Order of events.

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
here is the order for a typical wedding for my company. Keep in mind that we customize every schedule so they are all different but this is the norm.

7:00 Guests Arrive
7:30 Introductions
First Dance
(welcome)
Blessing
Toast(s)
7:45 Dinner
8:45 Cake Cutting
Bride/Father
Groom/Mother
(Marriage Appreciation Dance)
Open Dancing

9:45 Dollar/Best Wishes Dance
Bouquet & Garter Ceremony
Open Dancing
10:55 Last Dance
11:00 Bride & Groom Exit

I included times because it gives a better idea on not only the order but the flow also.
 
Ok, I know that I've been gone for quite awhile on here (new 9-5 job) and a new house.

Anyhow, there is an even more basic and fundamental reason to carefully consider not feeding your guests until later on in the evening... blood sugar.
Low blood sugar levels make non-diabetics more tired and sluggish.
To return the blood sugar levels to normal people need to eat.
So now if you want to create the best odds of having a fun and full dance floor all night long, you'd best make sure that your guests have the energy to do it and remember, the human body needs time to digest food before it is available as energy.

As for me, since the reception is all about the bride and groom, my order goes however they want it to go. I can sympathize with the other vendors if things are long and drawn out, but taking care of what the bride and groom want is why we are all there.

The short answer is there is no right order nor a good single reason for any particular order. You've got to consider what the bride and groom want, what time of day and year the reception is, how long have the guests been without food, are there any special requirements being asked of any specific vendor, etc.

Cap, please keep in mind that at virtually every reception the food is a high focal point, after all why would a couple spend so much money on food if it wasn't important?
 
OK, I have read most of the posts.

I do want is called an east coast time line that has the B&G dance right after the intro.

I want the bouquet and garter before dancing because I HATE shutting down a dance floor. Keep the momentum going.

I don't know what kind of drunk slobs ;) you people are performing for but I almost never have stains and drunks to contend with. Cake in the face....sometimes.


The real fact of the matter is: Most photographers in colo. are on a 5 hour time limit. If I don't get the events done in the first 2 hours of the reception the B&G don't get pictures of the event or the B&G have to pay $200 + for the overtime.
 
Ultimately we'll arrange things however the B&G want it, but we do stress to them that keeping everything on a tight schedule and doing their formalities early is in their best interest.

Most of the time our schedule looks roughly like this.

Cocktail hour - light, upbeat, appropriate music.

Arrival and introduction of whoever they choose to have us introduce.

Blessing and "remembrace" if B&G want.

Release of tables and dinner.

About 15 minutes after the last table goes through the buffett line or is served....Cut the cake. That way dessert can be had if the guests so desire.

First Dance.

Father Daughter Dance.

Mother Son Dance.

Any other "special" combinations, such as Bride/son, etc. comes next.

Bridal Party/Immediate Family dance.

Anniversary Dance.

Dollar Dance.

Garter

Bouquet

Bring the kids out for a few songs to work off their excess energy and gives the B&G/Bridal party some time to "regroup."

Open dance.

Final dance if desired.

Pack up and go home! :)
So in a way we do a 100 yard dash, but in a bit different order.

This year we've been trying to get the B&G to do a greeting of some sort, but so far none have given it a try. We'll keep working on our selling on that point and see if we can convince a few. Most are "bashful" and since they haven't seen it done around here, they are very hesitant to try something new and different.

Would love to get them to do the First dance upon arrival, but most of the venues have limited space and they usually have the buffett tables either on or right next to the dance floor.

We're not doing the "upscale" weddings that many of you are booking. :sqwink:
 
Mine look something like this

1. Intro Wedding Party

2. Grand Entrance

3. First Dance (If I can talk them into it, Sometimes it must wait Buffet

tables on dance floor.)

5. Blessing

6. Dinner

7. Toast

8. Cake

9. Father & Bride

10. Mother & Groom

11. Bouquet And Garter

12. Money Dance (Optional) Usually about 2 dances I open dance floor to

all but continue money dance for 2 more song.

