The music should reflect your style and taste without alienating the guests, who could range from 13-year-old cousins to 90-year-old grandparents. Should you play the 5th Dimension or 50 Cent? Charlie Parker or Charlie Daniels? Bach or Barry White? Reggae or ragtime? You get the conundrum. “It’s hard to please everyone, so I had the deejay play a wide range of music,” says Dawn Pietkiewicz-Pruzansky, who was married last October at the Newark Club. “I was fortunate enough to hire a deejay that knew how to keep everyone on the dance floor, spanning about four generations.” Pietkiewicz-Pruzansky says that she knew exactly what songs she wanted played at her reception and made a CD for the deejay. If you would rather hire a band, have a play list prepared before you go to the initial consultation. Don’t waste your time with anyone who can’t or won’t play exactly what you want to hear.

In order to keep the party fun, entertaining, and crowd-pleasing while still remaining cohesive and organized, you may want to go with a musical theme. Themes also help your event stand out from all the other nuptial celebrations your guests have attended.

According to Kristine Powell of NJ Swing in Whippany (973-299-7946; njswing.com), there has been a lot of interest in dance lessons this year. NJ Swing can teach your guests the basics on how to “Catch the A Train.” Then everyone can jump, jive, and wail to hit songs of the 1940s. A swing revival in the 1990s made young adults aware that Count Basie isn’t just the name of a theater in Red Bank. And older guests will get a nostalgic treat. “Lessons have also become popular at the rehearsal dinner,” adds Powell. “The couple gives it as a gift to the wedding party, then they can all swing dance at the reception the next day.” Powell also has done Latin-themed receptions. She says she even mixes the ethnic music with American disco. A sexy salsa or chipper cha-cha is bound to bring everyone onto the dance floor.

In many ways, jazz is the great equalizer. And who doesn’t like to sing along to the great American songbook—Sinatra, Porter, Armstrong? Brides are utilizing jazz bands for more than just the cocktail hour these days. For example, a jazz trio at a brunch wedding adds just the right amount of sophistication to a daytime event. Or a five-piece sets the right mood in an untraditional venue such as a museum or restaurant.