The right Dinner music is as important as the right Dinner! While planning a dinner event, the host thinks about a number of things: The food itself, decor, special needs/desires of guests, but probably one of the most important things is the atmosphere- fun, festive, enjoyable for all. And one of the areas where you can make the atmosphere fun, festive and enjoyable for all is the type of music that is played.
As the dinner hosts at your event (your wedding reception or any party or event where one plans to serve dinner as part of their event), the music is limited only to the Guest of Honor’s imagination and the following are suggestions to help you set a fun, festive and enjoyable time for all:
Have a Variety of music to appeal to a variety of musical pallets. This is very true at wedding receptions. One way to address this is play sets between dinner courses that appeal to as many individuals as possible. One way I like to start a set during dinner is to have our Guest’s of Honor come on the dance floor and joined by their guests to dance to Frankie Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. This sets a romantic mood and keeps things fun and interesting for all.
Play songs during dinner that may get passed on during prime time dancing. Many people have a favorite song that they would like to hear, but it’s not exactly the perfect ”dance” song. One piece that comes to mind is Billy Joel’s Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. A great song, but not one I would play during prime time dancing. I performed at a wedding reception last year where the bride and groom expressed that they would love to hear a set of 80s dance music from artists like New Order and Information Society during dinner time as a large number of their guests enjoyed music from that era. It was a great success at that reception. Again, the music is limited to your imagination only! Be yourself and let your reception music reflect your individual taste and spirit.
While I have touched on two areas, dinner music may address other areas like special requests for guests (for example playing your parents’ wedding song for them) or music related to a themed event, like a tropical or holiday event.
Here is a small list of some of our favorite suggestions for great Dinner Music Program. Enjoy!
- What Is Hip – Tower Of Power
- That’s Amore’ – Dean Martin
- Ribbon In The Sky – Stevie Wonder
- I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra
- By Your Side – Sade
- Moon Dance – Van Morrison
- Better Together – Jack Johnson
- Aja – Steely Dan
- L.O.V.E. – Nat King Cole
- Scene’s From An Italian Restaurant – Billy Joel
- Come Away With Me – Nora Jones
- Kissing A Fool – Michael Buble’
- I Love You – Bare Naked Ladies
- It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere – Jimmy Buffet & Alan Jackson
- Is This Love – Bob Marley
- Beyond The Sea – Bobby Darin
- Ribbon In The Sky – Stevie Wonder
- I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra
- By Your Side – Sade
- Moon Dance – Van Morrison
- Better Together – Jack Johnson
- Aja – Steeley Dan
- L.O.V.E. – Nat King Cole
- Scene’s From An Italian Restaurant – Billy Joel
- Come Away With Me – Nora Jones
- Kissing A Fool – Michael Buble’
- I Love You – Barenaked Ladies
- It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere – Jimmy Buffet & Alan Jackson
- Is This Love – Bob Marley
