Good music can be the difference between a good wedding reception and a great wedding reception. While a lot of brides have higher priorities than picking music, be sure to spend an ample amount of time planning this detail. Come your wedding day, the music may be one of the things your guests remember most.

If you have a large budget, live music is always the way to go. To book a musician, you should plan well in advance. Some musicians and bands book up to a year in advance for weekend dates. While live music can be expensive, it is almost always well worth the investment. When selecting any musician, try to hear them play for yourself in person. If that's not possible, at the very least, listen to their demo tape. Be sure to ask for references and check them before signing a contract or handing over any money.

If you don't have a large budget, using a DJ is another terrific option. Make sure the DJ you select is experienced in working weddings. It's also best if the DJ has worked the same venue. The more experienced the DJ, the better.

What type of music should you play at your wedding? You need to take into account a lot of variables. First, you should consider the type of music both you and the groom like. You should also then consider what type of music your guests will enjoy. If the guest list is primarily older people, then pop music is probably not the way to go for your reception. Provide your DJ, band or musician with a "must-play" list of songs you want included at your reception. But maybe even more important is a "do not play" list. This should be a list of the songs that you absolutely do not want played at your wedding. Read more here about these type of songs.

Finally, if you are having a theme wedding, be sure to connect the music with the theme. Theme weddings for different decades are very popular - particularly the 50's and the 70's. Both of these decades have fun music selections to choose from.

The bottom line is you should remember that this day is about you and your husband-to-be. For example, if you both enjoy hip hop music, you should include hip hop music on your play list, even if it doesn't exactly match the feel of your wedding. Don't be afraid to stretch the boundaries because with your wedding reception music, you can put a unique stamp on your most cherished of days.

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