the fun is right around the corner.
A great DJ understands the sweet spot between upbeat and slow. A mix of songs that keep the mood light and the energy fun, but not tooooooo fun. I mean, let’s save some fun for the dance floor later right??
THE BOTTOM LINE
A great DJ will work with you on every aspect of your wedding to make it perfect, including something as overlooked as the cocktail hour music. The cocktail hour gives you a great opportunity to include songs that you and your fiance love, that just might not be quite the right fit for your ceremony or your dance reception.
PRO TIP : Create your own Spotify or Apple Music Playlists for different parts of your wedding and share them with your DJ.
When you’re telling your DJ about songs you love and want to hear, let them guide you in the right direction for the evening. They may tell you that certain songs on your list would do better on the cocktail hour playlist. Our advice is to trust their opinion and let them roll with it.
Don’t get us wrong, If you’re dead set on hearing “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac while you have a packed dance floor, that’s fine. At the end of the day, it’s your big day and we’ll make sure you get what you want.
However, “Dreams” in our opinion works better as a light hearted cocktail hour track that your guests will notice. “Dreams” is also a great example of keeping your crowd in mind because older guests likely grew up hearing it on the radio while younger guests know it because it went viral in 2020.
Disclaimer : “Dreams” is just a random example of a beloved track that guests of all ages will know. Save your eye rolls if you aren’t personally a fan. We’re speaking in generalities here people! Also, this should just give you even more of a reason to talk to your DJ about your cocktail music so they don’t play anything that you and your fiancé hate. Boom!