Updated July 2025

If you ask most wedding guests what they remember about their experiences, they’ll often comment on the food and entertainment.

Wedding day music goes beyond hiring a DJ for your reception. Your entertainment selections set the ambiance for your wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.

There’s a lot to be said of hiring musicians who specialize in weddings. I’ve seen too many weddings where the ceremony music wasn’t timed appropriately, the sound equipment didn’t work, or the introductions and first dance were awkwardly fumbled through, which is why we asked Tampa Bay’s best wedding DJs and live musicians to share their expertise on A Guide to Wedding Day Music.

“Your ceremony is the beginning. The beginning of one of the biggest days of your life. Your music should reflect your personality. What emotions are you wanting to trigger from your guests and yourself? Which songs will reflect your taste? Are you wanting to walk down to Canon in D Major that everyone knows, but also sets the tone for a more romantic scene, or are you wanting something so different that no one has ever walked down the aisle to? This is a great opportunity to showcase your personal taste in music to your audience. If you’re someone who loves music and you want your personality to shine through during this time, you should definitely pick the songs that speak for you and your significant other. It will memorable for you and your guests. A DJ should not just play your music, but also should do a sound check with your officiant, test the audio so everyone can hear, and make sure the timing is perfect. This should be a priority and properly budgeted for when you hire musicians or a DJ.” -Christopher Grainger, Graingertainment

“Your ceremony music choices can help to enhance what is already a deeply emotional experience, not only for you, but also for your guests. While traditional songs like Canon in D are always well received, it’s also never been easier to personalize your ceremony songs. For example, you might not think of original songs by Taylor Swift or Metallica as fitting/appropriate for your ceremony. However, a slowed down, romantic, instrumental cover of a Taylor Swift or Metallica song can actually be quite pretty! If you have a particular song/artist you love but it doesn’t seem fitting or appropriate for your ceremony, do some digging to see if you can find a slowed down or instrumental cover. You will be surprised how much of these covers exist on YouTube, Spotify, etc. There’s a trend among YouTube musicians in which they will play (often on piano) 30 seconds to a minute of Canon in D and then transition into a popular, more current song. These creators are producing these instrumental covers specifically for a wedding ceremony processional. Often times, you can find that the YouTube creator will offer fully customized recordings for a fee. A custom recording may allow you to choose the specific song they transition into and how long after the Canon in D intro the transition should occur. Choosing a song that is meaningful to you and/or your fiancé is a great way to enhance the feelings of the moment.” -Eric Harding, Grant Hemond & Associates

“Your wedding ceremony is a profound, powerful moment in your life. It’s filled with both joy and tears. It brings families together and often makes families talk about things that are uncomfortable or difficult. Ultimately, it binds the two of you together and gives you strength and security as your beautiful journey of married life begins. Your music should be powerful and alive to support you in these moments and feelings. A live musical performance will do justice to the importance of the ceremony. It will help to make the ceremony stand out in memory. Your musicians will follow the direction you want for your ceremony, and they’ll be there supporting you with real, live, beautiful harmonies as you take that walk down the aisle! And then — when the ceremony feels like a ceremony, the party feels like a party! Everyone can let loose having just witnessed the two of you accomplish something amazing.” -Tara Bhrushundi, Sweet Harmony

“Your cocktail hour is an uplifting kickoff to your wedding celebration. Having live musicians brings a unique touch and ambience. Live musicians at a cocktail hour create an inviting, immersive atmosphere that draws guests in and makes them feel more connected to your wedding. Your guests will be mingling, relaxing, chatting with one another, feeling the music, and starting to get in the mood to dance. Live musicians and ensembles can provide a personalized repertoire such as classical selections, pop hits, R&B, Broadway, and jazz to name a few. A unique variety of solo musicians as violin, cello, guitar, or harp to customized groups of different duos, trios, quartets, or jazz bands brings the cocktail hour to a different level.” -Kasia Dolinska, Sweet Harmony

“More often than not, the bridal party is out taking pictures during the cocktail hour. This is a time when your guests are waiting for the party to start, but it doesn’t need to feel like a waiting game. This is a great opportunity to play some crowd favorites that guests love to sing along to before the real dancing starts. This is also an excellent opportunity for a harpist or saxophonist to charm the crowd while they sip on cocktails.” -Chris Grainger, Graingertainment

