We live in a customizable world, and wedding music is no exception. Maybe you would love to hear the romantic strains of a string quartet during the ceremony and cocktail hour, but you also have your heart set on hearing Madonna as you hit the dance floor. Hiring the Material Girl to play at your reception is just not going to happen, but a band and a deejay providing music at your big party is entirely doable. As Dave Elgart, of Dave Elgart Music in Livingston explains, “our forte is now supplying [the couple] with a deejay plus a live ensemble to provide the music for their ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner sets during the reception, alternating with the deejay.” So go ahead and mix Madonna with Mozart, or whatever else tickles your fancy.

“The variety is endless when you go with a live/deejay package,” says John Christian of John Christian Entertainment (973-335-6700, 888-813-2623; www.johnchristianentertainment.com). “Live or deejay, experience is irreplaceable. Wedding banquets require a unique taste and rhythm, so choose someone who’s played plenty of them.”

Along with the food, the theme, and the setting, remember that music sets the tone for your big day. Think outside the box and feel free to experiment. Gone are the days of standard wedding music. Cull ideas for a musical mood from your cultural backgrounds, your favorite songs and musicians, unique experiences you’ve had as a couple or the season. You can transform your reception hall into a ‘70s disco, an elegant ballroom dance hall, or a contemporary nightclub—all with the magic of music.

Musicians like Alan Quinn of The Alan Quinn Orchestra offer a hand to couples who may not be musical experts. “I usually find out what styles of music a couple wants and then recommend the instrumentation from there,” says Quinn. He can provide a smaller band of five to nine musicians to play a little bit of everything, or he can offer a 12- to 15-piece ensemble, including vocalists, a rhythm section, and a horn section to feature the sounds of Frank Sinatra or the Swing era. Whether you want barbershop or baroque, folk or flamenco, anything is possible.