History of Wedding Music
Music plays a large, but subtle role in Weddings. It plays a large role, as it is marches the bride up the aisle to her beloved, escorts her down the aisle after the ceremony, and is played at the reception. It is expected, but not noted. It sets the mood for the reception. And is also a “thank you” to the guests.
Traditionally, at the reception, music was there to make it a joyous, celebratory occasion with dancing. The family, friends, and sometimes whole villages would congregate to celebrate the newlywed’s happiness. Occasionally this celebrating lasted for days, and dancing was a major part of that celebrating. Music was a way to connect and provide a celebratory mood for all ages. Young children love to go out and “dance” in their own little, goofy way. The middle generation appreciates the music to actually properly dance the night away. And the elderly generation takes part in watching and sometimes the grandmothers will play at match making with young people, forcing them to dance with one another. Though this is a celebration about a newly married couple, the music is a “thank you” statement from that couple. They are providing a way of celebrating their own happiness, while thanking the guests for supporting and celebrating with them.
It doesn’t matter what kind of music one plays at a reception, whether it is traditional cultural music, or a mix of modern beats, so long as everyone enjoys it. Loud doesn’t mean fun or enjoyable. And as the bride and groom have invited their family and friends to help them celebrate, they should make sure that the music is a comfortable volume for all ages and keep the “thank you” statement from getting too loud. This may seem like a minor detail, but it affects the guests in a major way, either subtly, if it is not too loud, or overbearingly, if it is completely amped up. Hence the advice, choose your DJ wisely so that your fairytale is a fairytale experience for all.
