Top Wedding Entertainment Trends

One trend we are seeing heading in to 2020 is a real uptick on our couples?emphasis on uniqueness and individuality. Our couples are more hands on than ever when it comes to the selection of their music, taking time to be involved with the crafting of a playlist that is reflective of their specific tastes and who they are as individuals. As couples continue to choose non-traditional wedding venues, dispense with some of the more traditional elements like garter tosses and cake cutting, and with a greater focus on individuality we predict they will do the same for their live music. In 2020 we're sure we'll see even more couples choosing individual bands that are unique and can provide a live music experience that's more in line with what they're used to from attending regular club shows and concerts vs. the more generic approach of some of the larger agencies with 15 or int erchangeable bands.

Tim Ruedeman, Owner, Dexter Lake Club Band

Greeters, live acts such a painter, Nitrogen bar-tenders, strolling artists and special guests if the budget allows.

Brit Bertino, Event Producer, BRIT BERTINO EVENT EXCELLENCE

Nostalgia will continue to be an overriding theme, with most dance floors filled with guests reliving their '90s and early 00's high school daysthink Spice Girls and N SYNC.

Kevin Dennis, Owner, Fantasy Sound Event Services

Live! Couples are splurging on more live entertainment to keep the event going all night long. This includes more than just a live band, they are considering other forms of specialty acts such as solo performers, silk acts, live painters, readers and more.

Brit Bertino, Event Producer, BRIT BERTINO EVENT EXCELLENCE

Technology has impacted how we plan the music with couples. No longer are they sending us excel spreadsheets with their top hits.

Instead, they are pouring through music services and sending us their list.

The general rule of thumb is that anything you can put on social media will be big. So interactive entertainment that can be posted on Instagram or Facebook is at the top of couples' wish lists.

Kevin Dennis, Owner, Fant asy Sound Event Services

Entertainment Trends with Tim Ruedeman

OWNER OF DEXTER LAKE CLUB BAND

What are some of the more unique entertainment trends you're seeing for 2020?

A few unique trends we?ve noticed on the horizon for 2020 are couples incorporating elements of their lives and interests that didn't used to be traditionally part of a wedding. Couples finding ways that their event can be sustainable and green or finding ways to incorporate social media before, during and after the event. That's only gett ing bigger.

Other than music, what are some other entertainment trends we will be seeing in 2020?

In addition to music we predict that we will be seeing more real-time and interactive experiences at weddings. We predict entertainment that will go beyond the traditional photo-booth, with online and social elements that couples and their guests can interact with and view in real-time right at the wedding.

How is technology playing a role in entertainment in 2020?

Streaming services like Spotify, youtube, and Apple Music have completely changed the way people experience and consume music. We see that technological change affecting how people want their entertainment at their weddings. The ability to walk around with essentially endless possibilities for music and entertainment in your pocket and on your phone has led to so much more diversity in what couples are looking for and expecting for entertainment at their weddings. We end up exchanging playlists with our clients, and it's a great way for us to get a sense of their tastes and what they want played on the dance floor.

What's Out

Tim Ruedeman, of Dexter Lake Club Band says...

On the way out in 2020 is the cookie-cutter playlist and the generic 6-15 piece mix-and-match agency band. No more 15 minutes of Sinatra, followed by a few Motown songs and a hip-hop heavy Top 40 play list for the rest of the night. We see 2020 couples that want live music that has a personality and truly reflects their aesthetic and style.

Brit Bertino of BRIT BERTINO EVENT EXCELLENCE says...

I can't really say that a DJ would be on their way out as I do think couples still consider a master of ceremony a necessity. In-between the live entertainment sets the DJs still play background music and later in the evening they will close out the night with DJ sets once the live entertainment has wrapped up. I believe you will see fewer DJs hosting the entire entertainment aspect throughout the evening and they will become more of the entertainment producer throughout the reception, keeping the flow of the wedding consistent with the entire night's celebrat ion.

Kevin Dennis of Fantasy Sound Event Services says...

Silent discos are not at the top of the request list anymore and couples are less likely to have choreographed first dances . Family dances (such as father/daughter and mother/son) are fewer and far between. Even the celebrations that do have them, are having one cut into another so they can wrap up several dances in the typical time frame that one traditional dance would take place.