What's the best way to incorporate Greek and English music at our reception?

Artisia® is proud to be the only entertainment agency with a Greek DJ in Perth. Coincidentally, he is also the city's only DJ that speaks Greek and mixes modern and traditional Greek music in Perth.

Here's what our Greek-Australian DJ has shared with us:

1. Live Instrumentalists/Band: Consider hiring live instrumentalists if your budget allows. Skilled professionals, such as bouzouki players, singers, or toumperleki players, can enhance the ambiance with traditional Greek dances like kalamatiano and zembekiko. Alternatively, you can opt for a single instrumentalist to complement your DJ, offering a mix of live and recorded music.

2. Dinner Sets: This is where a live instrumentalist can really enhance the atmosphere, but even with just your wedding DJ, you can still enjoy easy listening Greek music. Additionally, if you'd like, you may opt for a 15-minute set of modern or traditional Greek dancing to kickstart the dance floor early.

3. Dual Greek Dancing Slots: Our recommended approach for a balanced mix of Greek and English music involves two distinct segments:

• First Greek Set: Typically, after your slow dances, you can start with traditional circle dancing for 10 to 15 minutes, smoothly transitioning into a modern Greek party set for another 10 to 15 minutes. The total segment usually lasts around 30 minutes.
• English Set (Intermission): Provide a brief break with English music to ensure all guests feel included and catered to.
• Second Set: Maintain the Greek atmosphere with another 30-minute session, featuring popular "Zeimbekika" tunes leading into the iconic Zorba dance. This final segment encourages everyone to join in. 
• English Set (Closing Set): This is the final set that closes the wedding night off.
  
  

If you'd like a better understanding of our approach, please don't hesitate to contact us through our website at www.entertainment.artisia.com.au or via email bookings@artisia.com.au.

We use our own Music planning App so you can plan your entire Wedding online including choosing all the music for your Wedding. We also include loads of song ideas direct from our Wedding DJs.

Hi there,

The best way incorpate any music from mixed nationality's is to have an equal set of each style. Alternating each 20min

Most experienced DJ's are very used to DJ'ing weddings that can incorprate all genres and all nationalities - its important to read your crowd and have something for everyone keeping that dancefloor full - a good DJ will be able to do this no issue at all 

Always a lot of fun to be able to mix it up for everyone -  But your DJ's will always work with you on this also 

We do Greek English Weddings all the time - We love it !!  - DJ Jess & DJ Eric 

Give us a call 

@SydneyDiscJockeys - 0417672544 

Hi,

I would suggest sitting down with your DJ and MC and going through the timeline when you want the different music played.

You could make some different playlists on spotify and supply them to the DJ.

I would make a background one for Greek and English. Also a dancing one for Greek and English.

Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions

DJ Thomas McNally

Platinum DJs

0422187801

info@platinumdjs.com.au

platinumdjs.com.au

Having done many Greek / Australian weddings, the best way is to allow your entertainer to play a bit of both.
Not too much of one or the other and not too many in a row.  

It's always fun if you have a traditional Greek dance and use it to teach those who are not Greek how to do it to join in the fun!

Hey there!

At some previous Greek/Aussie wedding's I have either performed or DJ'd at - we have found ways to incorporate both cultures in the music.. 

Previous couples have had us DJ Greek dance floor sets (roughly 20 mins) where they do the traditional dances, before switching to the contemporary Aussie Wedding Music or us performing live.. We would do this back and forth throughout the night in between formalities and include any of the traditional Greek dances + songs you would like - and definetly end the night on the Classic dancefloor songs.. 

If you're able to provide a list of the Greek songs/dances you'd like (and the order - as I believe that is somewhat imporant?) we can easily organise this + facilitate. 

To break it down, we might do something like this..

Entrees

Greek Dance Bracket 1 (20 mins)

Mains 

Greek Dance Bracket 2 (20 mins)

Speeches/Formalities etc

Greek Dance Bracket 3 (20 mins)

First Dances

Aussie Dance Floor Bracket (60 - 90 mins)

or something along those lines! Hope that helps!

All of our DJs are very well experienced in playing traditional music from a variety of different cultures for a couple of sets throughout the night. We regularly perform at different types of weddings eg: (Italian/Macedonian/European/Arabic/Greek etc….) whereby a few brackets of traiditional music is played for 5-45 minutes (depending on how long you’re after). 

Upon booking with us, you’ll receive a DJ Request/Expectations Form to fill out with room to complete your:

• Formality Requests (entry songs / specific dances Yes/No)
• Top 10 Must Plays
• Additional Song Requests
• Traditional/Cutlural Songs
• Do-Not-Plays (for any tragic overdone song you don’t want played - no thanks Macarena haha)

You have full customisation over the songs that you wish to hear including the traditional/cultural songs that you’re after. 

We may have a list of your nationality's songs which we’ve collected from some previous weddings as inspiration if you like which we can attached. You might like some of these, or they may not be appropriate. We understand that every culture has it’s own specific nuances/tastes - But it’s a starting point! 

I have had to do this many times over the years with a variety of cultural backgrounds. The key for me was firstly chatting to the couples and getting them to advise on specific songs that are popular. Then break it down into a couple of short sets rather than just randomly throwing songs into the mix. It has worked well for me over many years and the response on the dance floor has been terrific.

I hope that helps? 

hi there, Great question! and a very common occurance for Weddings.  It is always best to cater for all guests music tastes and backgrounds.  With music we always recommend having a great variery of different music, in your case English and Greek and letting the DJ play the right music at the right time,  You won't know exactly how much or how little of each type of music you need, so having a great DJ will help make that work for you on the night.