Should I pick my wedding bands setlist?

You've chosen the perfect wedding band to play live music at your wedding. You got it all sorted; they're booked, you've agreed on timings, you've had a call to discuss the venue. It's now time to decide on the band's setlist right? Maybe not. That's what we're going to look at in this article.

So, is it a good idea to pick all the songs in your wedding band’s setlist? The answer short answer is no it's not a good idea to pick all the songs in your wedding band's setlist. It’s usually much better to choose the right band, communicate the vibe you’re looking for and then select a few songs for specific set-pieces such as your first dance.

If you’ve chosen a great band they will use their experience to select a set list that’s not only going to appeal to your guests, but also flow nicely in terms of energy and genres and work with the instrument lineup of the band.

In this article we’ll go into more depth about why you shouldn’t try to micro-manage your wedding band’s setlist and instead focus on choosing a professional band, communicating your musical tastes and leaving the rest to the professionals.

What different parts of the day do I need music for?

The first thing to decide is for which parts of your wedding you’d like live music. Below is a list of the parts of the day that live music can really enhance along with suggestions for when to pick specific songs

Wedding Ceremony

The ceremony is your first big moment, so why not make it even more magical? Live music is a gorgeous way to begin your day on a truly special note.

• Guest arrival - collection of chilled songs from bands repertoire
• Bridal entrance - one special song chosen by you
• Signing of the registers - one or two songs chosen by you
• End of ceremony/exit - one upbeat/celebratory song chosen by you

Find an in-depth article on wedding ceremony music here

Drinks Reception/Cocktail Hour

This is the time for guests to mingle and catch-up after the ceremony. Live music gives the drinks reception a unique vibe as well as a fun talking point for your guests, so choose a band with character such as a funky acoustic duo, entrancing string quartet or fun roaming band.

Our advice is to give your musicians a short list of any songs you’d like them to avoid from their repertoire (for whatever reason) and then leave them to pick the right songs for what’s happening on the day. Requesting a long list of songs for your band to play during the drinks reception is often a bit of a waste of time anyway as you’ll likely be with the photographer for most of it!

Wedding Breakfast

As your day guests sit down for the wedding breakfast, some live music is a classy way to keep the atmosphere warm and fun.

Again, our advice is to give your musicians a short list of any songs you’d like them to avoid from their repertoire (for whatever reason) and then leave them to pick the right songs for what’s happening in the room. 

Evening Reception

The evening party is where it all kicks off and booking a live wedding band really can lift the energy and create a unique, unforgettable night for you and your guests. The first thing to do is to think about your own musical tastes plus the range of musical tastes of your guests and find a band that fits that general vibe. 

It’s probably not the best idea to book an indie band if you and your guests are more into RnB & UK Garage! It’s often a good idea to go for a wedding band that does a range of popular styles so that all your guests can get involved in the fun!

Rather than trying to curate the whole list - simply give your band an idea of what styles & artists you love and if they have a repertoire or song list available, give them 2 or 3 songs you’d definitely like to hear and if there are any 2 or 3 you’d like them to avoid.

Professional wedding bands live and die by how well their set goes down so if they’re any good they’ll have a set list that appeals to a wide range of tastes and builds energy throughout the show. 

Your First Dance

Your first dance is where you get to pick your one special song. It’s up to you whether you want this played live or if you have a specific version you just adore then they can play the song from a laptop. 

Either way make sure you choose a song you love and make sure you give the band plenty of notice so that they have time to learn it - preferably around 2/4 weeks before the wedding day.

After Party

The after party is a much less common booking for live music but it can be particularly special if done right. Most wedding venues have a 12am curfew and if you and your guests are staying in accommodation nearby it could be fun to book a post-party sing-a-long.

If this strikes your fancy then it’s important to remember to check about any noise issues and book a band that will work in a space that’s probably not designed for big performances. An acoustic duo singing a few requests unplugged for instance could be the perfect way to cap off your big day.

The flow of the setlist is a wedding band’s secret weapon

The best professional wedding bands consider building excitement throughout the performance - a fun tune that’s great for dancing but not too heavy is the perfect way to follow up the first dance while everyone’s on the dancefloor. An energetic floor-filler to open the second set. An epic sing-along for the encore. 

Every wedding band understands how these special moments in the set can maximise the fun for you and your guests. The full setlist you hand them that has all your favourite songs might not get the best out of your band or give the evening the best flow.

Don’t waste time trying to micro-manage your band’s setlist!

If you’ve booked a great wedding band then it’s often best to leave most of the song choices up to them. Remember, it’s literally their job to make sure you and your guests have a great time!

Most bands will actively adapt their setlist in real time on the day when they see what your audience is enjoying which adds spontaneity and excitement to the performance. Over-currating the setlist can mean that this type of flexibility is difficult and could lead to a bit of a stale vibe.

Our rule of thumb when it comes to requesting songs from your wedding band is to pick songs for the big moments and leave the rest in the capable hands of your professional wedding band. If anything this gives you less to worry about and more time to chase the caterers up for not replying to your last email about the starters!