You’ve said your vows and made your way down the aisle as newlyweds, now it's time to celebrate! We have the guide to the best music for your cocktail hour and reception to keep your guests swaying all night long.
When it comes to destination weddings, it's bound to be an unforgettable party in celebration. Whether this involves sombreros or maracas is totally up to you, but we are confident we can get you off on the right foot for your DJ selections.
Cocktail Hour
Cocktail hour is the perfect time to incorporate live music, like a mariachi band or even a steel drum performance. If you are looking to have a variety of songs to kick things off your beach wedding reception, we are your go-to girls!
We always suggest choosing a playlist that will reflect the overall vibe of the remainder of the event. Are you looking for a formal atmosphere? If yes, choose songs that are instrumental or classic. If you are looking for a festive and lively affair, go with fan favorites and upbeat tunes. Check out our list below for inspiration to get you started.
Ho Hey - The Lumineers
A Sunday Kind of Love - Etta James
Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding
Tennessee Whiskey - Chris Stapleton
Like I'm Gonna Lose You - Jasmine Thompson
Bubbly - Colbie Caillat
Days Like This - Van Morrison
Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
Grand March
While guests are sipping cocktails, typically the wedding party is off with the photographer capturing the beauty of the sunset. Joining families together oftentimes means that not everyone knows everyone. The Grand March is a great way to introduce your entire wedding party to all of your family and friends. This is truly the part of the night where the party gets started. Have fun with this part of the evening by incorporating crops, sweet choreographed dance moves, or even fireworks to make your first entrance as husband and wife unforgettable!
Crazy In Love - Beyonce ft. Jay-Z (Because #couplegoals)
Give Me Everything - Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack + Nayer
24K Magic - Bruno Mars
Feel So Close - Calvin Harris
Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake
Dinner Playlist
During dinner, we know that your tables will be talking all about how stunning you look in your wedding dress, how perfect the centerpieces turned out, and how fantastic the food is. Because of this, we suggest keeping the playlist mellower. Consider the songs you had during cocktail hour, a similar playlist would be appropriate for dinner. Rather than specific songs, we gathered the ultimate artists you can't possibly go wrong with.
Elvis Presley
John Legend
Frank Sinatra
James Taylor
Ed Sheeran
Aretha Franklin
Marvin Gaye
Hozier
First Dance
Finally! The moment of your wedding day when you will have more than 2 minutes with your forever love. Up until this point things have most likely been a whirlwind, and you'll want to soak in every hug, kiss and squeeze and embrace this feeling. The first dance is a tradition that symbolizes the start of a new journey as husband and wife. Pick a song that represents your love together and will easily make an imprint that you'll be able to come back to you for years and years to come. Take the time to whisper sweet nothings into your love’s ear, you are hitched after all!
How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
Over and Over Again - Nathan Sykes ft. Ariana Grande
Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
Make You Feel My Love – Adele
I’m Yours - Jason Mraz
Tenerife Sea – Ed Sheeran
Love Is Your Name - Steven Tyler
Reception
Now that everyone has gotten teary-eyed and literally has all the feels after witnessing your first dance, it’s time to get this party started. Your reception is the time to keep the drinks flowing and tear up the dance floor with the Caribbean night sky above you. The list of music is truly endless, but we think we gathered the ultimate playlist to get you going. While you may be inclined to choose all of your personal favs, don’t forget to ditch the sappy heart break songs. This is a time to celebrate a marriage!
Wedding Concierge Tip: We know you might want to relive some rowdy college days with your friends during the reception, but be considerate of older guests that may be present. Save these songs for later in the night.
Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon
SexyBack – Justin Timberlake
Blame – Calvin Harris ft. John Newman
Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera
Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke ft. T.I. & Pharrell
Hey Ya! – Outkast
I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
This Is How We Do It – Montell Jordan
You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Real Wedding Featured: Hannah + Eddie
Photography Captured By: Savanah Loftus Photography
