Music Tips For Your Wedding Reception
The key to a successful wedding is flexibility! Be specific and keep your guests in mind!
Avoid vague words such as “good” and “fun”. What is “fun” to you, may be “tacky” to others, and what you may think is “good”, others may think is terrible. If the event planner is not filled out completely six weeks prior to your event, submit it anyway and leave those areas blank. We will call you the week of your wedding to discuss the details with you.
The Music Program: We strongly recommend a mix of all categories in order to appeal to all age groups. If there are specific songs or categories that you don’t want played, be sure to specifically tell us how to handle those songs if they are requested. Common mistake: “I don’t like…,so don’t play any…” your guests may like it! Generally, you will remember about 5% of the music that is played. If you are listening for every song to be played, you are probably not enjoying yourself. On average, we can play 15-20 songs per hour. We can play any song you wish to provide on CD. Please tell us how or who we should return your music to at the end of the event. We cannot be responsible for any items left at the location after the end of the event.
Wedding Party Announcement: If you would like us to introduce the wedding party, be sure to write down exactly how you want us to announce them. We will line you up outside the the main area, then announce the wedding party. Immediately after announcing the wedding party, it’s common for us to do one (1) of two(2) things: 1) Announce Bride and Grooms First Dance, or 2) Announce the meal including the blessing and/or toast.
First Dance: Traditionally it’s only for the Bride and Groom. If the song lasts more than three (3) minutes, it’s typical to ask the bridal party to join in halfway through the song. Many choose to have their first dance after the meal so there is a smooth transition into the dance program. Look on our music list for suggestions of which songs to pick.
Second Dance/Third Dance/Opening Dance: If you are having your first dance before the meal, it’s a good idea to have some type of a formal dance after the meal so that there is a smooth transition into opening dancing. If you aren’t going to open the dancing to all the guests with the second dance, then it’s a good idea to open the dance floor to your guests for the third dance. When you do this, we always get the best response from a slow song. You are more than welcome to do more than three dances, but once you start your formal dances, you want to open the dance floor to the guests as soon as possible.
Toast: The Best Man usually proposes a toast to the Bride and Groom, however, anybody can do it. Whoever may be giving the toast may use our microphone. This usually don’t before the meal or with the cake cutting.
Cake Cutting: Usually done an hour after dinner or towards the end of the reception. Music is either background or not played at all. It’s generally a good idea to do this together with the bouquet and garter toss, so the dancing doesn’t get interrupted again. IMPORTANT: Guests tend to leave after the cake cutting ceremony, so you don’t want to do this too early.
Bouquet Toss and Garter Removal/Replacement: Usually done immediately after the cake cutting (as cake is served to the guests). Since nobody is dancing after the cake cutting anyway, it’s best to get this event done so that dancing isn’t interrupted again. The Bride will throw the bouquet to all the single ladies, then the Groom removes the garter from the Bride and throws it to all the single gentlemen. Then, the lady who caught the bouquet has the garter placed on her leg by the gentleman who caught the garter.
Dollar Dance: The Best Man and Maid of Honor will make 2 lines, one line for men and another for women. Of course, the Bride will dance with the men and the Groom will dance with the woman. The Best Man and the Maid of Honor will collect donations while you are dancing. We try to perform this formality immediately after the Bouquet/Garter Toss, since nobody is dancing anyway and we do not want to stop dancing again.