Wedding Music - What Couples Really Want (2025)
Insights from 10,000 Conversations and Video Calls on FixTheMusic
Planning wedding music is personal, emotional and — according to our data — surprisingly consistent. At FixTheMusic, we analysed over 10,000 anonymised client conversations, including written messages and video call transcripts between couples and musicians.
The result is one of the most detailed studies ever conducted into how modern couples talk about music for their wedding.
Whether they’re booking a saxophonist in Tuscany or a DJ for a London warehouse wedding, couples return to the same ideas, values and, in some cases, the same songs.
What We Analysed
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Over 10,000 client-musician conversations on FixTheMusic
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A mix of emails, messages and 1-on-1 video call transcripts
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Weddings across more than 20 countries, with budgets ranging from £800 to £20,000+
The Top 10 Most Common Words in Wedding Music Conversations
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Love
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Vibe
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Songs
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Setlist
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Ceremony
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Playlist
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First dance
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Style
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Energy
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Avoid
The language shows how emotionally driven these conversations are. “Love” wasn’t just about romance; it was often used in phrases like “we’d love that” or “we love your style.” “Vibe” was the most-used word to describe overall atmosphere. “Avoid” lists were a recurring theme, with strong opinions about which songs not to play.
Spoken vs Written: What Changes on a Call
When speaking to musicians face-to-face on video calls, couples:
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Use more emotional and less structured language
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Focus on mood and moments, not technical details
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Express trust and deference to the professional
One groom admitted:
“I was the idiot going over to the DJ going, can you play this, mate? And he was like, yeah, alright. And then put on a song and the dance floor just cleared.” He laughed, then added: “Basically don’t take requests off me on the night.”
This mix of honesty and humour is typical of what musicians hear, and is part of what makes these real conversations such rich data.
Key Trends: What Couples Really Want
1. Personalisation with Guidance
Couples want their wedding to feel like them, but they don’t want to choose 40 songs. Many say:
“We’ll send you some songs we like, but feel free to shape the rest.”
The ideal format is collaborative: personal but professional.
2. Avoid the Cheese
Couples are increasingly vocal about what not to play. “No ABBA,” “no YMCA,” and “no wedding clichés” came up in hundreds of conversations. One bride summed it up:
“My fear is the wedding giving off a bit of like a village hall vibe — you know when someone cracks open Come On Eileen and it’s just like... this is not cool, guys.”
3. The Age of the Vibe
“Vibe” is now the go-to word for communicating emotional tone. Couples said:
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“We’re going for a laid-back, sunset vibe.”
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“We want the vibe to lift after dinner.”
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“Just good vibes all night.”
Rather than list genres, they describe moods. Musicians then translate that into tempo, transitions and tone.
Musical Moments That Matter Most
Ceremony music is discussed in the most detail. Couples often name the exact version or tempo of the song they want for walking down the aisle or exiting as a married couple. Some even request acoustic covers of pop songs to hit a specific emotional tone.
Cocktail hour planning is often guided by playlists or broad stylistic themes. Many couples want this set to feel stylish, warm and easygoing.
First dance requests are nearly always specific. Couples typically select the artist and version and may request a shortened or edited version to avoid awkwardness or make a choreographed dance easier.
Dinner background music is rarely a top concern. Couples usually leave this in the musician’s hands and focus their energy on the ceremony and party.
Dance floor sets spark the most passion. This is where couples are most likely to request both must-play and must-avoid tracks and where their personality comes through strongest.
What the Numbers Really Say
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“Vibe” appears in over 40% of all wedding music conversations
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More than 1 in 3 couples now provide a “do-not-play” list
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Nearly 70% of couples describe themselves as “flexible” or say “we trust your judgment” to musicians
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Over 50% ask for help blending genres (e.g., jazz into pop, funk into dance) rather than sticking to one style
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Ceremony music generates the most emotional detail: 8 out of 10 couples mention the exact timing or version of their processional or exit song
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Requests for live music continue to rise, even with the availability of AI-generated playlists
Final Word
The language couples use when planning their wedding music reveals much more than taste; it reveals intention, personality and emotional priorities. Whether it’s avoiding a dance floor disaster or creating the perfect atmosphere for a sunset in Mallorca, couples want music that feels just right.