13. Open Dance (If no money or anniversary dance.)

14. Last Dance

So far I have had many compliments by guests on the order in how we do things. The only thing I have actually thought of maybe adding is an open dance set if the dinner is extended. This has only happened twice but a dance set would be nice.
 
nextgen1 said:
Mine look something like this

1. Intro Wedding Party

2. Grand Entrance

3. First Dance (If I can talk them into it, Sometimes it must wait Buffet

tables on dance floor.)

5. Blessing

6. Dinner

7. Toast

8. Cake

9. Father & Bride

10. Mother & Groom

11. Bouquet And Garter

12. Money Dance (Optional) Usually about 2 dances I open dance floor to

all but continue money dance for 2 more song.

13. Open Dance (If no money or anniversary dance.)

14. Last Dance

So far I have had many compliments by guests on the order in how we do things. The only thing I have actually thought of maybe adding is an open dance set if the dinner is extended. This has only happened twice but a dance set would be nice.
Click to expand...


I'm with you NextGen 1.

I like Cap's timeline and reasoning, but often the crowd is ready for dinner. Doing the intro and first dance delays food service by only a few minutes, and opens the dance floor during dinner for those who wish to indulge.

Andy
 
DJ J Mac
Cap, please keep in mind that at virtually every reception the food is a high focal point, after all why would a couple spend so much money on food if it wasn't important?
Click to expand...
Yes, food is very important, for ONE HOUR! If it were as important as being implied, there'd be continuous food service for four hours with Muzak running the background. Receptions, being generally at least four hours long, are entertainment events punctuated with food. The cost of the food is based on its quantity, quality, and location, not its length.
Anyhow, there is an even more basic and fundamental reason to carefully consider not feeding your guests until later on in the evening... blood sugar.
Low blood sugar levels make non-diabetics more tired and sluggish.
To return the blood sugar levels to normal people need to eat.
So now if you want to create the best odds of having a fun and full dance floor all night long, you'd best make sure that your guests have the energy to do it and remember, the human body needs time to digest food before it is available as energy.
Click to expand...
While your medical information is sound, the reasoning makes no sense as since when does the DJ now need to take responsibility for 50 - 400 guest's medical and blood sugar issues?
 
Cap,

Most good banquet facilities leave the veggie/cheese platters out all night. Food is important because it gives us energy and at events, it fuels the dancing crowd. At the typical wedding, food is available throughout the reception, not just for one hour. Blood sugar science aside, I agree with DJ J Mac about the importance of food at the reception. Besides, if the food sucks or there's not enough of it, people will leave early, and there'll be hardly anyone there to dance to the music that the DJ is playing.

So, when planning an order to the evening, dinner has to come fairly soon. Regardless, we have very little influence over the amount or the quality of the food. However, if a couple asks our opinion on timing, we can provide suggestions that may nudge them in the right direction. :sqwink:
 
East Coast? This is hardly the "real" East Coast reception. It's the customer benefit, client side reasoning, and vendor team efficiency that prevails, not what part of the country it is.

The "real" East Coast reception begins with intros, first dance, perhaps a blessing, then toasts, and then dancing starts immediately. The is no such thing as "dinner music" or "dinner hour".
 
DJ Ducky : Whew. Glad you're not mad at me.

Guess we have to agree to disagree on this food point.

However may we agree to agree on this point?

The Reception

After the wedding ceremony’s ritual and formality, there’s time to rejoice in a celebration that honors and blesses the couple’s commitment. Many events during the reception can be traced throughout history.

Receptions usually parallel the ceremony’s formality and style. They can range from punch and cake at home to elaborate, formal sit-down, multicourse dinners. This section examines some of the available options. As with the description of the ceremony, the guidelines here are the most proper for each style of reception and can be changed as needed.

It’s Just a Party

A wedding reception really isn’t anything more than a party—probably more elaborate than a family’s norm—with a specific purpose: honoring the newlyweds. It still is just a party and should be planned with the guests’ enjoyment and comfort in mind. With that basis, it can be said that, no matter how small and simple a reception is, there’s one area where extra attention isn’t a luxury, but rather a necessity—the details.
Click to expand...
 
