Wedding Music Checklist: What to Decide Before You Send Requests
Before you send your wedding requests, decide the songs for each fixed moment: processional, entrance, first dance, parent dances, cake cutting and the last song. Then build your must-play and do-not-play lists and write out every name your DJ will announce, spelled the way it sounds.
Decide the moments first, then the dance floor
Fixed moments need one song each. Open dancing needs a direction, not a full playlist. Names need to be spelled out the way they sound.
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For booked couples: your music preferences, must-play and do-not-play songs, introductions, name pronunciations and the plan for the day.
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Topics to discuss
Work down this list with your partner. Each item is a decision your DJ cannot make for you.
Processional and recessional
The songs for the wedding party walking in, your own entrance and the walk back up the aisle as a married couple.
Grand entrance song
The song that brings you into the reception. Pick something with energy that gets the room on its feet.
First dance
Your song, and whether to play it in full or fade it early so the floor opens to everyone.
Parent dances
Songs for any mother-son, father-daughter or other parent dance, and who should be invited to join partway through.
Cake cutting and last song
A short, fun track for the cake and the song that ends the night. The last song is often the one guests remember.
Must-play and do-not-play
The songs that define your crowd and the ones that should never play. Your DJ fills the rest by reading the room.
Names, spelled phonetically
Every name your DJ will say: wedding party, parents, grandparents and anyone giving a toast, written the way it sounds.
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Our service work
Good decisions on paper turn into a full floor on the night.
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Pricing questions
Discuss pricing
Most music choices change nothing about your booking. Only added hours or live music change the price, so check those against your booking.
- Ceremony music and microphones: Ceremony sound and wireless microphones are part of the wedding service. Tell your DJ if the ceremony site is apart from the reception.
- Length of the night: A long cocktail hour or a later last song adds hours of music to plan for.
- Live music requests: Live acoustic guitar, piano or vocals for the ceremony, cocktail hour or dinner, instead of a recording, is billed for each hour performed.
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Questions we get
Should we trim our first dance song?
Many couples do. A full song can feel long with everyone watching, so a fade partway through, or inviting guests to join, keeps the energy up. Tell your DJ where you want it to end and they handle the rest.
How do we spell names phonetically?
Write each name the way it sounds, broken into syllables, with the stressed part in capitals. Add a note for silent letters or unusual spellings. If in doubt, ask the person how they want to be introduced.
What belongs on a do-not-play list?
Songs tied to bad memories, genres your families dislike, line dances you would rather skip and anything with lyrics that would upset guests. A short, specific list works better than a broad genre ban.
Can we change songs after we send our requests?
Yes. Send updates through the planning portal or contact Dark Star directly. The earlier your DJ hears about a change, the easier it is to build into the night.
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Checklist done? Send your wedding requests
Take your answers to the wedding requests form so your DJ has everything in one place.