After being a wedding band for a few years, you really get comfortable with guiding a lot of the behind-the-scenes decisions couples are struggling to make.  We get asked for advice or to be pointed in the right direction all of the time, and it’s a primary motivation for writing these articles every week.  One of the areas we see many couples struggle when planning their wedding is when they are working on choosing wedding music.  However, when you hire Fun DMC to perform at your reception, you’re not just getting a band and DJ/MC for a few hours – we’re with you each step of the way of the process and are always more than happy to help you with finding the right songs for your day.

1. Deciding on a first dance song will seem like the biggest decision ever

And not to make you more stressed, but it sort of is.  The first dance song should reflect you both as a couple.  Try a few songs on for size and settle on something that works for both of you.  It may not be each of your respective favorite song, but it doesn’t have to be – it just needs to be a tune that showcases your love for each other.  There are even songs out there that don’t necessarily feel right at first, but you’d be surprised by how perfect they are once you listen to it together.  A perfect example is Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow“, which was my wife and I’s first dance.  Those who know us wouldn’t have expected it to be the right fit (especially when we walked out of the ceremony to this), but it has special meaning to us and we were happy to share it for our first dance together.  If all else fails, ask us to look into making a mashup of the two choices and we’ll see what we can do!

2. You’ll stress over your lack of dance skills

Not everyone was blessed with Albert’s sweet dance floor moves.  Heads up to the grooms – you might find yourself signed up for dance lessons if your lady is dead set on turning heads at the reception.  Even if you hate dancing (which I can certainly relate to), it might be worth spending a fun 45 minutes closely moving with your spouse-to-be and you might find yourself enjoying it.  It probably beats another night staying in and watching TV  – and it’s a great workout.

3. Just because your friend sings doesn’t mean he necessarily wants to perform at your wedding

My wife and I were blessed to be surrounded by a number of extremely musically talented friends and were extremely grateful to have Robert and one of our other close friends provide the music for our ceremony.  However, not everyone is comfortable with a captive audience during such an intimate event, and they might not know how to say no.  If they agree to it but seem apprehensive, make sure they have enough time to practice (months, not days) and feels comfortable at the venue.  Especially give them the chance to do a sound check! Nothing is more jolting than performing in front of people and hearing the painful squeal of feedback.

4. Speaking of sound…

Your venue might have speakers provided, which is great!  However, make sure someone knowledgeable tests them out (note: we would be happy to) with your performers to make sure it’s loud enough to cover the room and won’t feed back.  Make sure you do this with enough time to seek alternate sound arrangements if necessary.  Also, don’t assume a venue will have all of the necessary gear.  We’ve seen a number of venues with speakers and maybe a wired microphone, but nothing with a long enough cable to reach the officiant or musicians.  Again, talk to us about the setup and what you’re wanting and we might be able to help save you a lot of trouble on the day of the wedding.

5. You’re going to want to play DJ

And there’s nothing wrong with that!  Some of the most hyped dance floors have come from suggestions from brides or grooms who know that their audience is ready to Shoop with Salt N Pepa or want to mix in some slow jams.  However, keep in mind that you’ve hired professionals for the night and we’ve gotten very good at getting to know audiences.  Talk to us in advance about what your musical tastes and preferences are and if there’s anything you specifically don’t want to hear.  You can trust that we tailor the music based on the audience and not just hit shuffle on a pre-made playlist.  That way, we can make sure the floor is jumping and all you have to do is try and remember all the moves to the Cupid Shuffle.