Wedding music: DJ or live band, and how to plan the playlist

Guests forget the centrepieces, but they remember how the evening felt, and music does most of that work. A little planning decides whether the dance floor fills at nine o'clock or empties at ten.

DJ or live band?

• A DJ plays the original recordings, covers every style and can adapt to the room. It usually costs less and takes less space.
• A live band brings energy and a sense of occasion, but needs a stage, power, sound checks and a bigger budget, and plays a narrower range.
• A hybrid works well too: a DJ for most of the evening and a live musician, such as a violinist or singer, for the ceremony or the first dance.

Questions to ask before you book

1. 1Have you played at this venue, and do you know its sound limits or curfew?
2. 2How long do you play, and what happens if the evening runs late?
3. 3What equipment do you bring, and do you have a backup?
4. 4Can I give you a must-play list and a do-not-play list?
5. 5Will you act as master of ceremonies if I ask, and are you comfortable with announcements?
6. 6Can I speak to a couple whose wedding you played recently?

The moments that need music

• The ceremony: the entrance, the signing and the exit.
• Drinks and dinner: quiet, warm background music.
• The first dance and the dances with parents.
• The party: build gradually and keep the tempo moving.
• The last song, which people remember.

Building a playlist that works

Choose songs that you love, but remember that the dance floor includes your grandparents and your friends. Mix generations, put the best-known songs in the middle of the evening and avoid starting with the slow ones. A short must-play list and a clear do-not-play list is better than writing out every song.

Agree the details in writing: the hours, the equipment, the extra-hour rate and any songs that matter most. Then enjoy the dancing.