Jazz is elegant and sophisticated yet fun – a perfect combination for your special day. This guide will take you through all you need to know to throw a jazz-themed wedding that hits all the right notes. Let’s get started with the basics.
Venue
Choosing the right venue for your jazz-themed wedding sets the tone for the entire event. Look for locations such as historic mansions, ballrooms, or classic theatres. These venues often come with architectural details that complement the style of the Jazz Age, like ornate archways, chequered marble floors, drapery and high ceilings. Moody lighting is key, especially if you plan to have the wedding at night, so keep that in mind when choosing a space. Also, ensure the space has good acoustics and space to dance to make the most of the live music experience.
Decoration
Jazz-themed wedding decorations should be glamorous and opulent with a vintage twist. Think about incorporating elements like gold accents and Art Deco patterns or classic jazz posters or record players for a quirkier take on the theme. Centrepieces can include feathers and candles – even an ice sculpture if you’re feeling adventurous. Lighting is crucial – opt for soft, warm tones to create an intimate and inviting ambience overall, and use spotlights sparingly to accentuate the band and key areas.
Wedding Dress and Suits
For a jazz-themed wedding, the attire should reflect the glitz and glamour of the Jazz Age. Brides might consider dresses with intricate beading, fringe, or lace details reminiscent of the 1920s “flapper” style. A typical veil style is to wear it to one side, slightly covering one eye, for an iconic vintage bridal look. Accessories like vintage hairpieces, gloves, and pearl necklaces can add the perfect finishing touches to your ensemble. Grooms can opt for classic tuxedos with bow ties and pocket squares in rich luxuriant colours and slick back their hair – think Leonardo DiCaprio in The Great Gatsby.
Food and Drink
Consider a menu that features classic cocktails like martinis, Manhattans, and champagne paired with rich and decadent hors d’oeuvres. For the main course, think about gourmet options that are both delicious and visually appealing. Dessert can include a classic Art Deco-styled wedding cake with gold accents and an array of vintage-inspired sweets.
Choosing a Jazz Band for Your Wedding
It goes without saying that if you’re choosing a jazz theme for your wedding, the band choice really sets the tone. Here are the steps and practical considerations when deciding.
- Determine your budget: Before you start looking for a band, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of how much you’re willing to spend. Jazz bands can vary significantly in price, so knowing your budget helps narrow down your options.
- Consider the venue size and acoustics: Ensure that the band you choose can perform comfortably in your venue. This means considering the physical space, sound equipment, and the kind of instruments the band will be playing. Discuss the venue’s acoustics with potential bands so you can have the best sound quality.
- Select your preferred style of jazz: Think of which style best fits the mood you want to create at your wedding – upbeat bebop or ragtime, swing to keep the dancing going, Dixieland for singalongs or some good old cool jazz to relax to.
- Attend live performances: If possible, attend a live performance of the bands you’re considering. This gives you a firsthand experience of their stage presence and musical skills. If this is not possible, listen to their recorded music
- Discuss the setlist: Work with the band to create a setlist that includes your favourite jazz standards and wedding songs. Ensure they can accommodate any special requests – jazz versions of contemporary or personally meaningful songs really add a special touch.
Choosing the Band and Style
Knowing where to find the right artists is half the battle, and at All The Feels we have you covered when it comes to any kind of jazz music. Feel free to explore our jazz bands and musicians and listen to their music – some of our recommendations include:
- Jazz Pop with Mimi – Experience timeless classics and reimagined pop hits with a modern jazz twist. This captivating blend of jazz and pop will have everyone tapping their feet.
- Jazz Bossa – Dance the night away with our lively jazz trio, featuring double bass, guitar, and saxophone. Perfect for creating an upbeat and rhythmic atmosphere.
- Jazz Bisou – Be enchanted by a group of extraordinarily talented musicians who put a unique spin on classic jazz, delivering elegance and charm that leaves a lasting impression.
