Destination Wedding Music: Creating the Perfect Playlist

Wedding music creates a soundtrack for your big day. The right wedding playlist can make you feel like you’re living in a rom-com. From the ceremony and all the way through the end of the reception, the music you choose helps to create moments and lasting memories. 

But how do you even get started making your wedding playlist? What songs are important to include? How do you match the music to your venue? What about choosing the best music for your destination wedding? We have plenty of tips to help you out. 

Wedding Music Outline: The Ceremony 

Pre – Ceremony Songs

Often overlooked, the music before the ceremony plays an important role. The music played while guests are taking their seats establishes the ambiance and the vibe. These songs tend to be gentle and relaxed, a contrast to the grand music that starts with the procession. 

Processional Songs

The processional is when the magic begins. These are the first physical steps towards your future as a married couple. The music should reflect that – significant and romantic. Like everything else for your wedding, you can go with traditional or classic music, or something unique to your wedding party. Is there one song that all the groomsmen enjoy? Or something all the bridesmaids danced to at some other point in time? 

Entrance Songs

Here we are. The showstopper, the heart-strings-tugger, the climax of an already enchanting day. It’s time for the bride to stroll down that aisle, or that beach. You can choose the traditional “here comes the bride,” or something uniquely you.  

Your Wedding Reception Playlist  

How to make a wedding playlist? Mix up your favorites – classic songs everyone knows (looking at you “Don’t Stop Believin’”) – and mix up the genres so there is something for everyone. If the goal is to really get the party going and dance the night away, make sure the DJ list for the wedding is full of tracks with a beat you can move to. 

There are of course the necessary songs for the reception, the ones that probably require more thought from the couple. These generally include the following: 

• Wedding party entrance 
• Couple’s entrance 
• First dance 
• Father/daughter dance 
• Mother/son dance
• Final/closing song 

Reception entrance songs for the couple and the wedding party can be heartfelt and sentimental, or simply fun. Or a mix of the two, like the Beatles’ classic “All You Need is Love.” 

First Dance Songs

Choosing what first dance song to include on the DJ list for your wedding can be a challenge. Unless there is already a specific song you and your partner have in mind, you might find yourself scrolling through listicles and Spotify playlists titled “500 best first dance songs.”  Even if you narrow your search down, you still have plenty of lists of specific beach wedding music to sort through. 

First dance songs range from classics such as Elton John’s “Your Song,” to modern classics such as John Legend’s “All of You.” While these tracks are popular for a reason, there is the opportunity to find something more uniquely you. 

Deciding what mood you want your first dance to be is key: slow and passionate, fast and fun, fresh and modern, or a classic romance.  

Parent and Child Dances

Father and daughter, or mother and son dances can be a special moment for parents and their children. Songs for these dances can be something that lyrically makes sense, or maybe a song that has a sentimental meaning. 

Last Dance Songs

All good things must come to an end, and your last dance songs can make your wedding day come to a brilliant, unforgettable end. You can have a slower romantic dance or a triumphant, lively track as part of your reception playlist. Or both. 

You can go with “Save The Last Dance For Me,” as it’s literally in the title. You can attempt to recreate the famous Dirty Dancing scene with “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.” Maybe you just want all of your guests to jam out to you and your partner’s favorite song. 

Picking the Perfect Wedding Music 

We know music taste is subjective. You may even have very different music tastes from your partner. This can make working on the DJ list for your wedding a challenge. How to make a wedding playlist? Start with the must-have songs, determine the energy and vibe you want to create, and ask for requests. 

You can start your wedding music playlist with your personal must-haves. Maybe your favorite songs, songs that mean a lot to you and your partner, or songs that are meaningful to your guests.  

Along with the must-haves come the important tracks. These are the ones we listed above: the first dance, the last dance, and the ones in between. While it may take a while for you to decide on these, make sure to leave a placeholder in the playlist. 

There is no shortage of wedding music inspiration. Open up whatever music streaming service you prefer and search for “wedding,” and you’re sure to get many results. While none of these will perfectly encapsulate your dream wedding, they can offer inspiration. 

You can also receive inspiration from your guests. Including a space for song suggestions with the RSVP, or even creating a shared playlist folks can add to, can help build the best soundtrack. 

Take into account the location too when selecting your music. A destination wedding on a gorgeous beach can also take inspiration from those premade “beach music” playlists. Sometimes these might be The Beach Boys’ greatest hits with a handful of other tracks sprinkled in. There are plenty of options and inspiration for beach wedding music, from ceremony to reception. 

Wedding Music Doesn’t End After the Reception 

Just because you’ve said your “I Do’s” and danced the night away doesn’t mean the party is over. Your destination wedding playlist can continue throughout the rest of your group’s stay. Choose some tracks to have on hand for lounging by the pool or strolling on the beach. This can be just for you and your spouse, or for the whole wedding party to enjoy. You can even listen on the plane flight home, just to keep the party going for that much longer. 

