Top Wedding Music Trends In 2025

In with Chappell Roan out with the dollar dance. The year of 2025 weddings is well under way with Q1 already behind us, and if we had to pick one general trend to summarize what we are seeing so far this year: “more epic.” Music is one of the many ways couples get to really express themselves at their weddings, and this year our couples are all about personalization, immersive experiences, and unexpected surprises. Whether you’re planning an intimate backyard wedding or downtown cityscape nuptials, the general trends are the same – Our couples are leaning into their themes, planning special, curated moments, and thinking more outside the box than ever. Let’s dive into the sounds that are defining “I do” this year!

(Photo by: Jessica Nicole Photography)

Unique Live Cocktail Hour Music

Playlists are a thing of the past as our 2025 couples are on a mission to elevate their cocktail hour experiences. From electronic violinists to saxophone x DJ combos, cocktail hour has become more than just a mingling moment. Cocktail hour EXPERIENCES are in, in, in. 

Lean into your Texas-centered wedding with a 9-piece country / classic rock band like Gone To Texas for the reception and a fiddle and pedal steel duo for happy hour. Tie everything together with southern cocktail-hour-specific signature cocktails like the “cowboy coffee” or a classic “mint julep.” 

Go full 90s nostalgia with Austin’s legendary PDA Band for the late-night dance party, and a cocktail hour string quartet revitalizing your favorite Britney and Spice Girls jams in a classic way. 

Whatever your vibe, don’t leave cocktail hour out of your 2025 wedding vision board. Giving your guests the most from start to finish is definitely trending this year. 

(Photo by: Stephanie Rogers Photography)

Second Line IN

The epic New-Orleans-style second line sendoffs have been a classic favorite end of the night for as long as we can remember. BUT 2025 couples are taking this long-standing tradition to the next level with a second-line INto the party. Surprise and delight your guests with an ushering from the cocktail hour location into the reception space with a mini brass band dancing them in. Bring it full circle with a second line send-OUT at the end of the night to give your guests the closure they crave. 

(Photo by: Lacey & Lee Photos)

Continuous Play

Planning your wedding may feel like forever, but your wedding night will go by in a flash, so why take a break the night-of? 2025 couples want to soak up every single minute, and a literal non-stop dance party with your band is the best way to ensure your guests will be partying for the maximum amount of time possible. Our 2025 couples are even opting to DJ dinner to open up the dance floor with a high energy bang that never stops. 

If you want to take this 2025 trend even further, tack on a 1-2 hour DJ after-party right after your band’s three hours of continuous play. Another trend we are seeing is less couples disappearing and more couples staying at the center of the party all night. More and more couples are thinking “we have a lifetime together and just this one night with all our friends and family in one place,” and these couples are seizing the opportunity to keep the party going on and on (and on…) while everyone is together. 

(Photo by: Kaitlyn Tainham Photography)

We hope these unique trends make it into your special day this year. Immersive live music is all about building community and making memories. What’s more perfect than a wedding to do so? Book with Moontower Entertainment to ensure the best entertainment on any budget. We can’t wait to help you find the perfect live music entertainment for your special day!