Music is a great way to set the mood for various parts of the wedding
reception. Using carefully selected music throughout the day is a great
way to express yourself and personalise your wedding, as well as
entertaining your guests.
The use of music or rather the stopping of it being played, is also a
good way to get your guests attention at various times of the day.
There are several major stages during the reception where different kinds of musics can be played.
1) WHILE YOUR GUESTS ARE ARRIVING:
It is important the music or band is set before the guests arrive at the
venue, so that as they enter into the venue, the wedding mood is
already set. The music played at this stage, should not be too loud, as
guests are still gisting, meeting old friends, and even making new ones,
so that they can at least hear themselves speak. The music shouldn't
also be too low, so that guests who arrived the venue alone, and know no
one in the venue don't get bored while waiting for the couple to
arrive.
Whatever it is, you can decide that the live band plays at this stage, or a DJ.
2) ARRIVAL OF THE LATEST COUPLE:
In most Nigerian weddings, guests and even the couple would prefer that danceable selection of songs are played at this stage.
The bride and groom are very excited, as they have just been joined in
holy matrimony at the church. They want to show how excited they are,
they want to show the dancing skills.
At this stage it is more or less like a dancing competition between the
two people, except that there's no prize for the best dance.
3) THEIR FIRST DANCE
Awwh! I loveeee this part of the reception, I always get all mushy here.
Its not like the couple have never danced together before this day, but
this particular dance is like a once in a lifetime opportunity, plus
its just always very romantic.
The kind of music that should be played at this stage, should be one
that would take the couple to a different realm, where they are even
oblivious of the fact that there are other people around them watching.
The couple should be allowed to select the song(s) that they want played(which should have been done days before the ceremony)
The song(s) could be of high significance, as it could be the song that
was playing when they met, when they had their first kiss, or when he
proposed.
4) GETTING THE PARTY STARTED
This stage is after the regular formalities of the reception has gone
on. In Nigeria, its at this point the couple would get their first cash
as husband and wife, because this is where the Cash Spraying happens
(lol). Nigerians love to show themselves(even as spraying was banned by
the Fed. Govt. dem no gree hear).
Anyway, back to the music, very danceable musics should be played at
this stage, either by a live band or a DJ, whatsoever the case may be,
the songs should take into consideration the category of people on the
dance floor and on their seats.