- Charmes De Jazz – Add sophistication and glamour to your event with a versatile lineup specialising in swing classics, jazz standards, and Postmodern Jukebox covers.
- All the Jazz with Leon – Join a critically acclaimed band featuring some of the UK’s top jazz musicians. Enjoy a fresh and unique interpretation of the Great American Songbook.
- Midnight Serenade – Our energetic, dynamic 10-piece jazz band, delivering show-stopping performances with songs from the Great American Songbook.
- Bella Notte – A seasoned performer, Sarah brings an unforgettable experience with her expertise in Great Gatsby and 1920s themes, transcending genres for a memorable performance.
Best Jazz Songs for Weddings
We know how much time and consideration it takes to choose from the rich history of jazz and contemporary hits and create the perfect playlist, so we’ve compiled some to help you decide.
Jazz Wedding Songs to Walk Down the Aisle to
1. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Lyrics: I see trees of green / Red roses too / I see them bloom / For me and you / And I think to myself / What a wonderful world
2. At Last – Etta James
Lyrics: At last / My love has come along / My lonely days are over / And life is like a song / Oh, yeah, yeah
3. Moon River – Audrey Hepburn
Lyrics: Two drifters, off to see the world / There’s such a lot of world to see / We’re after the same rainbow’s end
4. Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
Lyrics: And I want to walk with you / On a cloudy day / In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high / So won’t you try to come
5. The Way You Look Tonight – Tony Bennett
Lyrics: Oh, but you’re lovely / With your smile so warm / And your cheek so soft / There is nothing for me / But to love you / Just the way you look tonight
6. My Baby Just Cares for Me – Nina Simone
Lyrics: My baby don’t care for shows / My baby don’t care for clothes / My baby just cares for me
7. A Kiss to Build a Dream On – Louis Armstrong
Lyrics: Give me a kiss to build a dream on / And my imagination will thrive upon that kiss / Sweetheart, I ask no more than this / A kiss to build a dream on
8. Someone to Watch Over Me – Ella Fitzgerald
Lyrics: There’s a somebody I’m longin’ to see / I hope that he turns out to be / Someone who’ll watch over me
9. It Had To Be You – Frank Sinatra
Lyrics: It had to be you / It had to be you / I wandered around, and I finally found / The somebody who / Could make me be true / And could make me be blue / And even be glad
10. My One and Only Love – John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
Lyrics: The very thought of you makes my heart sing / Like an April breeze on the wings of spring / And you appear in all your splendour / My one and only love
Jazz Songs for Wedding Cocktail Hour
11. L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
Lyrics: Love is all that I can give to you / Love is more than just a game for two / Two in love can make it, take my heart and please don’t break it / Love was made for me and you
12. Can’t Take My Eyes off You – Frankie Valli
Lyrics: You’re just too good to be true / Can’t take my eyes off of you / You’d be like Heaven to touch / I wanna hold you so much / At long last, love has arrived
13. Beyond the Sea – Bobby Darin
Lyrics: Somewhere beyond the sea / Somewhere waiting for me / My lover stands on golden sands / And watches the ships that go sailing
14. Summertime – Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Lyrics: One of these mornings / You’re gonna rise up singin’ / Yes, you’ll spread your wings / And you’ll take to the sky
15. Dream a Little Dream of Me – Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Lyrics: Yes, stars shining bright above you / Night breezes seem to whisper “I love you” / Birds singing in the sycamore trees / Dream a little dream of me
16. Blue Monk – Thelonious Monk
Lyrics: Finding your one / Place in the sun / Doesn’t come the easy way / Shallow ain’t deep / Nothing is cheap / Measure by the dues you pay / It takes some doing
17. In a Sentimental Mood – Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
Lyrics: My heart’s a lighter thing / Since you made me this night a thing divine / In a sentimental mood / I’m within a world so heavenly / For I never dreamt that you’d / Be loving sentimental me
18. Take Five – Dave Brubeck
Lyrics: Still, I know our eyes often meet / I feel tingles down to my feet / When you smile, that’s much too discreet / Sends me on my way
19. Your Love Is King – Sade
Lyrics: Your love is king, crown you in my heart / Your love is king, never need to part / Your kisses ring round and round and round my head
20. Our Love Is Here to Stay – Natalie Cole
Lyrics: It’s very clear / Our love is here to stay / Not for a year / But ever and a day
Best Jazz Songs for Wedding Receptions
21. In the Mood – Glenn Miller
An energetic instrumental swing classic that’s sure to fill the dance floor.
