THERE’S MORE TO EVENT MUSIC THAN YOU THINK

THE OVIATT
6 hours ago
4 min read

A Vendor Feature with Second Song

Music has a unique power to shape the atmosphere of an event. When approached with intention, it guides the energy in the room, building momentum or softening the experience at just the right moments. It doesn’t simply complement an event, it plays a role in defining how the night unfolds.

And yet, choosing the right approach is often more complex than expected. From DJs and live bands to curated playlists and hybrid setups, there are countless ways to think about event sound.

What matters most isn’t the format itself, but the kind of experience you want to create. How you want the night to move. How you want your guests to feel within it.

At The Oviatt, we approach music as part of the larger experience. Just like design, flow, and timing, it plays a key role in shaping how an event evolves. Our team works closely with each host to understand their vision, from the simplest setups to more layered, immersive approaches, helping guide decisions that align with the overall experience goal.

This is something our partners at Second Song understand deeply.

David & Brett - Photo: Lulan Studio | Jordan & Hunter - Photo: Danforth Neal | MJ & Ben - Photo: Perla Ucles

Meet Second Song

Having worked with The Oviatt across a range of events, Second Song’s approach goes beyond music selection. From DJ sets and live performances to lighting, sound, and interactive elements, their focus is on creating a cohesive experience that responds to the room in real time.

As co-founder Robert Corral shares, the goal is never just to fill the space with sound, but to shape the moment itself.

It’s this balance between preparation and intuition that defines how an event is experienced.

What to Consider When Planning Your Event Music

We asked the Second Song team to share a few insights that can help guide your decisions:

When a client comes to you unsure about their music direction, where do you usually start?

Since we work on a lot of weddings at The Oviatt, we often look at music through the lens of the full guest experience, from the ceremony through the last song of the night. When a couple or client comes to us unsure about their music direction, we usually start with the feeling they want to create. Before talking about specific songs, we ask what kind of energy they want the celebration to have. Do they want it to feel elegant and timeless, fun and nostalgic, modern and high-energy, or more relaxed and intimate? From there, we think through the full event flow, the venue, the guest mix, and the moments that matter most.

How do you help clients decide between a DJ, live music, or a combination of both? How do you guide hosts in shaping the experience they want to create?

When helping couples or hosts decide between a DJ, live music, or a mix of both, we look at what each part of the event needs. Live music can be beautiful for ceremony, cocktail hour, or dinner because it adds warmth and presence. A DJ is usually the strongest choice for the dance floor because they can read the room, move between genres, and adjust the energy in real time. A combination of both works really well when a host wants the event to feel elevated from start to finish, with live elements earlier in the evening and a DJ driving the party later on.

When it comes to budget, where should hosts invest in music, and where can they keep things simple without losing impact?

For budget, we usually recommend investing in the moments where music has the biggest emotional or energetic impact. For weddings, that often means the ceremony, key transitions, and the dance floor. Those are the parts guests remember and the moments where the right music can completely shift the feeling of the event. Other areas, like cocktail hour or dinner, can be kept more simple as long as the overall direction still feels thoughtful and connected. At Second Song, we see music as more than background sound. It shapes the pace, mood, and memory of the night. A great music team is not just playing songs. They are paying attention to the room, guiding the energy, and making small decisions throughout the event that help everything feel seamless.

Erin & Evan - Photo: Luiz Martinez | Bree & James - Photo: Hanny Lee

When music aligns with each moment of an event, it becomes part of its rhythm. The peaks, the transitions, and the ending begin to connect in a way that feels effortless, yet unforgettable.

While planning an event, it’s easy to focus on what guests will see. But it’s just as important to consider what they’ll feel when the music takes over, and what stays with guests once it fades.

If you’re planning your event at The Oviatt and would like to explore how music, flow, and space come together, we invite you to connect with our team. We’d be happy to guide you and introduce you to partners like Second Song who know how to shape a night your guests will truly remember.