Q: I’d love to hire a 3-piece band to play during our outdoor wedding cocktail hour. But our budget is pretty much maxed out. What are our options? -Lesley
A: I think your wedding cocktail hour music should be fun and lively. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make it happen! You have a couple of options, each of which should save you hundreds.
Wedding Cocktail Hour Option 1: Use Your Wedding Ceremony Musicians
If you’ve already hired musicians to play during your ceremony, the best option is to see if they can extend their time by an hour. (So they’d be at your wedding between 2-3 hours). Most ceremony musicians offer package deals of a couple hours, so it shouldn’t be TOO much of an added expense. If your musicians are set to play classical music during the ceremony, talk to them about how they might be able to switch it up during the cocktail hour. Or, do you want a bluegrass band to play your cocktail hour? See if they might be able to do their own take on classical music for your ceremony, too.
Wedding Cocktail Hour Option 2: Make Your Own Cocktail Hour Playlist
This is another great option, and one that I used for my own wedding. I knew I wanted a blues-y cocktail hour soundtrack. So I used some of my favorite blues songs and also researched new ones I loved as well. So I made a CD of the playlist and gave it to our DJ to play during the cocktail hour. (We also made these our wedding favors! More on how we made our Mix CD wedding favors here.) Our Spotify Cocktail Hour Playlist is below!
When it comes to your Wedding Cocktail Hour Playlist, don’t overthink it. And definitely don’t go overboard when it comes to your budget for it. You’ll want it to be pure background music. And definitely not something that will be distracting while guests are trying to mingle. So don’t spent too much money OR time on it!
Have a wedding question? E-mail us at hello [at] womangettingmarried.com
Also Read:
Real Wedding: A Heart-Filled Ybor City Garden Museum Wedding
Minnesota Wedding Venue Spotlight: McNamara Alumni Center
This is My Second Marriage. Can I Still Wear White?
The 7 Items That Should Be On Every Couple’s Wedding Registry
Wedding DIY: This is the Easiest Way to Learn How to Hand Letter
Wedding Dress Designers’ Favorite Necklines
Texas Wedding Venue Spotlight: Hoffman Haus
Real Wedding: A Soulful Summer Wedding in Louisiana
Daily Registry: Mint Pantry Copper Bar Set
Real Wedding: A Fireworks-Filled Wedding at the Palace at Somerset
This is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Honeymoon Photos
Real Wedding: A Classic Hollywood Wedding with a Modern Twist
How Much Should a Wedding Veil Cost?
Science Says THIS is the Best Age to Get Married
Feeling Depressed After Your Wedding? Here’s What to Do
Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for your support!
