Wedding playlist ideas?

Can anyone give me some advice?
Should I go with a DJ or a live band?
If you suggest a band, what kind of group should I look for?
Has anyone here dealt with this before? How did you feel about the vibe each option brought to the party? It’ll mostly be a younger crowd (about 70 out of 120 guests), though they still enjoy hitting the dance floor for the classic hits and those Latin tracks—basically, a lot of couple dancing.

Look, I honestly haven't the slightest clue how you’d actually pull it off—you know, finding that sweet spot between keeping the older crowd happy and staying cool with your buddies!—but I’ve got this nagging feeling that the band would just hit totally different with you on board! 😉

Seriously, try booking Voltaire as the DJ. It’ll be an absolute riot, I promise.
And then you've got these self-proclaimed music snobs hanging out on this forum...

band!

It is going to be incredibly difficult for you to please everyone. I attended a wedding for an ex-girlfriend where her family’s crowd kept playing those heavy southern country anthems, and during their breaks, I was tasked with handling the music. So, naturally, I played some Propellerheads and St. Germain instead. Just imagine the look on those guests' faces—it was a total disaster. Honestly, I wouldn't even consider getting married if I had to worry about what kind of music plays at the reception, because I am far too sensitive to that sort of thing.

I recently attended this wedding with about 100 guests in attendance... mostly a younger crowd...

We had both a DJ and a live band on hand, all of whom are dear friends of ours. We even carved out some time for a thirty to forty-five minute karaoke session... it was truly a joyous occasion...👍

Ultimately, your choice is going to hinge entirely on the crowd you're hosting. If you’re looking at a younger demographic, you might want to bring in a DJ or just hire Voltaire. However, if you're dealing with an older group of folks who prefer the more traditional vibe, a live band or Voltaire would be the way to go. In either scenario, I’d suggest sticking with Voltaire. 👍 😁 😁 😁 You really can't go wrong with him. 😁 😁 😁 😁

Looks like we’re going with a DJ after all (that’s $300 compared to $1,200 for a full band), so whatever happens, happens.

A few years back, I was in Chicago for this really classy wedding held at the opera house—it used to be an InterContinental. There were about 120 people there. It felt lovely and intimate. Not like those cramped, small-town weddings where you’ve got a folk band playing and they insist on inviting everyone from three blocks over just because their dads worked at the same company once or something... I won't get into it, but you know how those "traditions" go. Anyway, the band played Baronne and the Red Corals. Honestly, the Corals were great (I call them my "little sea slugs" as a joke)... they mostly played those classic old-school tracks that everyone loves. And no, I wasn't rolling my eyes! Trust me, for someone like me, that's saying something when local music starts playing. All in all, it was a blast. As for the cost and how to book them... I'm not quite sure. A couple of the guests have been living in New York for years now, so we haven't caught up in ages... but man, I actually danced!!! 😉

Opera? Please. This summer I hit up a huge backyard bash in a small town outside of Austin—my college buddy from UT Austin invited me over. Now *that* was a party. Honestly, you just have to make sure everyone stays hydrated with plenty of drinks and you're golden. :-))

Also, my uncle got married this summer. They held this stunning reception at a luxury villa overlooking the Pacific coast. It was classy—servers were circulating with trays of champagne, and there was a massive buffet featuring hors d'oeuvres and local favorites (since I grew up around the coast, I made sure to grab some traditional savory pies...). Everything was decked out in these gorgeous lilac roses that perfectly matched the bride's dress. Half the guest list was British, Canadian, Indian, and Australian (my uncle works in London, and his wife is Canadian), so they had an absolute blast too. We started off socializing with some chill background music, then eventually transitioned into dancing to hits from my uncle and aunt's college years... everything from Police to Clash.

mambo kurt

just give me a shout if you want to go through with it

I’m voting for a live band—but not one of those cheesy, wedding-singer types you see at the local office holiday party or playing at the neighbor's BBQ down the street. I want actual professionals who can handle some classical pieces, not just endless pop hits.

It all boils down to how much cash you’re willing to burn on music. If you’ve got something like ten grand, maybe you can actually land Saban 🙂

Look, whoever you end up hiring, just make sure they play Guns N' Roses' "November Rain" at least once!
I mean, weddings without that track are basically a waste of money 🙂 🙂 🙂

amberfalcon172 said:no matter who you hire, make sure they play Guns N' Roses' November Rain at least once!
weddings without that song are a total waste 🙂 🙂 🙂

what, you want every couple to end up in a casket??

I’m telling you, from the bottom of my heart, you really ought to track down some musicians who specialize in Klezmer.
To me, that kind of music just feels like wedding music—nothing else, really.
👍

This thread brings to mind an old joke I haven't thought about in years.

So...

A group of police officers decided to go to the theater together. They made plans to meet up in the lobby beforehand so they could divvy up the tickets.

The Chief shows up and finds the entire squad—all fifty of them—standing there in nothing but swimsuits, carrying masks, snorkels, flippers, and all that gear.

"Are you people insane?" he bellows. "What are you doing? You aren't going swimming in Lake Tahoe; it’s just a ballet performance, you idiots!"

"Now, now, don't get your blood pressure up, Chief," one officer replies. "You weren't exactly acting sane yourself five years ago when we went to see 'Figaro's Flight.'"
You showed up in a beat-up sedan, honking the horn incessantly until you reached the theater, and then proceeded to offer passersby shots of moonshine right on the sidewalk.
Then, in the lobby, you were jumping on tables and singing at the top of your lungs, slapping stickers on the violinist's forehead, and when it was time to leave, you actually demanded the Philharmonic follow you to your car while pointing a gun at the choir to make them climb a tree and belt out "Diana, My Love"...

E Scorpy ccc 😁

At this gala I attended recently, the newlyweds kicked things off by dancing a tango to a track from 'Bracken Water'... 'love and marriage...'

👍

A killer live band can absolutely work wonders, though honestly, a great DJ can pull off some pretty magic too.
I remember going to this big outdoor wedding bash last summer where the band was just straight-up abysmal—even though they came highly recommended by everyone—and you could practically feel the mood tanking as the night went on; it totally killed the vibe.
Then there was my cousin’s wedding, where the guy they hired to DJ was clearly just some kid who had no clue what he was doing; the actual pro who was supposed to handle the set ended up in the hospital, so we were stuck with a disaster instead.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you actually hear them perform beforehand if you can, whether it's a band or a DJ, so you know exactly what kind of set you're getting. You really want to avoid those awkward surprises, like at my cousin's place, where the guy started blasting rap music when nobody asked for it, which basically cleared the dance floor instantly and he just refused to change his tune.