Choosing the Right Music for Your Beach Wedding Reception
Nothing says romantic like a beach wedding. What makes it even better is having the right kind of music to set the mood and tone for the ceremony. Music is always a great addition to any festivity as it speaks to everyone and can either make you feel good or get your feet moving. For your wedding day, you want to combine both effects, so here are some guidelines to having that great music selection for your wedding day.
Discuss what kind of music will be played with your partner especially if both of you have specific tastes. Try to create a theme that combines both flavors or have the DJ mix the different styles so there’s a little something for everyone. Also give some consideration on how the music will be presented to the guests. Another thing to consider is the decision to have a live band to perform. If you have enough money to hire one, most would recommend getting a steel band or look-alike bands. This gives it an authentic island feel that everyone will enjoy. If you do not have enough to afford such a band, you can also go with a traditional jazz band. That works just as well. Your third option is hiring a DJ to play a mix of music that can combine different styles to satisfy everyone. If you decide on working with a DJ remember to have a list of songs given to him ahead of the wedding day, so there are no embarrassing situations where the wrong music is played at the wrong time or a song that no one knows blasts through the speakers.
For your first dance, remember to choose a song that speaks to both of you as a couple. This is a song that should be meaningful and special. Some examples of great music that can be used for your beach wedding include “Kiss the Girl” by Samuel E. Wright, “I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher, “Is This Love?” by Bob Marley, “Better Together” by Jack Johnson, “You are the Sunshine of my Life” by Stevie Wonder, “True Companion” by Marc Cohn, “Beyond the Sea” by Robbie Williams and Frank Sinatra, “I Can’t Help Falling in Love” by UB40 or Elvis Presley, “When We Dance” by Sting, “Dance with You” by Live, “You Sang to Me” by Marc Anthony, “Sail Away” by David Gray and “Sea of Love” by The Honey Drippers.
For your background music, you might want to choose artists or songs that remind the guests of a beach. Some classics to pick from include favorites from the Beach Boys, Café Del Mar, Jack Johnson, Donovan Frankenreiter, UB40, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole to name a few. Each artist brings a different flavor – either soothing sounds, reggae beats or acoustic rock tunes.
To get the party going, try some heel-kicking tunes from bands like the Baha Men. They are well known for their sunny, Caribbean dance music. You can never go wrong with the Beach Boys with their collection of great party hits, and add a little Latin spice including salsa music to liven things up!
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