HOPP Guide to the Perfect Wedding Set

Wedding music is something most of us associate with a certain handful of songs. Come on Eileen, Sweet Caroline, 500 miles are a few that immediately spring to mind. These classic pop songs can provide an immediate emotional charge and, cliched as they might be, can naturally hold a very valid place in a wedding set. However, this is all dependant on one key thing: whether on a beach in Hawaii, or in a marquee in Northern Ireland, the most important thing when playing anywhere, on any occasion, is to be able to read the crowd. Too many DJs I've heard over the years are unable to detach themselves from their ego and will play what they see fit in a rigid and unmoving way - sometimes - god forbid - even preplanning their set. Doing your homework is of course a good thing. I recommend having a proper conversation with the clients, finding out their likes and dislikes and taking along a deep and eclectic selection of music to give yourself as wide a scope for manoeuvrability as possible.

 I think the ability to be fluid is the most valuable skill for any DJ, particularly when playing at a wedding. For starters, when playing music for weddings you will probably find yourself accommodating for a multi-generational audience. How often do we get to share the dance floor with our mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles and even grandparents? In my opinion the wedding DJs should aim to keep the oldies knocking about for as long as possible. In order to achieve this, I almost always start a wedding set with Rock n’ Roll and Soul tracks from the '60s and '70s - from Aretha to the Four Tops, The Stones to Al Green, Steve Harley to Ike and Tina. I find the music of these timeless artists the best way to get the dance floor going. As I mentioned before, there is always a place for cheese… it's simply about striking the balance. Dropping the odd bit of Dexy’s Midnight Runners can definitely work, just not too often and - please! - at the right moment. 

Where I move on with my set is often influenced by the generation(s) of the bride and groom. Playing tracks they grew up with that resonate with their wider friendship group is almost always a winning formula. For my contemporaries, Hip Hop, RnB and Ibiza classics go down an absolute treat; that was the music we were listening to when we were growing up. Taking your audience to that wistful place of happy memories and youth is an integral weapon in the arsenal of a wedding or party DJ. Nevertheless, the key to really remember is maintaining a fluid approach, keep reading the crowd and moving between genres whenever it feels appropriate. I'm personally a big fan of disco and love to include disco tracks in all my sets where possible. It's a genre that normally allows me to play lesser-known tracks at a wedding, a setting where most people would expect purely classics. Winning the trust of your audience is the greatest achievement a DJ can obtain — when the crowd are willing to explore songs they might not know and enjoy them without prejudice. Although it goes without saying, the music must speak for itself. The point is: if you haven't already gained the audience's trust, a song that might otherwise go down well can corpse completely.

Finally, have fun! Enjoy yourself, let go. Interact with the crowd. Take requests but only if they work and are right for your audience. I have always found the more I am enjoying myself the more the audience will enjoy themselves too - as long as there's good music playing!