Your wedding will feature as one of the most unforgettable days of your life, with everything from the vows to the venue in your memories forever. It goes without saying, then, that you will want to make your day as special as possible. Every detail counts, right down to the flowers, food and other festivities. However, the music is often not at the top of the priority list for many couples, but it sets the mood and tone of the whole wedding. What will be playing whilst your guests eat? What kind of tunes will keep the party going into the night? What track will inspire tears of joy during the first dance? These certainly aren't simple questions to answer.
Jonny Ross - of Jonny Ross Music - has a wealth of experience in ensuring that happy couples are delighted with their musical decisions. Jonny Ross Music even offers unique music showcase evenings, where couples can see all potential performers in one night! Whether opting for a band or a DJ; playing the classics or going for something a little different; your choice will have a big impact on the day and will be remembered by many for years, if not decades, to come.Here, Jonny has provided his expert advice on ensuring your musical choices are well-suited to your special day.
Reflect, Respect... You want to make sure the music reflects you as a couple, but at the same time - if working with a band or a DJ - it's important to respect their professional input. Our bands and DJs, like many others, for example, work and rehearse every week; honing their skills and their repertoire in order to adapt to different styles of parties. It's impossible to just follow a formula for the individual party and expect it to work every time, so the professionals you hire exercise their flexibility on a weekly basis in order to read the room and respond to the crowd accordingly.
...and Request If you do want to put any requests in, the biggest question you need to ask yourself is 'Can I imagine myself dancing to this song?'. Sometimes a couple will request a really good song - something by Radiohead, for example - but however good the song is, in many cases, it's not an appropriate song for the event. Despite the inevitable mix in music your guests will experience throughout the night, it can only take one ill-fitting song choice to alter the mood and bring the tone down. It is, of course, the happy couple's night over anyone else's, but in order to ensure the celebration reflects the importance of the day, catering to the general preferences of friends and family is essential. Ask yourself, 'Will this song go down well? Is it going to be nostalgic for my friends? Are people going to want to dance to this song?'.
What You Can Expect When Requesting Songs We have a feature as a part of our service - which I'm sure many other entertainment providers mirror in some way - where we set up an online forum for each event so certain people can upload requests ahead of the day. We always suggest 20-30, to ensure they seamlessly fit in with the set, but sometimes we will get 100s on there, which is far too many to feasibly squeeze in. In this case, we manage them by identifying which on the list people will respond to and enjoy dancing to the most.
Band vs. DJ (and Sax) In regards to a wedding band, I think it's important you have some sort of live music at your wedding. It's your big day and you want to make sure it's memorable - so, if choosing a DJ, this is where the saxophone element fits in perfectly. The showmanship of the live performance adds a great deal to the overall celebration.
At the same time, many bands will offer DJ packages alongside their services. I worked with a couple in the past who specifically wanted indie music and therefore wanted a band. The band they chose could play their preferred style of music but could also playhouse and pop music too, thanks to the DJ element. On a night, with a diverse range of guests, the ability to play a breadth of music that can cover all age groups and different interests is insurmountable.
One Final Tip You can never predict what a crowd is going to respond to best, which is why any band, DJ or saxophonist must have the ability to adapt. For this reason, it's essential that you book your sax and DJ from the same company. We often receive enquiries from couples saying that they've booked the DJ or sax, and can we provide the other. Despite the room for a little improvisation, it is ultimately a rehearsed act and it's very important that the pair have played together previously and aren't just trying to sync up on the night. Some entertainment suppliers may cater to this, but, the performance will ultimately suffer.
Escrick Park Estate offers an enchanting setting for couples looking to design a truly personal wedding day. Fully licensed for civil ceremonies, the estate provides a choice of stunning locations, including the elegant Skipwith Hall Gardens, expansive Parkland, and a magical wooded clearing where up to 120 guests can witness "I do" beneath ancient oaks. After the ceremony, celebrations continue in a beautifully styled marquee or tent, with flexible options across the walled gardens and lush lawns. Photographers will find endless natural backdrops, perfect for capturing romantic moments throughout the day. With ample on-site parking and a pet-friendly policy, Escrick Park Estate ensures both convenience and charm for unforgettable celebrations.
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Wedding Song of 2025
The Post Barn, the award-winning Berkshire venue, is delighted to announce its Wedding Song of the Year 2025, as chosen by their 2025 wedding couples. Topping the list is "West Coast" by Lana Del Rey, capturing hearts with its dreamy, cinematic vibe. Following closely are: We Found Love – Sydnee Carter; You Make My Dreams – Alex Francis; No Judgement – Niall Horan; Perfect – Ed Sheeran. In total, The Post Barn played an impressive 9,092 songs for their wedding guests throughout the year. The average listening age of these tunes? A youthful 26, reflecting a vibrant, contemporary taste among couples celebrating their special day.
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2026 wedding trends that are set to dominate your feed
As wedding-related searches such as 'dream wedding' and 'wedding décor inspo' are up 10,000% year-on-year according to Pinterest trends, it's clear that couples are turning their attention to the finer details of their nuptials. To guide couples through 2026 wedding planning, Jess Levick, Assistant Buyer at Suit Direct, and Lucy Hook, Floral Lead at Bloom & Wild, reveal the key wedding trends shaping celebrations next year, covering regency romance, natural colour palettes and hyper-personalised celebrations.
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Animal attraction
In the Oct/Nov 2025 issue, we explore creative wedding entertainment ideas that go beyond the ordinary—perfect for animal lovers! One of our favourites is hiring a dog chaperone, ensuring your beloved pet can join the celebrations safely. For a unique touch, consider inviting other furry friends, offering guests the chance to meet the venue's animals, or incorporating a party pony for confetti fun and photos. Feathered displays also bring magic to the day, from falconry demonstrations to an owl ring-bearer or a symbolic dove release. These playful, memorable experiences make your wedding truly personal, engaging, and unforgettable, delighting guests of all ages. Find inspiration in our full feature HERE.