22. Sing, Sing, Sing – Benny Goodman
A high-energy number that’s perfect for a big celebration.
23. Feeling Good – Nina Simone
Lyrics: It’s a new dawn / It’s a new day / It’s a new life for me, ooh / And I’m feeling good
24. Sway – Michael Bublé
Lyrics: When marimba rhythms start to play / Dance with me, make me sway / Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore / Hold me close, sway me more
25. Let’s Face the Music and Dance – Nat King Cole
Lyrics: There may be trouble ahead / But while there’s moonlight / And music and love and romance / Let’s face the music and dance
26. Mack the Knife – Bobby Darin
An upbeat and entertaining song that will keep the energy high and the guests engaged
27. Moondance – Michael Bublé
Lyrics: Well, it’s a marvellous night for a moondance / With the stars up above in your eyes / A fantabulous night to make romance
28. Ain’t That A Kick In The Head – Dean Martin
Lyrics: My head keeps spinning / I go to sleep and keep grinning / If this is just the beginning / My life is gonna be beautiful
29. Your True Love – The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Lyrics: Well love was made and I don’t boast / When he made you he made the most / You’ve got that certain touch / And to me baby you mean so much
30. It Had To Be You – Harry Connick Jr
Lyrics: It had to be you / It had to be you / I wandered around and finally found / The somebody who / Could make me be true
Best Jazz Songs for A Wedding First Dance
31. Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra
Lyrics: Fill my heart with song / And let me sing for ever more / You are all I long for / All I worship and adore / In other words, please be true / In other words, I love you
32. La Vie En Rose – Louis Armstrong
Lyrics: Give your heart and soul to me / And life will always be / La vie en rose
33. You Make Me Feel So Young – Frank Sinatra
Lyrics: You make me feel so young / You make me feel so Spring has sprung / And every time I see you grin / I’m such a happy individual
34. Cheek to Cheek – Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Lyrics: Heaven, I’m in heaven / And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak / And I seem to find the happiness I seek / When we’re out together dancing cheek to cheek
35. When I Fall In Love – Nat King Cole
Lyrics: When I give my heart it will be completely / Or I’ll never give my heart / And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too / Is when I fall in love with you.
36. The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
Lyrics: Someday, when I’m awfully low / When the world is cold / I will feel a glow just thinking of you / And the way you look tonight
37. Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
Lyrics: Unforgettable in every way / And forevermore, that’s how you’ll stay / That’s why darling it’s incredible / That someone so unforgettable / Thinks that I am unforgettable too
38. Let’s Fall In Love – Ella Fitzgerald
Lyrics: Let’s fall in love / Why shouldn’t we fall in love? / Our hearts are made of it; let’s take a chance
39. Let’s Fall In Love – Dinah Washington
Lyrics: Well, let’s fall in love / Why shouldn’t we fall in love? / Now is the time for it / While we are young / Come on, let’s fall in love
40. You’ll Always Be the One I Love – Dean Martin
Lyrics: You’ll always be the one I love / Every hour, every day, every year / You’ll always be the one I love / Through each smile, through each sigh, through each tear
Make Your Day Unforgettable With All The Feels
All the Feels specialises in live bands for weddings and showstopping, glamorous events – so it’s safe to say a jazz or Jazz Age-themed wedding is right up our street! With our professionalism, unrivalled energy, and passion, we’ll ensure your wedding is nothing short of spectacular. Contact us today to find out more.