SAMPLE WEDDING RECEPTION
I have compiled a list of ideas for your wedding reception. Just read through, and hopefully you’ll get some ideas about how you want your reception to flow. Together with adequate planning, you can have a reception that everyone will remember and will be a blast for your guests. Of course, all the ideas are optional and can take place in any order you wish or not at all.
LOGISTICS
I need about 16 feet of wall space for my equipment. I have an 8-foot table, 10-foot lighting truss, and 2 feet of speakers on either side of the truss. I have my own tables and chairs, so don’t worry about supplying those. I need preferably two 20-amp circuits to reliably play music and lighting without risking tripping a circuit breaker. The dance floor should always be directly in front of my setup for maximum effect of the dance floor lighting and sound for the dancers.
COCKTAIL MUSIC
While the guests arrive, we are playing either light, popular jazz or classical, or a light rock-soul and oldies mix. We keep the music level low because we realize that your guests are spending this time talking with family and friends. We do need to talk about whether you would like your guests to go ahead and begin eating before the couple arrives. I will be glad to announce that everyone can begin helping themselves to the food, or if you wish to wait for the couple, I can announce that as well. We will need to decide if there will be a blessing said over the food and who will say it. This blessing can be done at the end of the ceremony as well.
BRIDAL PARTY INTRODUCTIONS (optional)
A week or two prior to your reception, we will need to talk on the phone or meet to discuss the proper name pronunciation of your bridal party attendants and the proper placement of these attendants within the order of introduction. Parents/grandparents can be included in the introductions. Once the bridal party is at the head table, the MC will ask everyone to rise and will officially announce the bride and groom as “Mr. & Mrs.” as everyone cheers and applauds.
FIRST DANCE
I think it’s best to be announced upon arrival while we have everyone’s attention. Straight to the dance floor, I’ll say something like, “Ladies and gentlemen, taking the dance floor for the very first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” The bride and groom select their first dance song prior to their wedding date. This song should be well-thought-out and define something special about the two of you.
SONG #1 _________________________________
Groom and Bride’s first and last names _________________________________
PARENT DANCES (Father/Daughter & Mother/Son)
After the bride and groom have danced their first dance as husband and wife, they may want to dance with their parents. If these dances are occurring, the bride usually will first dance with her father, and then the groom will follow by escorting his mother to the dance floor for their special dance together. At times, there have been instances where someone else has danced in place of either parent.
Bride’s father’s first and last name _________________________________
Daddy-daughter dance song _________________________________
Groom’s mother’s first and last name _________________________________
Mother-son dance song _________________________________
BLESSING & BRUNCH, LUNCH, OR DINNER (optional)
If you wish, I will ask a guest (someone selected prior to the reception – minister, parents, friend, etc.) by name to say the blessing. A wireless microphone will be provided. If you wish to allow everyone to begin eating before the couple arrives, just let me know and I will announce that. Depending on the number of guests you have and depending on whether it is a sit-down or buffet, please allow at least one hour for the meal. During the meal, we play light, easy-to-talk-over music. Once everyone has food and is settled, it’s a great time for the bride and groom to enter and do the first dances.
TOAST (optional)
A toast can be done by the best man and maid/matron of honor (can also be done during/after the meal or with cake cutting). A wireless microphone is provided. I typically get everyone’s attention and introduce the first person making the toast. That person can pass the mic to the next person, and they can introduce themselves and make the toast.
CAKE CUTTING
This usually takes place after the meal. This is the logical time as everyone is ready for dessert. We will make sure that the photographer and the bride and groom are ready, then we will make an announcement for people to gather around the cake. We usually play background music for the cake cutting. I like the Dixie Cups’ “Chapel of Love” as background music, but of course you can choose any song of your liking.
Cake cutting song _________________________________
OPEN DANCING
After the cake cutting has been completed, I start lowering the lights and turning up the music. This is an invitation for everyone to join in on the dance floor. In the beginning of the reception, we usually play a lot of very upbeat popular music to get everyone involved in the dancing. I will be taking requests through my text request sign and referring to your list if you have given me songs to play.
MONEY/DOLLAR DANCE (optional, not as common these days)
The basic premise is to allow gentlemen to dance with the new bride and ladies to dance with the new groom for a fee. This dance usually lasts anywhere from 3-5 songs (depending on number of guests). We suggest a bridesmaid and/or groomsman collect the money rather than trying to “pin” the money on the bride and groom. The DJ will generally select appropriate music. This can be a lot of fun, and often couples have ended up with $400-500, which comes in handy on that honeymoon.
BOUQUET & GARTER TOSS
The MC will ask for the bride and groom to make their way to the dance floor for the bouquet and garter toss. First, we will invite single ladies to gather on the dance floor for the bouquet toss. After the bouquet, it’s the guys’ turn with the garter toss. Afterwards, the photographer will ask the recipients to take a picture with the bride and groom.
Bouquet song _________________________________
Garter song _________________________________
ADDITIONAL CELEBRATORY DANCE(S)
As an option, you may wish to include special songs to celebrate certain guests’ engagements, recent marriages, anniversaries, birthdays, new births, or other important observances.
BACK TO DANCING
The MC will invite everyone back to the dance floor for more dancing. The music mix will continue to allow guests to celebrate and engage in romantic moments on the dance floor.
FAKE LEAVE
This is a great way to save money on your photographer and let them leave early. I never say the word “leave.” Some people get confused and think the leave is real. I usually say, “Now is a great time to take some pictures with the bride and groom, and it’s going to be a ton of fun. We have sparklers, so please head outside and get right on back to the dance floor.” You can help by getting the leave photos as quickly as possible to help avoid losing people and get the party started back quickly.
LAST DANCE (optional)
About five minutes before the reception ends, we will ask the bride and groom to make their way to the dance floor for their final dance. Often couples struggle with the first dance song. This is a good place to play that second-choice song.
Last dance song _________________________________