“While it’s fair to say that the music during cocktail hour is not as relevant or prevalent as the dancing portion of the evening, it still plays a role in helping set the tone for the moment. Generally speaking, background music can create a vibe. Traditional, easy listening music through the decades is always a great go to for this. With that said, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. If you have a specific style, genre, or decade of music you’re fond of, the cocktail hour is a great time to fully commit to that.” -Eric Harding, Grant Hemond & Associates

“The best thing that any good DJ can do for you and your guests is to read the crowd while incorporating any specific songs or styles you would like to have played. This also includes adhering to your do-not-play preferences (if any). A few things to keep in mind when you’re thinking about dance floor songs: what is the demographic of your guests? Are they older, younger, or a mix of both? Is the mix 50/50 or 80/20? Also, the music you love to listen to in your car may not be the best music for the dance floor at your wedding. Do you really want your grandma in the room while you jam out to the unedited version of “WAP”? We recommend to give your DJ a well rounded picture of your music preferences. Put together a general playlist and do-not-playlist. Platforms like Spotify or Apple Music have a nice feature of showing the total playlist length, which is helpful when trying to narrow down your list. No matter how good your DJ is, he won’t be able to play every song on an 8-hour playlist in a 2-hour timeframe! If you have any specific songs which you would consider significant or a must play, make sure to communicate that! A good DJ will not only make sure to play your must plays, he’ll make sure that you hear them. It doesn’t make much sense to throw on one of your special songs if you’ve just stepped out of the room.” -Eric Harding, Grant Hemond & Associates

“Your reception music will be key to finishing off your night strong. At this point, all your formalities are done, you’ve said your vows, so it’s officially time to party! We’ve had couples that weren’t too big on dancing or that didn’t really have a preference for what type of reception music was played, and that is perfectly okay. However, please keep in mind that a lot of your guests are there to party and celebrate with you, and maybe they are looking forward to the dancing portion of the evening. There should be a healthy balance of songs that you would like to hear, while also allowing the DJ the opportunity to do the job that you hired them for. A reputable, professional DJ company will know what songs to play to get people dancing and when to play them, while trying to engage all different demographics. This is based on knowledge from experience, which unfortunately has no price tag, so that’s why you should always do your due diligence before hiring ‘just anyone to play the music at your wedding.’ Your Spotify or Apple Music playlists sometimes don’t exactly translate to a wedding dance floor so that is why it is important to give your DJ breathing room on the playlist to make sure your dance floor is fun and moving all night long!” -Ed Grube, Events Done Right

“When it comes to reception music, it’s all about setting the right vibe and ensuring everyone has the time of their lives. Picture this: the newlyweds have just made their grand entrance, and the room is buzzing with high energy. The music you choose will be the heartbeat of the celebration, guiding the energy and flow of the evening to make it as exciting as possible. Always think about your unique style and taste. Are you into EDM, pop hits, or hip hop from the 2000’s? Mixing in those favorite tunes with crowd-pleasers is a surefire way to keep the dance floor packed. And don’t forget about choosing songs that hold personal significance that can make your wedding even more memorable. It’s also important to consider the guests. A diverse playlist that spans different genres and eras can cater to all ages, ensuring everyone from the flower girl to grandma gets a chance to bust a move. Do not overlook the power of a good slow song to bring couples together on the dance floor. Finally, flexibility is key. Reading the room and being ready to switch things up if needed can make all the difference. If the crowd is loving a particular genre, don’t be afraid to lean into it. After all, the goal is to create an unforgettable experience where everyone leaves with sore feet and happy hearts. So, crank up the volume, and turn this music into the best memories! After all, that’s our Motto. See you on the dance floor!” -DJ Gary, Graingertainment

“Your ceremony should have live music. People sometimes say that live music is an added touch, but we feel that live music is an essential and vital part of events that are special and important. There is something about live music that connects with people in a unique way. This often becomes clear after the event, when our couples are looking back and thinking about what stood out to them about their wedding. For the reception, there can be a large financial difference between a 7-8-piece band and a DJ (the DJ will be more affordable). You also may want to hear your favorite songs exactly as you know them. For these factors, a DJ would be the better choice.” -Tara Bhrushundi, Sweet Harmony

