What Do I Need?
Even more crucial to achieving easy listening is having proper sound equipment at the reception site. You can work with the venue's existing systems, or piggyback on the setups provided by the band or deejay that you're bringing in for other parts of the event. If the location lacks suitable equipment, consult with a sound expert to see what is needed and schedule a dry run on location before the big day.

But no matter how perfect your playlists or how awesome your speakers, you cannot expect to simply press play and walk away. You'll need someone -- preferably a trusted friend -- to man the MP3 player, making sure it's working properly and providing musical cues to guests so they know when to sit for dinner or watch the cake cutting. "You must have someone in charge," says Allen, "to essentially take the place of a band or deejay -- reading the crowd and making adjustments to manage the flow of the party."

And a word to the wise: Gadgets can wig out. If a digital player freezes or breaks, a party can quickly come to a grinding halt. "For every wedding, I always have the playlists on two or three players," says Fournier. "I also bring extra batteries and wall chargers, which mimic actual wall outlets." In the end, the effort you put in will seem like nothing when you're grooving to exactly what you want to hear.

Send It with Them
And that playlist you toiled over? It can have a second life: Download choice selections from the list to MP3 players you can give to members of your wedding party. (Just keep in mind that you'll have to pay for each downloaded song.) Then inscribe each device with the recipient's name and the wedding date for a customized gift befitting your most customized wedding. We guarantee it'll be music to their ears.