Y’all… today’s Wedding Planning post is about something totally and completely BRAND NEW to the blog, and if you can’t tell, I’m pretty freaking excited about it! You may have guessed what this is all about, just based upon the title of the post, but we’re chatting all about reception entrance music today! (And why it is so important!)
Quick note here: I’m thinking of doing individual inspiration posts for the newlywed first dance and parent dances, but those will have to be saved for another day! I’m going to want to do a lot of research and digging before selecting the songs for these playlists! Have any songs that you want to see on these playlists? Let me know!
As someone that attends lots of weddings, is former dancer of nearly 15 years, a fitness instructor of 5+ years, and who played quite a few instruments growing up (phew that was a long list…), music is a huge part of my life. All of these things combined has made me realize just how vital music is to the vibe of an event! This isn’t meant to put any pressure on you, but it IS me encouraging you to spend a little bit of time thinking about what you want to hear on your wedding day.
After cocktail hour, your reception entrances are essentially what kicks off the party! Yes, there will be toasts and dinner and a few formal dances in between, but this is a really fun and celebratory moment that gets everyone warmed up for the evening! You’ll want this song (or set of songs!) to set the tone for the rest of the night!
Picking a song or songs for your reception entrances shouldn’t be stressful… in fact, this should be the easy and fun part of wedding planning! Just in case you were feeling pressure and were wondering where to start when it comes to picking your reception entrance songs, here are a few tips and tricks to get you started:
- Decide how many songs you will need for your entrances…
- Before you even start thinking about music, you’ll need to decide how you want to do your introductions! I have seen reception introductions done in so many different ways, so DO make sure you decide on this ahead of time.
- A few examples: I have seen just the couple be introduced, the entire wedding party plus the bride and groom be introduced, the family of the newlyweds (Parents, grandparents, nieces, nephews, etc.) be introduced along with the wedding party and the newlyweds, and no introductions at all! There is no right or wrong answer here, and there isn’t one option I recommend more than another… what’s important is that you are doing what is right for you as a couple!
- After you decide on how you are doing your introductions, and more specifically, who will be introduced, you’ll need to decide how you are going to break up the introductions!
- Will there be a special song for each side of the wedding party? Maybe you’ll let each pair being introduced select their own song ahead of time? Maybe you’ll have a separate song for your family introductions, wedding party introductions and couple’s introduction? Maybe you’ll keep it simple and have one song for the entire introduction process? I don’t have the answer to this! You’ll need to decide on this as a couple!
- Settle on your entrance vibe…
- Once you decide the how and the who of your introductions, you’ll need to settle on the vibe! Do you want your reception entrances to feel fun and upbeat? Maybe you want them to be a little more elegant and romantic? Do you want to make a statement with bold lyrics? Do you want your wedding party to have a chance to dance or do something silly as they enter? Maybe you want the song to be personalized to your wedding party? There is a lot to consider, but it is totally up to you in the end. It is important that you choose music that sets the tone you’re after!
- When you finally narrow down on the points listed above, you can start looking at music!
- One of the easiest places to start? Consider songs and artists that have had an impact on certain areas of your story with your partner! Do you have any songs that are special to you as a couple? Family? Friend group? I have seen many a Penn Stater enter their reception to “Zombie Nation” and many a fan of The Office enter to “Forever.” Both songs are always a great way to get the evening started (especially because they mean something special to the couple and people in attendance!).
- Keep in mind, you don’t have to start the song at the very beginning!
- This last tip may be a totally obvious one, but I just wanted to remind you that you don’t have to start the song at the very beginning! Oftentimes, the chorus or bridge is the “fun” part of the song, and you can chat with your DJ about starting your music where you would prefer!
Now… for the REALLY fun part!
I’ve been working on collecting fun songs (and will continue to collect them here!!) for reception entrances. If you’ve been looking for wedding reception entrance song inspiration, look no further, friends!
A huge thank you to those of y’all that sent me suggestions on IG! Whether you’re stuck with finding the perfect song, want a little inspo to confirm you have the perfect song, or are just looking for some fun, upbeat music to keep you company today, I’ve compiled over 60 (!!!) potential reception entrance songs for you. They’re in no particular order and are of all varying genres. I would love to continue to add to the playlist, so if you have any songs that you absolutely LOVE, let me know in a comment!
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