“Find is a disc jockey who understands that it’s not about the DJ. It’s all about the couple. This is your day. Do your research! Referrals from other industry vendors, as well as reviews posted on wedding websites, are definitely the way to go. Industry vendors can point you in the right direction since they get a chance to work with DJs and bands almost every weekend. They know who to recommend and who to steer clear of. Plus, they’re not going to put their name on the line to recommend someone they can’t trust will do a good job for you! From there, make sure you’re confident in your decision once you’ve made it. If you’re not but have a good feeling, ask that company questions to ensure that confidence in them. After all, you’re putting a lot of time, effort, and money to ensure you’re event is a success!” –Grant Hemond & Associates

“Write out a list of what you’re looking for. Go over all of your questions with your DJ/musician and compare their answers to other companies. Talk to them either over the phone or in person. Do they mesh well with you? Do you like what you hear? Do they have great reviews? Are they in your price range? Do you feel they are going to do a great job at your event? Do your research. Don’t just assume. Ask plenty of questions! Also, give yourself a few days to soak everything in before you make a decision. If it feels right and you and your partner both agree, then you have your person!” -Christopher Grainger, Graingertainment

“Unfortunately, there is no way to fully know if you hired the right DJ for your wedding until after your event is over. That is why it is important to do thorough research on the company that you hiring out, before assuming that ‘anyone can do the job.’ Fully scour different sites for reviews…Google, WeddingWire, The Knot, Marry Me Tampa Bay. Wherever you can find feedback on a company, look for it. We suggest not always going off a personal recommendation because maybe the DJ who played at your sister’s friend’s wedding was the perfect fit for her date, but maybe that DJ won’t be the right fit for yours. After you’ve done your research and narrowed your search down to a few different companies that are within your budget range, always have a consultation or quick phone call to hear how they sound and present themselves. Remember, your DJ will also be the MC for your wedding day and will be representing all of your family and friends on the microphone throughout the evening, so this is just as an important task to research. After you’ve done all this, then go with your gut. Hire out the company that you feel will do exactly what you need them to do on your big day from your online research and personal interaction (phone call or consultation). A great way to get a feel on if if you hired the right DJ throughout the process is communication. If you’re sending emails to your DJ company, and you aren’t getting responses within a couple of days (even if your wedding is off in the distance), this may potentially be a red flag. A solid and reputable company will always respond in a timely manner. You usually don’t go over details and music selections until you are closer to your wedding date, but any questions that you may have throughout the process should always be answered promptly by the company that you hired.” -Ed Grube, Events Done Right

“There are lots of quality professionals out there but not all of them will be right for you. It should be obvious that you are like-minded. For example, if you’ve been dreaming of a string quartet at your wedding for a long time, then the company you hire should be able to give you a special string quartet experience. You will be able to tell this from past customer reviews. Dig deeper into the reviews and see what people often mention. Listen to the customer’s voice in the review, and see if they sound like you. If you don’t know what you want for your music, then it’s not time to hire anyone yet. Spend some time thinking, researching, and checking out samples. There will be a lot of exciting videos — don’t pick one impulsively. Watch the same video again tomorrow, and the next day, and see if it still grabs you! To do this, you’ll need to give yourself some time. Start thinking about your music at least a year in advance, ideally longer, so that by the time you are ready to hire, the group you want will hopefully still be available.” -Tara Bhrushundi, Sweet Harmony

“It’s not all about the lowest quote! You hear all the time that a DJ can make…or break an event. In the grand scheme of the cost of a wedding (the food, photos, flowers, dress, etc.), if you pay a little more than what you were hoping for, but get a fabulous DJ, then it is money well spent. On the other hand, if you save a little and get a DJ who perhaps shows up late, forgets an important detail, mispronounces a name, doesn’t dress properly, etc. was it worth it? Just something to keep in mind! When budgeting for the reception, one of the main things to think about is how much time you will need DJ services. Other things to consider are whether you will want any add-ons such as uplighting, monogram lighting, and/or photo booth. Most companies will create package pricing for these additions, so don’t be afraid to ask! When it comes to specific music, trust in your DJ! Give us your must-plays and genres of music you enjoy and let your DJ read the crowd. One thing to keep in mind is the music you enjoy listening to on the radio is not necessarily the same music that will keep your guests on the dance floor. You are paying for a quality DJ – trust their abilities to help you have a great time!”-Grant Hemond & Associates

Marry Me Tampa Bay Recommends: Expect to budget at least $400-$500 for a solo ceremony musician. and $1,500-$2,000 for a string quartet and $1,000-$1,500+ for a professional, reputable DJ for cocktail hour and reception music.