I’ve spent countless hours rewriting the Suggested Songs page on my website—not because I love tinkering, but because wedding music matters. This page exists for couples who feel overwhelmed, unsure, or simply want reassurance that they’re making meaningful choices. It’s not about telling you what songs to choose; it’s about helping you discover what feels right for your wedding day.
December 22, 2025
It is once again time to dust the cobwebs off of my blog. For those who follow my blog, I apologize that I have taken so much time away. But, this time, I had good reason. For the past four weeks, I have spent an unreasonable number of hours rewriting, revising, reordering, and rethinking the Suggested Songs page of my website. Hours that, from the outside, probably look like perfectionism run amok. Hours spent adjusting phrasing no one but me would ever notice. Hours spent questioning whether a sentence sounded too directive, too casual, or not quite helpful enough. I have rebuilt that page more times than I can count, sometimes changing only a few words, other times tearing it down entirely and starting over. And I have done all of this intentionally, because that page is not about showcasing my taste. It exists to serve my couples.
Music is one of the most personal elements of a wedding day, yet it is also one of the most intimidating to plan. Couples are asked to choose songs for moments they have never lived through before, all while navigating family expectations, timelines, budgets, and emotions that feel much bigger than playlists. Some couples love music deeply but do not have the language or range to describe what they want. Others know what they love but struggle to translate that into a full wedding soundtrack that flows naturally from moment to moment. My role is not to judge any of that uncertainty. My role is to remove pressure and replace it with clarity.
That is the true purpose of the Suggested Songs page. It is not a list of “right” answers or a set of rules disguised as recommendations. It is a collection of ideas, examples, and starting points. It says, clearly and kindly, you are not behind, you are not doing this wrong, and you do not need to be an expert to plan great wedding music. Wedding music planning should feel like discovery, not homework.
At the same time, it is important to say this out loud: not every couple needs that page. Some couples know music inside and out. They already have playlists built, notes written, and strong opinions about what they want to hear and when. For those couples, the Suggested Songs page may simply confirm what they already know, or it may not be necessary at all. And that is perfectly fine. The page is not there to replace their instincts or override their preferences. It exists for the couples who want guidance, inspiration, or reassurance that they are thinking about the right things.
Over the years, I have seen couples freeze at the words “first dance song,” even when they are confident, capable people in every other part of their lives. I have watched parents become emotional over a song they never expected to matter to them. I have seen entire rooms shift energy, sometimes dramatically, based on one musical decision. Those experiences taught me something early on: music is not background noise. It is emotional architecture. It quietly shapes how people feel, how they connect, and what they remember long after the night ends.
The Suggested Songs page is designed to help couples hear their day before it happens. It walks through the wedding chronologically, from ceremony to cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, and the final moments of the night. Each section includes playlists featuring trending and most commonly chosen songs for those moments. These are not my recommendations in the sense of “you should pick this.” They are simply examples of what other couples have used. They exist so couples can say, “That feels right,” or just as importantly, “That definitely does not feel like us.”
In many cases, the most valuable outcome of browsing that page is not choosing a song from the list at all. It is having a memory jogged, an idea sparked, or an emotional reaction that leads a couple to think of a song that is deeply meaningful to them, even if it is not listed anywhere. That matters to me. I am not interested in couples copying playlists. I am interested in couples expressing themselves honestly through music.
I was also intentional about including multiple cocktail hour and dinner playlists that go beyond generic or “safe” choices. Those hours shape the tone of the entire reception. A Motown cocktail hour creates a different atmosphere than string quartets. A jazz dinner feels different than coffeehouse covers. These distinctions are subtle, but they are powerful. Couples deserve to understand how those choices affect the feel of their day without needing musical training to get there.
Another major reason I rewrote the page was to better explain DJ discretion. That phrase can sound vague or even risky if it is not explained well. By sharing full sample setlists, I am not saying, “This is exactly what I will play.” I am saying, “This is how I think.” It is a window into my approach, my pacing, my respect for variety, and my focus on reading the room. Transparency builds trust, and trust is essential when couples hand over creative control.
That said, I also address something honestly on that page: micromanagement. Some couples give me every song they want played, in the exact order they want it played. While that approach often prevents me from responding to the room and creating a more inclusive, immersive dance floor, it is still their right to plan their day that way. Couples always have as much or as little control over their playlists as they want. My job is to explain the tradeoffs clearly, not to dictate how they should plan.
In my experience, the best balance for dancing is usually selecting fifteen to twenty-five “must-play” songs, along with a handful of “do-not-play” requests. That approach keeps the playlist unmistakably theirs while allowing me to choose the songs that connect their selections, bridge generations, and maintain energy throughout the night. Their songs remain the heart of the playlist. My role is to weave them together in a way that keeps the floor full and the celebration inclusive.
It is also important to say this clearly: special moments and formal dances deserve intention. Those songs should feel relevant, personally meaningful, and inspired. They are not filler. They are emotional anchors. Whether a couple chooses something traditional, unexpected, or entirely unconventional, the goal is not to impress guests. The goal is to choose music that feels honest.
I also included non-wedding playlists and just-for-fun collections on the page for a reason. Music should be joyful. It should be exploratory. Sometimes the best ideas come when couples are not actively trying to plan anything at all. If a playlist makes them smile, laugh, or remember something important, then it has already done its job.
At the heart of all this rewriting is relationship. I do not view couples as dates on a calendar. I view them as people trusting me with one of the most emotionally charged days of their lives. That trust deserves time, care, and thoughtfulness. Rewriting this page was not busywork. It was an extension of the same care I bring to the booth on a wedding night.
Music has the power to connect generations, to soften moments, and to turn fleeting seconds into lifelong memories. Helping couples harness that power thoughtfully is one of the most meaningful parts of what I do. If the Suggested Songs page makes the planning process calmer, clearer, or more enjoyable, then every late-night rewrite was worth it. That is why I care. That is why the page exists. And that is why I will probably keep revising it long after it is “finished.”
The good news is I have returned to blogging. The bad news is I will still be writing sporadically for the next few weeks. The Suggested Songs Page is still a work in progress. I tend to get obsessive (as my wife is quick to point out). My tunnel vision is finely tuned right now to completing the revised page as soon as possible, and I still have playlists to create. I promise, faithful readers, that the blog posts will come more quickly moving forward, but until the Suggested Song page is truly finished, the blog and the rest of my website will remain a lesser priority. I hope you will bear with me as I finish the project.
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