Article by our fabulous sponsors Entertainment Nation; header photo by the magnificent York Place Studios

Ready to throw away tradition, and eschew all those notions of dancing to the tried-and-tested at your wedding reception? New music is emerging all the time – so why stick to what’s already been done on your once-in-a-lifetime day?

If you’re a cutting-edge contemporary couple, or you simply want to make a statement by defying expectations, we’ve put together a list of infectious dance tracks and romantic stripped-back ballads to help inspire your wedding playlist.

Article by Entertainment Nation; header photo by Sussex wedding photographer Martin Beddall

The world’s most popular music streaming service, Spotify, now boasts over 35 million songs, while the number available for download from the iTunes Store has been rumoured at over 40 million – which sounds like a lot to us! With so much choice when it comes to music, one question repeatedly burns in our minds – why do we keep hearing the same songs at weddings?

The pleasant hills and satanic mills of Yorkshire and the North East offer some of the most breathtaking scenery in the UK – so it’s no wonder enamoured couples flock here every year to exchange their vows!

The sprawling, magnificent Alnwick Castle and the whimsical Bamburgh Castle are stunning historical landmarks for couples to tie the knot, but let’s not forget the profusion of contemporary wedding venues either. The National Glass Centre and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art offer quirky settings for newlyweds, and there can be no better backdrop for your wedding album than the dramatic North York Moors, scenic Yorkshire Dales, and the vast and otherworldly Northumberland National Park.

When Mumford & Sons kicked open the doors for the indie folk scene over ten years ago, they pulled the genre from dowdy to dramatic, and a flood of similar acts were caught up in the rising tide of popular folk. Now one of the most popular wedding band hire choices for newlyweds (helped by their rustic vibes and fairy lights), there’s a staggering choice of Mumford style folk bands for weddings to make your big day special. But if you’re looking for your dream wedding band, who do you choose?

Stunning countryside, historic cities, and a proud industrial heritage make the Midlands region of the UK one of the prettiest locations to host your wedding! From the picturesque Wye River Valley to the stunning Malvern Hills, there’s plentiful gorgeous countryside to enjoy, while historic and attractive towns like Warwick and Stamford are home to wedding venues where you can tie the knot in style.

The Midlands is renowned for producing some incredible musicians too – Just think of all the bands and artists Birmingham alone has churned out! Black Sabbath, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Duran Duran, The Spencer Davis Group, UB40, and countless others all hail from the Midland’s financial and cultural epicentre, which to this day hosts a vibrant live music scene.