Destination Wedding Music: Incorporating Local Sounds and Dance

Choosing your wedding music is an important step in your reception planning journey. From the perfect playlist to any live music, the decisions can be difficult. At a destination wedding, there is always the question of incorporating local music and dance into your wedding celebration. 

The Importance of Dance and Musical Weddings Tradition 

No matter where you are in the world, wedding music is a staple of wedding culture. For centuries, music and dance have been ways for people to come together in celebration. A lot of different cultures have very specific traditional and historical forms of music and dance that are played and performed as a part of a wedding celebration. 

Cultural weddings are celebrated with these types of music and dance as a way of celebrating the marriage, but also as a way of carrying on tradition and celebrating the newlyweds’ heritage. A lot of these dances get passed down through generations and may only be performed on special occasions. This makes the entire experience even more special. 

For example, in the Caribbean, the Palanace Dance is a common staple of local weddings. The Palanace is a high-energy dance where participants will jump to either side of the room and will “palanace”, which is a Trinidadian word meaning “to dance and have fun”. Dancers will also often wave napkins and scarves in the air, referencing Carnival, where participants would wave flags from their country of origin, celebrating their heritage. 

Destination Wedding vs Local Wedding Customs

If you are planning a destination wedding and want to integrate more local wedding traditions into your wedding and your reception, you can absolutely do that. What matters is doing so with respect and appreciation for the original tradition. You can even have conversations with your wedding planner and local vendors to ensure that you keep everything positive and respectful. 

Bands and Live Music 

If you are planning a destination wedding in Mexico, for example, some of the most popular wedding music you will encounter is Mariachi. Mariachi music is a staple of Mexican culture and is often seen at weddings, quinceaneras, and other large celebrations. 

You could absolutely invite a local Mariachi band to perform at your wedding reception. Live music is always exciting, and to celebrate with local music is even more special. 

The Money Dance

In many Latin American cultures, the Money Dance is an energetic and fun custom where wedding guests will “pin” money to the newlywed couple in order to get a chance to dance with them. This is a fun way for the couple to dance with guests and celebrate alongside everyone else. It can also last for more than one song.

Dance Styles

Cultural dance styles like the salsa and conga always make a special appearance at weddings. These dances are rich in their history, and often have a lot of meaning for the people who dance them. At the same time, though, these are also fun and exciting dances and music styles to play at your wedding as a great way of integrating that local culture. So long as it is being respected, dance the night away.

How To Honor Cultural Weddings 

A lot of people from different cultures love to share their traditions and heritage with others. What matters is receiving and experiencing local wedding music and other traditions with respect and appreciation. Here are some ways that you can honor local tradition as you plan your destination wedding: 

Be Intentional 

Your destination should always add value to your wedding experience. Typically, a destination wedding locale is chosen because of things like food, music, culture, and even location. So, when you start planning all the details of your event, why would you try to make your wedding feel like it would back home? 

The beauty of a destination wedding is getting to be immersed in a country and culture that you don’t spend a lot of time in. Embrace those elements, and get excited about the new things you will get to experience!

Ask Questions

When you are integrating local wedding traditions into your destination wedding, stay in communication with people you know. Talk to your wedding planner, local vendors, and even your closest loved ones, to make sure that when you integrate local culture, you are doing so with respect and appreciation. 

Do some research on local weddings in your wedding location and gain a better understanding of cultural traditions, so you know exactly why certain things are done, and not just blindly incorporate them. 

Give Back 

Part of what is so special about planning a destination wedding is getting to be a part of a new culture and a new country. Do not take your time in your wedding location for granted. As you plan your wedding, try to give back to the local community in order to further show your appreciation. Shop from local vendors and small businesses for your wedding decorations, food, and even some of your excursions. 

Have Fun, Don’t Make Fun

Always be sure to have fun and enjoy the local traditions that you choose to integrate. But in the conversation of destination wedding vs local wedding appreciation, always make sure that you are never laughing at the traditions. Everyone is different. All traditions are meaningful. This is why research can be such an excellent resource before your wedding. 

Destify may not be the expert in curating your wedding music playlist, but we are experts at just about everything else. Our team is ready to help you pick the perfect destination, the perfect venue, and coordinate all the essentials – from catering to decor to the DJ. We’re in the business of making meaningful memories. If you’re ready to make yours, contact us today. 

Planning The Perfect Destination Wedding

Taking inspiration from cultural weddings is never a bad thing, so long as you are doing so with the right intention. As previously mentioned, sometimes talking to your wedding planner can be a helpful way to perfect your integration of local culture.

At Destify, we create meaningful memories. Our expert wedding planners are here to help you with every step of your wedding planning process. From choosing your wedding music to finalizing your dinner menu, your destination wedding possibilities are endless!

Join us at Destify today for the perfect destination wedding.