Wedding Tips

Making your ceremony playlist is not always easy,  just choosing the songs can be tough enough! But once you have picked your tracks, here is how I like to keep things simple and organised.

I use Spotify for this.

Start by naming your playlist after your wedding date so it is easy to find. Then follow this structure:

6 songs to play while your guests are arriving and taking their seats

1 entrance song for when the bride walks down the aisle (this will be song number 7)

3 songs for signing the register  it is usually only two, but having a backup is a great idea

1 final track for the happy couple to walk back down the aisle and if I am hosting the ceremony for you, we will pick a moment in the song that kicks in at the right moment for the big exit.

11 Songs in total

If you are looking for practical wedding tips that make the day run smoothly, this playlist structure is a game changer. It keeps things relaxed, organised and flowing just right.

If you are planning your ceremony music and want to keep everything smooth and stress free, here is a simple guide to creating and sharing your Spotify playlist with me.

Watch this video for a step by step guide on how to make a Spotify playlist:

One of the best wedding tips I can give is to also use this method to create a playlist of guest song requests for during the day or evening reception.

Once you have made your playlist, watch this quick video on how to share it with me:

Stuck on where to start with your wedding music? Don’t worry, I’ve got you. I’ve put together (and borrowed a few gems) into this Spotify playlist so you can dive straight in. Use it as it is, or pinch a few tracks to build your own.

Please name your playlist using your wedding date.
This keeps everything organised and easy to access on the day.
Wedding tips like these can really help take the pressure off and ensure your day runs smoothly from the very start.

When it comes to introductions, there really are no rules, and one of my favourite wedding tips is to make this part of the day your own.
You can keep it simple with just the bride and groom making an entrance, or go all out and introduce the bridesmaids, ushers, and best man with their own walk-in moments.

Some couples even choose to bring in each set of parents to a song of their choice, and why not? It’s a brilliant way to set the tone and get the party atmosphere going early.
The more personal you make it, the more memorable it becomes.

Here’s one of those simple wedding tips that often gets overlooked but can make a world of difference if you’re inviting children to your big day,  ear defenders.

During the wedding breakfast and throughout the celebrations, I like to keep things upbeat, music, laughter, a bit of fun and banter,  it’s all part of creating that party atmosphere everyone remembers. But for younger guests, the volume can sometimes feel a bit much, especially during those lively moments when the room really comes to life.

That’s where children’s ear defenders come in. They’re small, inexpensive, and incredibly effective. They help protect little ears from loud music and keep kids comfortable, happy, and part of the action. Parents can relax knowing their children are safe and at ease, and you can enjoy the buzz of the day without worrying about anyone feeling overwhelmed.

If you’re putting together a list of thoughtful wedding day essentials, make sure this one’s on it. Having a few pairs of ear defenders for kids on hand or reminding guests to bring their own, shows that you’ve thought of every detail, right down to the smallest ears in the room.

One of my top wedding tips is to consider having the speeches before the meal.

With the fun and upbeat atmosphere I help create early in the afternoon, it is a great time to do them and once they are done, the top table can sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of the day without any pressure.

Of course, you can still go with the more traditional route of having speeches after the meal, but if we are short on time, it can make the speakers feel rushed and take away from the moment.

One thing I always advise against is spreading speeches out between courses. It slows down food service and stops me from building the atmosphere properly.

Instead, I work between courses in a way that keeps everything flowing naturally with no awkward gaps.

Speech order generally goes like this:

Father of the Bride

Groom

Best Man

If you are including any extra speakers, the best place to add them is after the Father of the Bride and before the Groom. That way, the pace stays just right and everyone gets their moment without it dragging on.

One of my practical wedding tips for keeping the energy up during the afternoon is to think carefully about how you time dessert and coffee. Once desserts are finished and cleared, coffee is usually served, although in some venues they are brought out together.

The challenge is that this part of the meal can slow things down, and guests sometimes start to lose energy or wander off to stretch their legs.

A great way around this is to serve desserts, move straight into the finale, and then offer coffee from a station set up in the drinks reception area. That way, the momentum continues and guests still have the option to grab a coffee afterwards.

Of course, if your speeches are happening after the meal, this timing will be slightly different, but it is still worth considering to keep everything flowing naturally.

Here is a helpful guideline based on a 1:00 pm ceremony.

This timeline is flexible and can be adjusted to suit your day, but it gives you a good idea of how things might flow. I have also added a few wedding tips along the way to help you make the most of each moment.

1:00 pm – Ceremony (around 30 minutes at most venues)

1:30 pm – Drinks reception (usually 90 minutes to 2 hours)

3:10 pm – Guests are called to be seated for the meal

3:20 pm – Fun introductions and a quick ice breaker to set the tone

3:30 pm – Speeches (see my wedding tips section on speech timing for more advice)

6:00 pm – End of the wedding breakfast and start of the room turnaround

Alternative entertainment idea:

If your venue requires a room changeover or your guests are not checking in to rooms, this is a great time to bring in some entertainment like a magician or caricaturist. Or if you prefer, I can fill that gap for you with a few live songs to keep the energy going while guests relax. It’s a nice way to bridge the day into the evening without things going flat.

