Arranging a wedding reception is a pretty daunting task. On top of it, curating a perfect dance playlist for your reception party is not something to be taken lightly. It’s almost an art! The task calls for taste, choice, grace, and planning. It’s a tall order, as you need to make sure that the final roster includes something for every taste. From classic tracks to pop-tastic tunes, popular sing-along numbers to fun peppy items, the options are limitless. The task of final selection often turns out to be more time-consuming than you imagined. But don’t worry! Here, we’ve come up with a few handy tips to prepare the perfect wedding reception dance playlist that’ll make all your guests groove all night long!
Recognize That It’s a Popularity Competition
Sometimes, the wedding reception dance seems like a popularity contest, and that’s because it is! Songs from top pop charts or best romantic songs of the decade are the most chosen songs for the playlist. Popular songs might be overheard due to constantly being everywhere, but they also do a great job of bringing everyone together – from the oldest to the youngest. They’re known to almost everybody so you won’t have people standing and wondering what song it is.
Embrace the Crossover
There’s no need to rack your brain to keep your reception dance playlist highly updated or to stick to one specific genre. While old, overplayed, and commonly popular numbers can encourage your guests to move and sing along more, genres like country, pop, hip-hop, rock, etc. can also add to the fun. Try mixing and putting all the big names from every genre in a room together, and you’ll surely be surprised by the result!
Serenade Your Guests
It may sound weird, but making your guests feel special on your big day is one of the sweetest and kindest things you can do. Put in some extra effort, especially for those relatives and friends who’ve managed to join your party by traveling far or canceling important appointments. Get them grooving and say thanks for their commitment to you with some specially chosen tracks they would appreciate or personally love.
Keep Your Not-To-Play List in Mind
Playing it a bit safe is the key here. It’s no secret that music can have an all-encompassing power over people’s emotions. So, any song associated with sad memories like death, heartbreak, trauma, etc. is a big no-no, even if it’s generally loved or a chart-topper. Also, while choosing your wedding reception dance numbers, it’s always better to avoid songs with overly offensive lyrics and stick to tracks suitable for all generations.
Save the First Dance for Everyone
There’s nothing better than to kick off your wedding dance floor with the right tone. The first dance is always special for the newlyweds, but it’s also important in setting the mood of the night and making your guest shed all their insecurities and hesitations. So, stockpile the dance playlist of your wedding reception party with numbers that would encourage your guests to let their hair down all night long. Also, make sure to top the list with a groovy first dance track.