Asian weddings are among the most spectacular displays of love and commitment, and getting the musical element right is key.
You will likely have a checklist as long as your arm in the run-up to your wedding, so we have created this guide to help you select the right soundtrack for your wedding celebrations and ease the stress of finding the best musical act for the occasion.
Click any of the sections below to check out our advice on finding the right musician to suit your tastes and budget:
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our dedicated team of Bookings Experts if you would like more advice, or to get matched with fantastic musicians who fit your requirements.
Sangeet
The music is one of the most important parts of a Sangeet, after all it is quite literally a musical party, and so we strongly recommend planning ahead of time to ensure you get your top picks of musicians.
Although your friends and family may be planning their own performances, hiring professional musicians can help get everyone up and dancing.
Hire a Bollywood DJ who can get the party started and additionally MC throughout the night to stay on schedule and keep everyone engaged. Check out our London-based DJs, such as Dishant Parekh, who has over 10 years of experience and is a dab hand at getting everyone really involved.
For an unforgettable experience, you can hire a Bollywood or even a Qawwali band to perform and give that live performance feeling you can’t get from any Spotify playlist.
Check out Chand Ali Khan Qawwali who are the leading UK-based Qawwali Group, performing authentic Qawwali internationally for all occasions. Be sure to check out the amazing videos on their profile to get a taste of their music!
Popular songs to play at your Sangeet
Morni Banke – Guru Randhawa, Neha Kakkar
London Thumakda – Kangana Ranaut, Raj Kumar Rao
Mehndi
The Mehndi is usually an informal and relaxed event, so you may wish to reflect that with some traditional Indian music to help keep everyone entertained.
A popular choice is to call in a Bollywood singer who can perform Bollywood, Asian music, Indian music and folk. Most singers will tailor their setlist to every customer and can even provide a customised playlist service between sets.
To end the night, you may want to ramp up the energy with a DJ. Check out DJ Jilesh who can tailor his setlists to your needs and can also provide an additional Dhol player if you desire. Dhols are a popular choice for good reason as they provide such great energy with their fun and joyful sound.
Popular songs to play at your Mehndi
Mehndi Hai Rachnewali – Alka Yagnik
Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan – Meet Bros Anjjan feat. Kanika Kapoor
Sadi Gali – Lehmber Hussainpuri
Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna – Lata, Udit
Baraat/Jaan
It’s the groom’s time to shine! The Baraat is one of the most exciting and high energy parts of a South Asian wedding, full of dancing and joy with your family and friends. We’re here to help you find the perfect music to get your procession moving and create an unforgettable Baraat entrance.
The Dhol players are an integral part of a Baraat and their presence adds an extra layer of excitement to the procession. They are an example of the rich culture and traditions celebrated at your South Asian wedding and bring an energy that is truly infectious.
When booking Dhol players, it’s important to consider the size of your Baraat and what type of music you would like to be played. We have a great selection of Dhol drummers such as Julius Blankson and Johnny Kalsi who can play along to your favourite Bollywood tunes and put on a vibrant show to get your guests’ toes tapping.
If you’re looking for a fuller sound, you may want to consider booking a larger ensemble like London-based Bollywood ensemble The Dhol Foundation, who have over 20 years of experience creating a lively and exciting atmosphere.
We also have an excellent selection of DJs who can play you into your ceremony. They will get your celebration going and can create the perfect playlist full of your favourite songs to get everyone dancing.
Popular Baraat entrance songs include:
Badri Ki Dulhania – Badri Ki Dulhania
Balle Balle – Bride & Prejudice
With the right musicians, you can create a festive atmosphere that will make your Baraat even more special!
Ceremony
There are several key moments of your wedding ceremony that you may want to elevate with music, the first of course being the entrance of the groom and the entrance of the bride, and concluding with the Vidaai: the bride’s farewell.
Your options of what type of music to have are broad and will be a matter of personal taste for each couple.
While you may expect to hear traditional Indian, Punjabi wedding songs or Pakistani wedding songs, some more contemporary weddings opt for a DJ who can sync up with the priest and ensure that there is an appropriate musical accompaniment to each of the key moments of your ceremony.
Alternatively, you may prefer acoustic accompaniment from instruments such as flute, tabla and santoor which can play Gujarati lagna geets, or folk songs, and create a spellbinding atmosphere for you and your guests. String Beats are a Midlands-based ensemble that specialise in playing Indian classical music for weddings.
Again, these musicians will need to speak with your priest ahead of time and ensure that what they play aligns with how the priest leads the ceremony.
Oddhi Navrang Chundadi – Aishwarya Majmudar
Deewani Mastani – Bajirao Mastani
The Reception
After the formalities of the wedding ceremony are out of the way, your wedding reception is the chance to show off more of your own taste and character and throw a party to remember. This is the celebration that everyone has been waiting for, so you want to make sure that your party goes out with a bang!
In between the feasting, speeches, and mingling with your guests, you may also want to include dance and musical performances in your wedding reception. The musical options available to you are vast and varied and our bookings experts are on hand to help you find the ideal band, ensemble or DJ to keep the party going.
We have an excellent selection of DJs who know how to rock a South Asian wedding and can play a mix of traditional and more contemporary tunes to get your friends and family on the dance floor.
You might want to include some Bollywood garba songs or Bhangra classics, and lots of DJs will be well-versed in creating fusion dance playlists to keep guests of all backgrounds entertained. Mel Singh, based in the Midlands, have over a decade’s worth of experience in keeping dance floors rocking into the early hours.
You may also want to consider a more complete outfit, such as the popular Bollywood live band Shama & The 515 Crew. Having a live band also offers the possibility of having your first dance song performed live, adding a unique touch to your evening.
Bands such as this come with the option of adding on live dancers to add a visual spectacle to their performance.
Popular song choices include:
Das Ja – DJ Sanj ft. Lehmber Hussainpuri
Again, this part of the wedding is your chance to get creative once the traditions of the ceremony have been completed. The most important thing is for you and your guests to have fun!