7:30 pm – Evening guests arrive

8:30 pm – Cake cutting, Father of the Bride dance and First Dance

9:00 pm – Buffet served, followed by DJ or band playing through to the end of the night

One of my favourite wedding tips is to wait until at least 8:15 pm before cutting the cake and heading into your first dance. This gives your evening guests time to arrive and settle in, so no one misses those key moments. There are always a few latecomers, and it is a shame when people miss such a meaningful part of the day.

Once the cake is cut, it is always a lovely touch to include a Father of the Bride dance before the first dance as a married couple. It gives dad a final moment with his daughter before she takes to the floor with her new husband. It is sentimental, meaningful and adds a beautiful emotional layer to the evening.

Most photographers stay until just after the first dance, so having the Father of the Bride dance right before ensures it is captured as well, leaving the bride with even more special memories to look back on.

If you are not expecting any evening guests, then feel free to do this earlier in the day. At the end of the day, it is your celebration, and these little choices are what make it truly personal to you.

One of my go to wedding tips when it comes to evening entertainment is this, if the budget allows, it is always worth considering having both a live band and a dedicated DJ.

A band brings incredible energy and a live presence to your night, but it is important to know exactly what you are getting if they include a DJ service as part of their package.

In many cases, that “DJ service” is simply a laptop playing background music between sets. There is nothing wrong with that, but it does not always create the same atmosphere you get with a proper DJ who can read the room, engage with the crowd and keep the momentum going.

A professional DJ who is separate from the band can help build the energy in the room before the band even starts, and then step in to keep the party going during the band’s breaks. It fills the gaps seamlessly and keeps your guests on the dancefloor instead of sitting down or losing interest.

So if you are planning to have a band, just be sure to check exactly what their DJ service includes. And if your budget allows for both, having a band and a dedicated DJ working together can really take your evening party to the next level.

When planning your big day, one of the most useful wedding tips is to keep your photographer and videographer in the loop about any extra entertainment you have planned.

For example, during the wedding breakfast, I often perform magic or interactive moments between courses. These are brilliant little memories to capture, but not every photographer automatically includes them in their full day package.

A quick chat beforehand ensures they know what to expect and nothing gets missed.
It is all about communication and making sure the fun parts of your day are documented just as beautifully as the formal ones.

Image Kaptured By Lindsey

When planning your big day, one of the most overlooked wedding tips is to check whether your suppliers require a meal as part of their terms and conditions.

Many photographers, videographers and full-day suppliers expect to be fed, especially if they are with you for eight hours or more. It is definitely worth confirming this early on so you can plan ahead and avoid any awkward surprises on the day.

That said, just to be clear, I do not require a meal. I bring my own food and drink, and I would never expect anyone to buy me a meal. Your day is about you, and I am there to help make it as fun and memorable as possible, not add to your costs.

One of the most practical wedding tips I can offer is to give some thought to your room layout,  especially when it comes to entertainment. The way the space is arranged plays a big part in how the day flows and how the atmosphere feels.

We will go through all of this in more detail during our planning meeting, but there are a few key things to think about in advance.

Speaker placement is really important. Sometimes, things like large love letters or a cake table on either side of the top table can leave me with very little room to set up. It might not seem like much, but it can make a real difference to how the energy carries in the room.

It is also always helpful to know where the older guests are seated, so I can avoid placing a speaker too close to them. That way, the sound can still fill the space without being too much for anyone who would prefer things a little quieter.

A little forward planning goes a long way to making sure everything looks and sounds just right on the day.

One of the most overlooked wedding tips is to check whether your venue has a sound limiter.

It is something couples often miss during the booking process, and unfortunately, not all venues are up front about it.
Sometimes it is hidden away in the small print of the terms and conditions and if you do not spot it, you might not find out until just a few weeks before your big day.

A sound limiter is a device that monitors volume levels and will either cut the power or reduce the sound if the noise exceeds a certain decibel level usually around 86 decibels. To put that into perspective, it is roughly the same as a hoover. That might be fine for background music, but it is far from ideal for dancing, singing or creating a buzzing atmosphere later in the day. Even loud cheering or applause can trip the limiter and bring everything to a sudden stop.

Some venues also require entertainers to use their in-house sound system, which means I have limited control over the quality, balance and overall feel of the music. When you are trying to create a fun and memorable vibe for your guests, this can be really limiting,  no pun intended.

Here are a few key questions to ask your venue early on:

Do you have a sound limiter?

What is it set to in terms of decibels?

Are we required to use your sound system?

Has this caused issues with past weddings or entertainers?

Can you provide the names of any singers, DJs or bands who have performed here recently, so we can ask them about their experience?

Asking these questions gives you a better idea of what you are working with and if you do need to make adjustments, you will have time to do so. If you find out too late, you could be left scrambling just weeks before the wedding, and that is extra stress nobody needs.

Being aware of the venue’s sound rules from the start helps us work together to make sure the entertainment runs smoothly, sounds great and delivers the vibe you are hoping for.