Production workspace

Planning guide

Jewish wedding music, part by part

A simcha is not one long playlist. It is a handful of short, very different musical moments, each with its own timing, volume and cues. Here is how families and musicians usually plan them together — and what to put in writing before the day.

The parts that need music

1

Kabbalas panim / reception

Usually 45–75 minutes before the chuppah · Soft background — a singer with keyboard, or a small acoustic set

Guests are arriving and greeting, so volume matters more than repertoire. Agree the exact start time with the musicians, because this set almost always begins before the printed invitation time.

2

Chuppah

20–40 minutes, tightly cued · Processional pieces and quiet accompaniment

This is the part that needs written cues, not a playlist: who walks to which piece, where music stops, and who gives the signal. Confirm with the officiating rav what is played and what is sung.

3

First dancing set

Commonly 30–45 minutes · Fast simcha dancing, building through the set

Ask the band to hold two or three slots for family favourites and for anything with a dedication behind it — a niggun from a grandparent, or the chosson's yeshiva tune.

4

Second dancing set

Commonly 25–40 minutes · Second wind — often the more personal set

Shtick, mitzvah tantz arrangements and slow numbers usually sit here. If a guest is singing or playing, name them in the plan so the band leaves room.

5

Sheva brachos and the week after

One or two musicians per night · Intimate, mostly acoustic

These are separate engagements with their own dates, times and fees, even when the same musicians play them. Keep them booked and priced separately from the wedding night.

Timings are typical ranges, not rules — halls, minhagim and families all differ. Confirm every set time with the hall and with the musicians.

A song list that musicians can work from

The lists that work are ordered the way the night runs, and say a little more than a song title. For each song it helps to note:

  • Must-play, a request, or just a suggestion
  • Which part of the evening it belongs to
  • Who it is dedicated to, if anyone
  • The cue — what happens right before it starts
  • A recording link, so nobody guesses the version
  • Which musician it is meant for

On Simcha Stage this is exactly what the event music plan holds: one ordered list for the simcha, where each musician answers only for the songs chosen for them — approve, decline with a reason, or ask to discuss it — and their own booking, quote and payment stay entirely separate from everyone else's.

Browse musiciansHow booking works

Common questions

How far ahead should Jewish wedding music be booked?
Popular singers and bands in the main simcha seasons are often taken six to twelve months ahead, and a specific band leader longer than that. The date, venue and set times are what actually hold a musician — not an enquiry.
Who decides the songs — the family or the band?
Both, in practice. The family usually names must-play songs, dedications and anything to avoid; the musicians shape the order and the flow of each dancing set so it builds properly.
What should be written down before the wedding?
Set times, the chuppah cue sheet, must-play songs with any dedication, the stage and power layout, and who each musician answers to on the night. Anything only agreed verbally tends to get lost between the reception and the first dance.
Can one song list cover several musicians?
Yes, and it should — a shared list keeps everyone playing the same programme. Each musician's own booking, quote and payment stays separate from the others.

Planning a simcha now? Create an account and build the song list with your musicians in one place.