Wedding
Reception Time Line
The following will give
you an idea of what to expect from your entertainer during a typical five hour wedding reception.
The example will show a wedding that starts at 5pm and concludes at 10pm.
4pm Your Disc Jockey will arrive at the facility to set up their equipment and perform a full sound check.
4:30pm
5pm Your entertainer will then speak to the banquet manager
to review all of the details and discuss the order of events for the evening.
5pm 6pm Your guests will arrive for cocktail hour. Light, background music should be played at this point.
Perhaps some light jazz, classical, adult contemporary sounds including Frank Sinatra, David Gray, Michael Buble and Sarah McLachlan.
December weddings can also use holiday music at this time. Special attention is given to volume during the cocktail and dinner hours.
Nothing can disrupt a formal affair more than music played too loud!
6pm Your guests will now be seated and you and your
bridal party will be introduced into the room. It is customary to
dance before dinner; however, you will need to decide whether or
not you are doing your first dance upon introductions. If so,
you will proceed directly to the dance floor. After your first
dance you may want to do other formal dances such as the bride/father
dance, the groom/mother dance and the bridal party dance or you may
opt to serve dinner first. Prior to the serving of the first course
you can have the blessing before meals and the best man's toast.
6:20pm 7:30pm The dinner portion of your wedding
should last anywhere from one to one and a half hours. During this time,
lighter music from artists such as Frank Sinatra, Sade, Billy Joel,
Celine Deon and Van Morrison can be played. More recent artists such
as Norah Jones, Michael Buble, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Coldplay,
Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, Colbie Calliet and Maroon 5 will work as well.
If you have not done so yet, formal dances can be done toward the end of dinner.
7:30pm 9:15pm It is now time for the open dance segment
of the night! Your guests will now dance the night away to music pre-selected
by yourself and/or music supplemented by the DJ's knowledge, if you wish.
Formalities such as the tossing of the bouquet and the removal and tossing
of the garter as well as the cutting and feeding of the wedding cake should
be done during this time period. Your Disc Jockey will coordinate with the
banquet manager, photographer and videographer to ensure that everything runs
smoothly. At an average of 4 minute per song, expect to hear about 30 songs
during this time. Only a true professional has the proper experience and
knowledge to effectively "read" the crowd and to coordinate all
festivities with confidence.
9:15pm 10pm The final set of the evening is where you many
want to really bring the energy up another notch making this a good time to play
top 40 dance music along with some classic "Party Rock" tunes that all your guests will
enjoy. Songs like "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi,
"Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC and "Shout" by the Isley Brothers along with some of
the more popular newer artists like the Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Kanye West, Lady Gaga,
Chris Brown, Taio Cruz, Outkast, Usher and Nelly, among others. If you choose to approach
the final set in a more traditional manner, wedding standards such as "We Are Family"
by Sister Sledge, "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra, "Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks,
"Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond, and "Last Dance" by Donna Summer are always crowd pleasers.
And today, just as it was in 1977 when our company first started, the choice of music is always
up to you, our cherished customer!
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