Cap, I lived and DJ'd in eastern Massachusetts (Saratoga's only about 3-4 hours driving time?) through 2003 and I'd always encountered a cocktail hour, followed by intros, and dinnertime, and yes, there was dinner music. Considering that I am now planning my own wedding in the same area with a reputable venue, are you telling me that in 5 years, there's THAT much of a change? I refuse to believe it.

If what you are doing for a typical setup is working for your area, then just keep doing what you're doing. The rest of us will play the music that the B & G want, at the lower volume that they want, during dinnertime.


...And it's not "just a party" because for many, it's one of the most important parties of their lives.
 
DJ Ducky : Where are you having your reception?

In my area, (Saratoga/Albany, New York), most reception halls are contracted for 5 hours. The first hour is cocktail/social hour with plentiful hors deouvres, then intros, first dance, blessing, toasts, and then dinner. Here, there is most definitely dinner music for at least 45 minutes, yet less than 100 miles south towards NYC, dancing is continuous. Because expenses up state costs $30K for what would cost $80k down state, many do make this area a frugal place to have their party (as opposed to the typical definition of a destination wedding). This ideological/structural difference between down state NY and up state NY (not to even mention west state NY differences) can create DJ problems based on where the guests are from and what they are used to.

I personally prefer to DJ in the down state style but caterers here would shoot to kill and because dinner music is this region's norm, clients like it, so therefore that's what happens. So when I perform in Manhattan, Long Island, northern Jersey, western Connecticut, et al, it's not brutal, it's great fun with no let downs. Out towards Syracuse, Utica, Rochester, it's like DJ Ducky's regions' itinerary.

RedHotDJ: Dinner music for me consists of 1) contemporary uplifting instrumental jazz tracks by the likes of Boney James, Jeff Golub, Dave Kaz, Rick Braun, Warren Hill, etc; 2) vocal smoothies like Diana Krall, Katie Melua, Tony Bennett; 3) any client requested tracks, most current fad being the "Rat Pack" singers of Sinatra, Martin, Davis Jr.
 
Cap,
Just a thought, but as a professional DJ, shouldn't we have a working knowledge of everything that can affect an event?
I know it may sound silly for a DJ to worry about blood sugar levels, but hey, I have working knowledge of it so I can better help my clients plan their reception. I never take responsibility for knowing about the medical conditions of guests, it's not part of my job; however, knowing what blood sugar is and how it affects the body and the outward effects of it is quite a valuable tool if you know how to use it. If nothing else, I know about it so I can make sure that I will have the energy to go 10 hours without eating.

As for the food being important, the amount of time spent on something compared to it's cost does not signify importance. That ratio is used to determine value. The value of the food at any reception is up for debate, but the importance of it is not. After all, for most couples, the first three decisions they make are the date, venue and caterer.
 
like others said before give the b&g ideas, have them tell you how they want there day to go and we as djs do it no matter what order it goes in
 
DJ J Mac :
but as a professional DJ, shouldn't we have a working knowledge of everything that can affect an event?
Click to expand...
As a 30 year solo-op full-time career veteran DJ whose survival depends on client and co-vendor satisfaction, I've got a substantial handle on being able to recognize what is "professionally" important, what is fluff, and what is bs (this one doesn't stand for blood sugar... a little humor at your expense).

DJ Ducky:
..And it's not "just a party" because for many, it's one of the most important parties of their lives.
Click to expand...
My quote posted was from a text book for Bridal Consultants and Wedding Planners and the section that was quoted is specifically titled "Receptions", not the entire day.

Regardless, I find myself becoming a little defensive which isn't good for forum postings.

Colleagues : I answered the thread question in detail, supported by logic and reason, benefit and effect, impact and coordination, and possible alternatives. If it has provided full or partial value and understanding, please consider the information as it was intended and provided.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back