Key Reception Songs You Need to Plan (From The Best Wedding DJ Salt Lake City Has to Offer!)
Let’s talk about your wedding reception.
It’s the part of the day everyone looks forward to: great food, heartfelt toasts, happy tears, and a dance floor that leaves everyone saying, “That was the best wedding I’ve ever been to.” But creating that kind of experience doesn’t just happen. It takes planning, especially when it comes to music and moments.
At Brown Sound, we help couples all over Utah plan their receptions from start to finish, making sure nothing important gets missed. As the go-to wedding DJ Salt Lake City couples trust, we know what it takes to create a night that flows, feels magical, and stays true to you.
Here are the key reception moments you need to plan ahead of time — and how we can help make them unforgettable.
1. Your Grand Entrance Sets the Tone
This is your first official moment as a married couple in front of all your guests. Should it be sweet and romantic? High-energy and funny? You decide, and we’ll help you pick the perfect song to match the vibe.
Some couples want to hype it up with Taylor Swift or Bruno Mars. Others keep it chill with acoustic covers or nostalgic oldies. Whatever your style, your grand entrance is a signature moment that sets the tone. We’ll make sure your names are pronounced correctly (trust us, it matters), your song starts at the best part, and the energy feels exactly how you want it to.
Grand entrance song ideas:
“...Ready For It?” – Taylor Swift
“Feeling Good” – Michael Bublé
“Don’t Stop the Party” – Pitbull
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” – Stevie Wonder
“Crazy in Love” – Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z
2. First Dances: The Emotional Core
The first dance. Father-daughter. Mother-son. Or maybe something unique to your story.
These are emotional touchpoints that become lifelong memories. Even if you're not into being the center of attention, your first dance can still feel special and comfortable. We’ll help you choose a song that means something — whether it’s from your first date or something your parent played growing up.
Pro tip: If you're nervous about dancing in front of people, you’re not alone. We can fade the music out after 60 to 90 seconds so it still feels heartfelt without overstaying its welcome. This is your moment. Let’s make sure it feels right.
First dance song ideas:
“Wondering Why” – Red Clay Strays
“Perfect” – Ed Sheeran
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Better Together” – Jack Johnson
“You Are the Best Thing” – Ray LaMontagne
Father daughter dance and mother son dance ideas:
“Little Wonders” – Rob Thomas
“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” – Aerosmith
“My Girl” – The Temptations
“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” – Elton John
“My Wish” – Rascal Flatts
3. Dinner and Toasts Deserve a Soundtrack Too
Just because your guests are sitting doesn’t mean the vibe stops.
Dinner and toasts deserve thoughtful music too. This is where we usually go with something light, upbeat, and familiar. Think Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, and light pop songs. It helps create a warm, welcoming vibe for family and older guests, while your younger crew gets hyped for dancing later.
Background playlist ideas:
“Drops of Jupiter” – Train
“The Way You Look Tonight” – Frank Sinatra
“I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz
“Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles
“For Once in My Life” – Stevie Wonder
“Chapel of Love” – The Dixie Cups
We also make sure your toasts run smoothly. We provide high-quality wireless mics, make sure speakers are heard clearly, and fade music in and out at the perfect moments. Not sure who should speak or how many toasts to allow? We’ll help you navigate that too. We’ve seen it all.
4. Cake Cutting and Special Announcements
Doing a bouquet toss? Late-night churro cart? Surprise flash mob?
We help you time and cue these little moments perfectly. Even the cake cutting feels more fun with the right music in the background.
Cake cutting ideas:
“Sugar, Sugar” – The Archies
“Sugar” – Maroon 5
“How Sweet It Is” – James Taylor
“Paper Rings” – Taylor Swift
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis
Whether it's announcements, games, or something totally unique, we help you coordinate it all.
5. The Dance Floor: Energy, Strategy, and Timing
Let’s be real. The dance floor is where memories are made.
But here’s the secret: you don’t need a long dance party to have a great one. Most of our couples plan for 45 minutes to an hour of dancing. That keeps the energy high, the floor full, and the excitement fresh the entire time.
Want a longer dance set? Totally fine. Just know that guests tend to cycle in and out once it goes over 90 minutes. It becomes more chill, more loungey. People grab drinks and take breaks. It all depends on the kind of night you want.
Either way, we specialize in creating wild, nostalgic, sweaty dance floors that feel like a middle school gym rave (but make it grown-up and fun). Our blend of 2000s throwbacks, wedding classics, reggaeton, TikTok hits, and personal couple requests is what makes Brown Sound a total favorite for high-energy parties.
Oh, and here’s a friendly reminder: if the bride and groom aren’t on the dance floor, no one else will be either. So if you want your people to dance, you’ve gotta lead the way.
6. Don’t Forget the Last Song
Your last song is your emotional send-off.
It can be hype, romantic, nostalgic, or silly. What matters is that it feels like you. We’ve ended nights with Pitbull, Lizzo, One Direction, and Journey. We’ve also done romantic slow dances with just the couple left on the floor. We’ll help you pick the perfect closer.
Want a private last dance before your send-off? We’ll cue that up too. Trust your Utah wedding DJ to nail the moment.
Last Song ideas:
“Time of My Life” – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” – Whitney Houston
“Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey
“Forever” – Chris Brown
7. A Quick Word About Your Timeline
We offer a free planning session to walk through your reception timeline. During this session, we help you:
Decide how much dancing time you really want
Map out all the moments that need music
Avoid awkward gaps or timing issues
Make sure your venue’s sound and power rules are covered
No two weddings are the same. Whether you’re planning a 300-person party in a Provo barn or a cozy gathering downtown, your timeline should reflect you.
As a Provo DJ, we’ve worked in just about every venue style you can imagine: Alpine meadows, Salt Lake rooftops, backyard tents, and everything in between. We bring clean setups, wireless gear, and backup everything.
Why Brown Sound?
Your reception should feel effortless, exciting, and totally you.
At Brown Sound, we offer a free discovery call to see if we’re a good fit. We’ll chat timelines, music, vision, and logistics. No pressure, just honest advice!
Ready to create the perfect soundtrack for your wedding? Let’s chat about your big day. We offer free consultations and would love to hear your vision!
