Your music timeline needs three things for each moment: the time, the song, and who gives the cue. Work through these eight parts with your planner, then send the same final version to your vendors.
1. Setup before guests arrive
Arrange venue access at least two hours before guests arrive. Give the band the loading entrance, parking instructions and a venue contact. Confirm power and a flat, solid performance surface in advance, including the location you will use if weather changes the plan.
2. Ceremony music and cues
List each entrance, its song and who gives the cue. Include the seating music and recessional, then decide who needs a microphone. If the ceremony and reception are in different spaces, tell us early so the sound setup is planned for both.
3. Cocktail hour
Choose music that leaves room for conversation. Allow time for guests to walk between spaces, find a drink and settle in. Share the location and timing with us so we can confirm the musicians and equipment needed.
4. Reception introductions
Use our MC announcement checklist to share names, pronunciations, entrance order and music. Put one person in charge of the entrance cue. Your planner should check that the photographer, catering team and band are ready before everyone is announced.
5. First and parent dances
Write down whether each dance is live or recorded and whether you want the whole song. For a shorter dance, agree on an ending in advance. Tell the photographer if guests will be invited to join you partway through.
6. Dinner, toasts and band meals
Coordinate dinner music, speeches and band meals with catering. Put the toast order on the timeline and confirm who has the microphone. Recorded music can cover a band break, so guests still have something to listen to while they eat.
7. Leave uninterrupted time for dancing
Group announcements and formalities where practical, then leave time to dance without repeated stops. Share your must-play and do-not-play songs. We can use those preferences while choosing the order as the evening unfolds.
8. Work back from the music end time
Start with the venue’s music end time, then work back through the last public song, any private dance and the send-off. Confirm transportation timing too. Give the same final schedule to your planner, photographer and band.
See our wedding music options, then send your rough timeline along with your date and venue. We’ll check availability and help work through the music.