THE ULTIMATE WEDDING PLAYLIST: Classic Hits vs. Modern Favs
Photo by Lareto Caceres
Featured Wedding: Jessie & Chris
Married On: 11/14/2023
Photographer: Lareto Caceres
Venue: 99 Scott, Brooklyn, NY
Coordination: Angela Siu
Officiant: Alex D. Katz
Caterer: Night Kitchen
Cake: Baked
Babkas: Green’s Cakes
Florist: Fern Botanica
Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals
Lighting: Universal Light & Sound NYC
Hair & Makeup: Candace Henderson / Angela Boswell / Bisou Beauty Team
Photo by Lareto Caceres
Creating the perfect wedding playlist is a key ingredient in crafting an unforgettable celebration. As a luxury wedding DJ with over 15 years of experience, I understand that striking the right balance between classic hits and modern favorites can be difficult when you first start building your wedding music songs list. A good sense of what will appeal to your guests’ diverse tastes, while keeping your own songs prominent in the mix is a sometimes a tricky balance to strike. Let’s explore how to create a wedding playlist that seamlessly blends timeless tunes with contemporary tracks to keep your guests dancing and ensure a memorable event.
Why Balance Matters: The Blend of Classic Hits and Modern Favorites
Classic Hits: Timeless Appeal
Classic hits are great tools to have in any great wedding DJ’s belt. But it’s important they be delivered tastefully. These songs have stood the test of time and continue to resonate with guests of all ages. Incorporating classic tracks into your playlist ensures a sense of nostalgia and familiarity that can make your wedding feel both elegant and inclusive. Though these crowd pleasers definitely get people on the floor (particularly your older guests), fear not—I’ll never veer into the cheesy music lane, and will always deliver these tracks with my own special sauce to keep things stylish, never played out.
Universal Appeal: Classic hits have broad appeal and are often recognized by multiple generations. This helps to create a cohesive atmosphere where all guests feel engaged.
Memorable Moments: These timeless songs often evoke fond memories and emotions, making them perfect as party starters to break the ice and get everyone out on the floor or they can be great for special dedications.
Modern Favorites: Fresh and Exciting
Modern favorites bring a contemporary edge to your playlist, injecting energy and current trends into your wedding. Including some more well known songs that you and your guests enjoy, as well as infectious indie tracks keeps the vibe fresh and exciting, ensuring that your event feels current and dynamic.
Trendiness: Incorporating modern hits and known-but-not-radio tracks reflects current musical trends and adds a vibrant, up-to-date feel to your wedding celebration.
Danceability: Recent tracks often have a strong beat and high energy, perfect for engaging guests’ musical sensibilities and keeping the party going.
Crafting the Perfect Wedding Playlist: Tips for Balancing Classics and Modern Tunes
To create a wedding playlist that perfectly balances classic hits with modern favorites, consider the following tips:
1. Know Your Audience
Understanding the musical preferences of your guests is crucial. A diverse crowd means incorporating a variety of genres and eras into your playlist to cater to everyone’s tastes.
Survey Your Guests: Consider sending out a pre-wedding survey to gauge the musical preferences of your guests. This will help you tailor your playlist to their tastes.
Mix Genres: Ensure that your playlist includes a mix of genres that appeal to different age groups and preferences.
Photos by Lareto Caceres
2. Create Segmented Playlists
Segmenting your playlist into different parts of the wedding—such as the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing—can help maintain a smooth flow and keep the atmosphere dynamic.
Ceremony: Opt for dreamy, romantic songs during the ceremony to set an elegant tone.
Cocktail Hour: Whether yacht rock, classic rock, soul, or mid-tempo indie tracks, this is a great opportunity to entertain guests and pull from your own deeper cuts to create a relaxed but engaging atmosphere with exactly the music you want to hear.
Dinner: A mix of timeless love songs and contemporary cool and sexy tracks can enhance the dining experience. Throw in a couple of songs that guests can sing along too at their tables, and dinner will be an often unexpected highlight of the party.
Dancing: Combine a wide range of classics, indie dance floor hits, remixes, and crowd-hyping bangers to get the crowd together in a constantly building frenetic energy. This is where I really let loose and do my thing with what you have given me, adding my own flare, and mashing things up unexpectedly. My performances always end in the chant of “ONE MORE SONG! ONE MORE SONG!”
3. Personalize Your Playlist
Adding personal touches to your playlist ensures that the music reflects your unique style and relationship.
Special Requests: Include songs that have personal significance or that you and your partner love.
Dedications: Consider including tracks that are meaningful to specific guests or family members.
Special Dances: Collaborate with your parents if you’ll be doing a daddy-daughter wedding song or a mother-son dance. Consider transitioning from a sentimental song to something upbeat to welcome your guests onto the dance floor to get the party started.
4. Work with Your DJ
Collaborate with your DJ to refine your playlist and ensure that the music transitions smoothly throughout the event, and you’ve left no record crate unturned. That’s what I’m here for—think of me as your own personal music concierge!
Consultation: Discuss your playlist preferences with your DJ, and let them suggest any additional tracks that might fit your theme or style.
Flexibility: Allow room for spontaneity. A skilled DJ can read the room and adjust the playlist in real-time to keep the energy high.
The Luxury Touch: Why It Matters
As a luxury wedding DJ, my aim is to provide a curated and sophisticated musical experience that complements your wedding’s style and ambiance. Balancing classic hits with modern favorites not only ensures that your playlist appeals to all guests but also enhances the overall atmosphere of your celebration.
Music curation is the really, really fun part of planning your wedding (for us both!)
Crafting the ultimate wedding playlist involves a thoughtful blend of classic hits, some modern favorites, and the unexpected. By considering the diverse musical tastes of your guests and segmenting your playlist for different parts of the wedding, you can create a seamless and engaging musical experience. Collaborate with your DJ to perfect your playlist and ensure that every moment of your wedding is perfectly soundtracked. With the right balance, your wedding playlist will not only reflect your personal style but also keep your guests entertained and dancing all night long. If they don’t already think of you as their tastemaker, they surely will after this!
Thank you, Jessie & Chris, for an insanely fun wedding party! I’m so happy to be able to share your experience with future clients. 💛
Wait! There’s more…
I’ve put together a playlist below, inspired by some of my favorite weddings and special events over the years. This list is far from exhaustive and doesn’t favor any specific genre. It’s a mix of classics and fresh tracks—most of which you’ll recognize. Consider this a jumping-off point to inspire the soundtrack for your special day. As you listen, imagine how these songs could set the tone for your celebration. When the time comes, I’ll bring it all together with seamless mixing and a personal touch. Take a listen and let the ideas flow!
