Cocktail Hour Music

Are you hiring musicians or a dj? Either way I would just pick a genre/decade and let them choose a light mix.

We requested the DJ play Oldies for the beginning of the reception: cocktail time, dinner, etc. Classic Rock / Oldies for the early dancing, mingling, and party. Country for the slow dance songs (romantic ones). Then 90's hip hop for the later dancing & when the "party" really gets started, lol. I love all different types of music, and I think the variety will suite everyone's tastes at one point or another during our reception. Attached are the list of songs I provided our DJ as a guideline of what I'd like to hear.

Early Cocktail / Dinner Music

Early Dance Songs

Slow Dance Songs

Party Dancing Songs

Thank you Peggy,
We are hiring musicians but cocktail hour will be digital music. Light mix I see, thank you

View Quoted Comment Danielle, Thank you!!
Nice list!!! I’ll check out some songs from your list

Hi John.

I completely get you, guests need to save their energy and not start dancing right away

Classic melodies sound like a good option. With cocktail hour music, it's best to keep it mellow and at a low volume so people can still hold a conversation, mix and mingle!

This article in the WeddingWire ideas section gives you some cocktail hour favorites to help you figure it out for your big day - The Cocktail Hour Music Playlist Wedding Guests Will Love

What are you doing for music for the reception? Do you have a band? Or a DJ?

View Quoted Comment Hi Cliodhna, Thank you!!
We have a band for our reception
I’ll check the article, thank you

I think this is really nice. There are also lots of instrumental versions of pop songs. Look up The Piano Guys. They are awesome!

Alexandra, Thank you!!
I’ll look up The Piano Guys

We had the DJ play love ballads during cocktail hour and instrumental during dinner. These times are meant more for mingling and relaxing so we saved the dance music until after dinner!

View Quoted Comment Love The Piano Guys! We used one of their songs as our processional.

Current plan is live mariachi with lion dancers as a grand finale + our entrance.

View Quoted Comment Victoria, Thank you!!
Love ballads I see

View Quoted Comment Caryscia, Thank you!!
That sounds super fun!!!

Now I’m thinking to play Voices of Spring by Strauss, Sleeping Beauty Waltz by Tchaikovsky, Tales from the Vienna Woods Waltz by Strauss in first half of cocktail hour

Good question. We hired a dj but he's skipping over the cocktail hour music because it was just cheaper so we are going to do some sort of digital playlist. My mom mentioned italian music and I am fine with that but mixed with some other things. I like Danielle's idea of classic hits! But to me it's honestly just a matter of if I decide I want to put the effort into making a playlist or just having something already made played. I personally never notice cocktail music at weddings talking to all my friends.

View Quoted Comment Angelena, Thank you!
That’s what I concerned that people just arrived and talking so not listening to music that much, I still want to play something nice

View Quoted Comment

I am soooooooooooooooooo excited to see LIL Troy on your list!!!!!! my wedding is on NYE and we are definitely playing this! My friend lol when I told her that. WE are also playing it takes two, I got 5 on it, Bring em out and I may take a few off of your list. I'm so pumped now lololol

We hired a live band for the cocktail hour. They played R&B from the 70's. Several of our guests ended up hiring them for their events.

View Quoted Comment

Lol, I love all types of music...but my absolute fave party/dance music is 90's hip hop! Go ahead and take as many songs as you want...makes for a super fun wedding!

Our theme is traditional Irish and the reception is going to be in a pub. So we're just playing some relaxing celtic folk instrumentals.