Choosing Your Wedding Entertainment

When it comes to wedding entertainment, your options are endless. Gone are the days where you’d hire the one DJ or band in your price range and hope for the best. Entertainment can make or break your event, and since we’ve worked with every kind of act under the sun, here are some tips and guidelines when it comes to making your choice — or choices!

What’s out there

First, you need to decide what kind of live entertainment you want. Think about the vibe and aesthetic of your event, the guests attending, and your own personal taste. You want to strike the right balance between crowd-pleasing and unique. The good news is that there are so many talented artists out there, many of whom have years of experience walking that line. Check out an entertainer’s portfolio and their reviews from past clients. You’ll get a good sense of what to expect.

But you don’t have to pick just one act. We’ve had a vocalist, harpist, violinist, Gospel choir, and an Elvis impersonator — all in one wedding day! Incorporating different acts can help define the stages of your event — from a traditional ceremony, to a jazzy cocktail hour, an upbeat big band for the reception, and a nightclub-style DJ for the afterparty. We’ve even seen clients infuse cultural and traditional music into their celebrations — whatever feels most authentic to you!

Interactive entertainment

You don’t have to limit your entertainment to just musicians.

What to ask for

If you decide to book a band, ask about the extra cost for continuous play so that you can avoid downtime and breaks. Make sure your band comes with a set playlist or a DJ to fill in so that there’s no “dead air” — AKA the fastest way to get your guests OFF the dance floor!

Music taste is personal, and you want to ensure that your entertainment is curated to your preferences. Whether you book a DJ, a band, or a string quartet doing covers, make sure you share your Top 10 “Must Plays” and Top 10 “Do Not Plays.” That way, the extremes will be taken care of — your favorite anthem will be a part of your event, and that radio earworm will not. Let the pros take it from there to read the room and curate an epic party!

At Pop Parties, we believe there’s no such thing as “too much.” Some entertainers offer unique add-ons or fun props — make sure to ask what they’ve done before to see if anything speaks to you. After all, when else do you get to play Vegas DJ and spray the crowd with a CO₂ blaster?

Playlists to get you started

To get your creative juices flowing, we highlighted a few of our favorite Spotify playlists that include songs we’ve seen get nearly everyone out on the dance floor.

Whether you’re sticking with the hits — “Wedding Classics” …

Indulging your alternative side with some deep cuts — “Indie Ceremony” …

Or gettin’ down to your fave club bangers — “Wedding EDM” …

We’ve got you covered.

Entertainment is one of the things your guests will remember most about your event, so making it pop is essential. There’s a perfect performer out there for every taste and style imaginable — so look beyond the traditional options and test the limits of your own creativity!

Check out our Instagram for more entertainment tips and inspo!

XO,

Molly